I have solitude now, but I'm not lonely. When it's quiet in my apartment, I am thinking all the time--of this blog, another book to read, another book to write. And the ten things I learned about living as a stroke survivor. Here they are:
2. I'm worthwhile, making a contribution, albeit small, to society at large, by giving my knowledge about strokes to anybody who affords me the opportunity to speak. There is always a stroke group who loves to hear the stories behind a stroke survivorship.
3. I pursue my love of reading to keep my brain at optimum level. If my eyes tire and can't read the words on the page, I use audiotapes.
4. I always use the computer since I am a writer. But you don't have to be a writer to stay in touch with the world via the computer, with CNN or Google news, for example. My iPhone and my iPad do the same thing.
6. Most of my falls were in my kitchen. But now, I bought a used wheelchair and a new cushion that I keep in my kitchen to prevent falling--sit, retrieve, and stand.
7. I speak from the gut now to medical professionals, telling them, for example, if they missed a question on the "new patient" form or if they don't let me finish my thought, always preceded by, "With all due respect...."
8. I like to be organized to simplify my life and to accommodate all my OCD (which many stroke survivors have) tendencies. So I have a file cabinet and a desk which I bought at Goodwill for $15.
10. I live each day with appreciation for the love of my sons, their respective significant others, and the friends I have obtained coast-to-coast in America and around the world.
As I say in the intro to the blog, "I don't embrace the stroke -- not now, not ever -- but I accept it because I have two options: live with the stroke or... well, you know the alternative."
I am here, alive, and trying my damnedest to keep it that way for a long time.
7 comments:
This is very powerful and inspirational! Love it!
Thanks, Lumy. You're a piece of the inspiration!
Perfectly said. It took me a while to accept it, but laughter has taken me a long way. I was only 37. I am 43 now. Still laughing at myself daily.
Tammy, you KNOW the alternative to laughing! Keep on chuckling. It makes life livable! Thanks for the comment.
Hi Joyce I shared These on my Facebook page. I had a heart attack It was mild (thank the Lord) I think partly Because I ate relatively good except for Fell off the wagon And ate a bunch of sugar,Wheat, Dairy And other stuff Stuff over the holidays and kept going into fight or flight. Because I forgot stuff after concussions And would Get angry At myself for forgetting So I appreciate That You Prioritize laughter Because I've learned the same thing And it does need the alternative! :-)Keep up the good work! Cayenne pepper under the tongue stopped what felt like several other Heart attacks or strokes in the making as did prayer w/essential oils.
Thanks for the comments. Very insightful, lenny!
Black Walnut get rid of plaque which is related to stoke , & a lot of stroke symptoms can be a brain tumor. So Headaches, dizziness. Get check
do not be your own doctor or a know it all research updates everyday & one experience will not exactly be just same as others others. Share and following your doctors orders. And if you have conditions from childhood don't expect cures for everything. It easier to blame the doctor then seeing th whole picture.
Working in Rehab with head injuries, stoke person they do not know their limits and forget. Some act superior just to cover the fear of control.
Treat you caregivers all the same pay them the same & give the same bonus. Words carry no appreciate without good value and fairness, and actions that are congruent.
Post a Comment