EnableMe | enableme - stroke recovery and support

As we Stroke Survivors travel along the Rehab Highway we tend to focus on the BIG achievements-

The showstoppers that are noticeable, VISIBLE,

and are greeted with much acclamation.

And rightly so!

These milestones are attained through significant effort by you, with the help and skill of an accompanying stroke clinician \{be it a physio, an OT or speech therapist].

You can justifiably, proudly sit back and say “job well done”- because it has been just that! Especially if you are recovering from the effects and impact of a stroke.

Major Milestones that I attained that caused me to quietly reflect on my journey were among a list included-walking, being able to dress myself and shave-without disfiguring my grande visage

In addition to these show stoppers, as I progress on my journey these ‘ordinary ‘activities are now part of my daily routine - Using a knife, soup spoon; hanging washing on the line/taking washing down; fill/empty the dishwasher.

The theme of today’s tome is that by integrating these mundane tasks into your daily routine they will have/and did have a powerful effect on my Rehab journey.

But I have quite a way to go and over the next few months/years the following activities will receive my ongoing attention-

Use secateurs to harvest the fruits of my vege garden.

Holding the garden hose,

use the spade to dig the garden.

Use my high-pressure water cleaner- Father’s Day present!

Improve my writing

do the Cryptic Crossword in the SMH.

FYI- I was right hand dominant and it was heavily impacted by my stroke in 2016, hence my emphasis on my arm/hand.

My Message for Today is-

If you are a Stroke Clinician, have your survivor focus \{if they can\} on the LITTLE ACTIVITIES, they are just as powerful as the MAJOR ACTIVITIES.

If you are a Stroke Survivor, think about the LITTLE THINGS that have gone missing following your stroke and try to re-introduce them to your daily life.

Works for me!!

Brian A Beh,

Lifelong Member of the Hopalong Cassidy Fan Club

Poet, Philosopher and Child of the Cosmos

Winner “Improving Life After Stroke ‘Category

Stroke Foundation of Australia 2021 National Awards.

Dear Bbeh, thank you for sharing and you've described it very well! I can relate to many milestones that you described. From my experience, as I recovered and achieved my milestones (similar to yours and a long story), I found myself on another journey - my mental journey. Best described as a reflection on who I was before my stroke and who I've become (stroke survivor). What I've (re)gained and what I've lost (process of grieving). I learned that our recovery never stops!

Thank you for your comments- yes it is a long process!

Good to hear that you are still persevering with rehab

Cheers Brian

Dear Brian

As I have been through these "Clinicians" speaking and denigrating stroke survivors like yourself I have come out on a totally different journey than others.

That is I have achieved what these "Clinicians" education have currently although I have gone one better in that as a stroke survivor I perfectly understand and treat those far worse with kindness and listen and do not treat them as a child.