I Won A Literary Prize While I Was Unconscious
New Zealand Woman's Weekly|September 23 2019
HER NOVEL WAS AN 18-YEAR LABOUR OF LOVE, THEN SHE MISSED ITS NIGHT OF GLORY.
Lynley Ward
I Won A Literary Prize While I Was Unconscious

When writer Kirsten Warner went for a bike ride to clear a niggling headache, she could never imagine a cruel twist of fate would see her miss two major milestones and steal months from her life.

What should have been a glorious year of literary success for the 62-year-old west Aucklander turned to chaos in March when she was struck by a catastrophic brain aneurysm.

Still recovering from the nightmare ordeal, the former journalist and mum of two knows she is lucky to be alive but is sad that a prestigious book award win and an accolade for her musician partner both came in a scary eight-week period when she was out cold undergoing a series of life-saving operations.

There’s a large gap in her memory that she’s reliant on family and friends to fill – including a night that should have been one of the best of her life.

“I had no idea what was going on, really, and how long it had been. I couldn’t believe that I had been in hospital for six weeks,” she tells the Weekly.

On that fateful March day, the keen cyclist had headed out on her bike to clear her head of a persistent ache. But after an hour of riding it was getting worse. Thinking she was in the throes of a violent migraine, she called her partner Bernard Griffen (68) to take her home. Within minutes, her condition dramatically deteriorated.

“I was completely struck,” she recalls. “I couldn’t bear the light, and the headache was getting worse. I thought it was a migraine, but by the time I got into my bedroom the pain in my head was so intense I said to my partner, ‘ambulance’. I couldn’t say any more.”

This story is from the September 23 2019 edition of New Zealand Woman's Weekly.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 23 2019 edition of New Zealand Woman's Weekly.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM NEW ZEALAND WOMAN'S WEEKLYView All
The perfect GETAWAY
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

The perfect GETAWAY

From lengthy airport clinches to party ghosting, Michéle examines goodbyes

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Message in a BOTTLE
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Message in a BOTTLE

Kevin makes a discovery in his shed that piques his detective skills

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Empowered & thriving!  PERFECT AT ANY AGE
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Empowered & thriving! PERFECT AT ANY AGE

Weekly editor Marilynn bravely shares her bold new approach to living her best life at 50 and beyond

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE

From stressed to refreshed! Lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr Jenny Brockis shares the simple steps you should adopt to give your wellbeing a boost

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT

The podcaster’s eyes have been opened to a new way of life

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD

After a tough start to motherhood, the foodie tells how she reclaimed her life

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART

After a decade in the country, she’s given up the good life to return home

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' Кро
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' Кро

It was a big shift channelling his talent into the hit show Moving Houses, but the sporting legend is a natural

time-read
4 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART

The actor is embracing life with his zero-drama’ partner

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB

The Kiwi health legend is taking a jab at teaching kids important life skills

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024