Chris Schouten Talks Openly About What It Was Like
to Become an Unlikely ‘Stroke Victim’ at Age 33

Hi,

My name’s Chris Schouten and I’d like to get a few things off my chest with your permission…

In doing so, I hope it might help you to reflect on your own current situation and maybe even help you to come to some valuable conclusions about what’s important in your life right at this moment.

If I can help just one person by telling my story then I believe it’s worthwhile. Plus you just never know… one day you may be thankful for the advice.

I’m now 39 years of age, but six years ago I was successfully running the family business… a large horticultural operation with acres under greenhouse, supplying large supermarkets with fresh vegetables. Growing up on the farm, as you’d expect, I was a fit and active bloke with a passion for riding motorbikes and that sort of thing.

One day, something strange happened for no explainable reason, I noticed
my right hand not working properly… in fact it’d lost nearly all feeling…

At the time, I thought nothing of it, but went to see the Doc just to be sure. He sent me for further tests with a neurologist in Brisbane and I remember having to drive there one-handed because my right hand was buggered. The tests didn’t show much so I went back home satisfied that it was just a bit of nerve damage in my shoulder…

Anyway, about a month later I started really struggling to get my words out. I couldn’t even read a story to my daughter, which was really unusual. This was more concerning to me the second time around, so I hopped in the car and went straight back to hospital.

This time they put me straight in for a head scan and found a 75% blockage in the base of my brain, caused by blood clots… something that could happen to anyone I’m told…

This time they weren’t mucking around and I was taken straight to the trauma ward in the hospital. You’ll see some tragic sights in there let me tell you… so many young people with their lives changed forever. I felt like one of the lucky ones.

Anyway, there were three other guys in my ward and one was a head trauma case who was running around nude. The poor bloke had absolutely no idea what he was doing.  He’d fallen over and I was just helping him get back into bed, when Bam! it hit me! It was the craziest feeling I’ve ever experienced…

I couldn’t move but I can’t remember feeling any pain either. All I remember was bawling my eyes out because there was just panic and fright. It was also the most tired I have ever felt in my life. Just intense tiredness… I don’t know if this is the first step towards meeting your maker or what… but I feel I was right on the cusp of going somewhere else.

I was having a major stroke at 33 years old!

The doctors said I was lucky to live… and very lucky to be already in hospital when it happened, otherwise it could’ve easily been a different story you know…

My family were devastated and expecting the worst, but I was trying to be strong and stay positive and determined to get through this. I remember being angry, thinking – this is BS. I have things to do!

Everybody had read my last rights sort of thing… but somehow I knew I would get through this. There were no guarantees however.

I am now what they call “a multiple stoke survivor”. All up, I spent 4 months in hospital trying to recuperate. I had to learn to walk, talk, feed myself and all the things we take for granted. I also had to learn how to write again – left handed.

This entire time… there was one thing that I did NOT need to worry about… and that was how we were going to pay the medical expenses, mortgage, schooling fees as well as feed the family.

I was blessed with a trusted adviser who made sure we were protected.
Myself, my family and our family business. Thank God I had Trauma cover!

My adviser kicked into action and lodged a claim straight away. I can’t tell you how good it is to have someone on your side when you need it most.

Within months I was paid a significant lump sum tax free. That meant everything to us… and I was able to relax and just concentrate on my recovery. After 6 months, the doctors deemed that I was unlikely to ever work again… not good news if you are trying to run a business and feed a family.

I was eligible to claim another large additional lump sum Total Disablement cover. In addition to this my adviser also made sure I had my income protected

Since my stroke I have been receiving a monthly income replacement payment for the last six years. If I am not able to work again it will continue to pay for another 26 years…

And while on claim I’ll never pay another premium…

In fact my adviser was so thorough that if I die (which is now an increased danger) then I still have death cover to provide for the future of my family. What a relief to know your loved ones are protected if you’re not there to look after them.

Some people think insurance companies don’t pay… or that they make it hard for people to claim. I can vouch for the fact that they do pay genuine claims and I have over $2 million reasons to prove it. Of course it does help having an advisor on hand to make sure it all goes smoothly.

The cover did exactly what it was supposed to do and
it was totally affordable… even though I received
such a large payout!

I now realise my greatest asset along with my health is my ability to earn an income. Income pays for absolutely everything and you just you don’t realise how much you rely on it until it is taken away!

I don’t like to think where we’d be without my income protection and other cover. Perhaps we’d be relying on welfare and family to support us? I don’t know…

The business would have folded that’s for certain. From the insurance proceeds, we were able to pay off the debt and keep it running. There were other employees and their families’ livelihoods at stake too. The business is still operating successfully even though I am not involved, because we had a funded succession plan.

We were also able to pay our medical expenses, mortgage, living expenses, schooling and everything else on top of that. Imagine not only losing your health but your home as well! We’ve been able to continue investing in property as we did before, because even though I cannot work, I still need to think about saving for my retirement…

But you know what?

The best thing about being protected was having the ability to make choices without worrying about money… like being able to choose to have my family by my side instead of my wife being forced back to work… or being able to choose which school we send our daughter to.

If you are like me you think probably think you are indestructible right now.

Guess what….. life’s not that easy. I’ve since found out that a 30 year old male has a 40% chance of suffering a critical illness such as cancer, heart attack or stroke between ages 30 and 70, which can be claimed under a Trauma policy. Those are pretty good (or bad) odds depending on which way you look at it don’t you reckon? I think having the right protection makes a pretty damn good investment based on payout, but that’s for you to decide…

Sometimes life throws a curve ball, and I’m still living with the one it threw me… but I’m glad I was prepared.

I still have a way to go with my rehabilitation and it has placed real stress on our family.  I also have had difficulty dealing with not being the family provider, but I enjoy the freedom I have to spend more time with my daughter.

Some of the little things you take for granted I still struggle with. There are some things I’ll maybe never do again… like run… but I have no doubt removing financial stress has helped me recover, as did having my family there to comfort me.

Some people say I was lucky I was well protected…

There was no luck involved.

I had the best advice. My adviser educated me & made sure I was not gambling with my future and that of my family. So if you do nothing else today, just make sure you get the best advice you can. It costs nothing to be informed …. In fact it’s totally FREE.

Our trusted adviser was Care4Wealth –  Call 1300 822 902

They specialise in protecting the wealth of individuals & businesses Australia wide. Without their professional advice we would not be where we are today. They are real people who care and not just another internet site.

I am grateful someone helped me prepare for this life changing event and if my story prompts you or others to seek the protection your families deserve, then it might just make a difference in someone else’s life

Thanks for reading my story and please share it with your friends and family…

Remember… action is the real measure of intelligence – Napoleon Hill