I write about my stroke hopefully with a sense of humor. Long before my stroke I looked for the positives in everything...tried to, being human this is not always possible. I would like to share with you a Ted Talk from Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor. Please watch the whole video it is not long. My words fail at times to describe my experience, and only the three friends I have on Facebook who have had a stroke can truly relate. Once again my Love to my family and friends who are my constant support. https://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight?language=en
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
One Year Ago....
Everyone has special things they remember, the first kiss, marriage,birth of a child, stroke and the list goes on. Yes I said stroke. So, a year ago today I had a stroke. I woke up that morning feeling tired, but it was early and I had to get to work. I poured myself a coffee and noticed when I went to drink I dribbled a bit. Nothing major I remember thinking "how stupid, I never spill"... I did feel that my left arm was weak, kinda like a pulled muscle, no strength. My left leg was dragging, but again I thought it was my bad knee, you know the one I messed up riding my daughters longboard while being pulled by two standard poodles. Yea, that knee.
I drove myself to work, Yep, I DROVE TO WORK, 42 miles folks. In the parking lot I did notice my leg dragging more, but not worried. In the building I was trying to do some paperwork and I was talking to the maintenance man. He noticed my slurred speech and went for help. Our receiver came out to see, she asked me to stick out my tongue and immediately called an ambulance.
So there it is, events of a year ago. In the past year I have fought back from almost immobility to almost complete recovery. A lot of hard work, and alot of prayers from all over the world. I can not ever Thank everyone enough for that. I have found out in the past year that stroke is more common than we know, and the population having them is getting younger. I can count 4 people I know under 55.
Something that all the doctors rehab and therapists kept telling me that in one year I will be where I will be. Meaning that my recovery will pretty much end at that time. So I have spent much of the day contemplating that. And here is where I am. My left arm is weaker, but still functions. My typing is not as neat as it was. But, you will have to deal with that. I have tingling left in my lips, and I still drag my leg when I get tired.. Everything is magnified when I am tired. I still have asphasia, due to my voice box not closing all he way. So that is what I am physically left with. I am also left with a wife who sat by my bed for hours, and is still by my side. A daughter whose undying never wavering affection keeps me strong. An extended family who still watches over me and prays for me. A workplace that supported me, stood by me, and waited for me to return.
I think I am one lucky guy.
I drove myself to work, Yep, I DROVE TO WORK, 42 miles folks. In the parking lot I did notice my leg dragging more, but not worried. In the building I was trying to do some paperwork and I was talking to the maintenance man. He noticed my slurred speech and went for help. Our receiver came out to see, she asked me to stick out my tongue and immediately called an ambulance.
So there it is, events of a year ago. In the past year I have fought back from almost immobility to almost complete recovery. A lot of hard work, and alot of prayers from all over the world. I can not ever Thank everyone enough for that. I have found out in the past year that stroke is more common than we know, and the population having them is getting younger. I can count 4 people I know under 55.
Something that all the doctors rehab and therapists kept telling me that in one year I will be where I will be. Meaning that my recovery will pretty much end at that time. So I have spent much of the day contemplating that. And here is where I am. My left arm is weaker, but still functions. My typing is not as neat as it was. But, you will have to deal with that. I have tingling left in my lips, and I still drag my leg when I get tired.. Everything is magnified when I am tired. I still have asphasia, due to my voice box not closing all he way. So that is what I am physically left with. I am also left with a wife who sat by my bed for hours, and is still by my side. A daughter whose undying never wavering affection keeps me strong. An extended family who still watches over me and prays for me. A workplace that supported me, stood by me, and waited for me to return.
I think I am one lucky guy.
Monday, January 18, 2016
The Brain Fart
The brain fart....a misconception to most people, a humorous term used to describe a situation when they make a bad decision or forget something... not so serious in this sense. I think of my stroke as a brain fart. An eruption or sudden explosion I had no control over. A silent "killer". In eleven months the doctors have not been able to determine the cause. The focus is now on a possible microscopic air bubble... hence the fart. I had a Qlinc implanted a month ago. This implant will monitor my heart for any sudden or irregular beats for about 2 years. I have a device that plugs into a wall and sends constant uploads to a monitoring station. Supposedly if anything goes wrong a dispatch is sent immediately. This is not a pace maker or anything like that, it monitors the blood flow and checks for air bubbles. I am sure my family wishes I had an air monitor on another part of my body.
Years ago a TV show..Boston Legal, featured a character played by William Shatner who would blame any irrational behavior or absent mindedness on mad cow disease. This let him get away with much. I tell people I had a brain fart. When they look at me funny and laugh a little, I get a serious look on my face and say "No, really, I had a brain fart". I figure this can be an excuse for my behavior well into old age. God gave me an excuse not to have to act like a grown up, now if I could just find my longboard, the family keeps hiding it from me.
Years ago a TV show..Boston Legal, featured a character played by William Shatner who would blame any irrational behavior or absent mindedness on mad cow disease. This let him get away with much. I tell people I had a brain fart. When they look at me funny and laugh a little, I get a serious look on my face and say "No, really, I had a brain fart". I figure this can be an excuse for my behavior well into old age. God gave me an excuse not to have to act like a grown up, now if I could just find my longboard, the family keeps hiding it from me.
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