Echoes of a Closed Door - A life lived following a stroke
My name is Carol Fuller, I am the author of the book 'Echoes of a Closed Door- A life lived following a stroke'.
The book is an account of the journey I shared with my husband Clive following his stroke at age 50. I have written from my heart. I hope that others may be able to relate to our experience, and perhaps gain hope that they can bring about change in their own lives.
On September 21, 1991, Clive suffered a massive stroke due to a thrombosis of the left middle cerebral artery. The stroke affected a large area of his brain. On day three of his stroke, he experienced a luxury perfusion. The legacies Clive sustained from his stroke were severe and cruel:
aphasia/dysphasia: dyspraxia: hemianopia: epilepsy: depression: hemiplegia: perseveration: thalamic pain syndrome: venous incompetence: anosmia/ageusia
Our changed life was an emotion-filled journey - from the shock and horror we as a family felt in the immediate aftermath of Clive's stroke, to the hard work, frustrations, rewards and setbacks experienced during the years of therapy.
It was difficult to identify appropriate treatments, therapies and programs to keep Clive motivated to move forward and to make the most out of what he had - to be the best he could be. Major adjustments to our home, and continual reassessment of his therapy programs were needed to accommodate Clive's disability.
Astonishingly, in the middle of chaos there were times of joy and celebration; in 2001, 10 years after his stroke a dream came true when he was able to travel to Singapore and Hong Kong to celebrate his 60th birthday with his family.
Although these were years of hard work, they were also rewarding years. One might say they encapsulated the agony and ecstasy of life.
Clive inspired me to write our memoirs - my legacy to Clive and his legacy to others journeying along the same path.