The Unexpected - Post-stroke

This stroke survivor story might start when she realizes she is missing words, unable to communicate to her colleagues, or feeling weak before passing out, and finding herself in an ambulance or stroke ward. On EnableMe there are so many similar stories of people finding themselves in one of the most, if not, the worst possible situation, fighting their life. We all had a stroke. It was unexpected. No one wakes up, decide to have a stroke because their would love to try out rehab for the next ten years.

No one does that.

So, this post’s title, The Unexpected, needed a subtitle; therefore, Unexpected - Post-stroke.

After the stroke, I felt very lucky that I had survived this heart attack and stroke, but it didn’t take that long to realize life has changed, not in a positive way, but to an unsettled, unknown, and strange negative way.

But, during my recovery (still have a lot of things to work on), I have had some unexpected but wonderful relationships with some incredibly friendly, honest and warm people. I would like to share to you why these two people helped me in an unexpected way.

Professor

The Head of the faculty and I had a meeting regard to my position. I thought they were going to let me go due to my aphasia and health problems. But, nothing could be further from the truth. He and my department head wanted me to continue with my rehab, take time off and come back to permanent position. The unexpected happened.

Occupation Therapist

After the stroke, I lost a lot of my language skills both English and Japanese. At the start, there were equal (severe), but as each day went by, I lost more and more Japanese and English. My brain couldn’t deal with both languages. It wants me to use English, but I was in a Japanese environment, everything, signs, nurse, doctors, cooks were in Japanese. How am I going to survive? She came to my room with a brilliant smile, full of energy, and started talking to me in perfect English, shocking the nurse and doctor who was checking my vitals. She was completely comfortable using English, something that the doctor quickly realised to his anguish. The unexpected happened.

Since your stroke, has the unexpected happened to you?

Marcus

Weekend Conversation No. 4

Weekend Conversation No. 4.

Sent this topic last weekend by miss. I am wondering if anyone is interesting continuing No.4 topic this weekend.

Hi Marcus,

I have just seen your extra post about Conversation Number 4. I am happy to answer with the original question.

Has the unexpected happened to me since my stroke?

Yes heaps! So I am trying to narrow it down to the top five.

1. Becoming aware that people so easily put words into one's mouth if they take more than a moment to think about and respond in conversation. Frustrating and amusing all in one. People can be so impatient!

2. Discovering the absolute power in unrelenting optimism.

3. On the flip side of the number 2. a reminder of the need to respect and learn to carry our grief in our own healthy way.

4. That a sincere and friendly smile can go a long way, and this works both with giving and receiving a smile.

5. That when I found the ability to reconnect with the Stroke Community 22 years after my stroke I totally embraced this and have discovered so much peace and energy to be found from doing so.

I hope this answers your conversation starter.

And the unexpected still happens to me all the time and I love this.

Sue

Hi Sue,

As always you have a brilliant positive attitude in regard your recovery and your life. I find from your messages, photos and posts uplifting, never give up approach to life very assuring. Thank you for all the good vibes. Again, I am using a bit of hippie philosophy.

You were the unexpected person.

You took your time to respond to my posts, blog and questions were huge for me. As I have written before, it took me a long time to take the first step to write on the blog and on the forum, but having someone to reply in a thoughtful way made it easier for me to continue writing.

So, you and others on EnableMe were the unexpected. Thank you again.

I hope anyone who reads this post, Weekend Conversation, No. 1-4, Recovery & Photography Group, EnableMe forum, or blogs can find some tips, ideas, comfort, or someone to talk. If there is, then I feel I am doing something useful.

Keep on going forward.

Marcus

Marcus and Sue. I have a special story story to share with you. While in the stroke unit in 2012 l met a mature agednurse who was in her final year of study, she asked if I would be her study patient because of my complex medical history. She was such a caring and compassionate nurse. Once I was home we kept in touch. I was able to say Thankyou for her part in my recovery by teaching her to play Mah jong .i wish fulfilled for her..

That friendship was totally unexpected . If I have a down day "she gets it"as do the warm helpful people on enable me .

Thankyou to one and all. Enableme opened up a new world for me. Jenny

Hi Jenny

A really great experience you have shared with us. How the nurse you have mentioned has impacted your life, and you hers.

The learning from each other to be cherished!

And you know I have never learned to play Mahjong - it always looked really interesting to me but something I never had someone show me how to play. Do you still play?

Sue

Hi Jenny,

Like you, that friendship was totally unexpected. I lost her when I left the hospital, so I was very disappointed not to have the change to say thank you. However, when I started to having epileptics (too much exercise!), she found me again in the emergency ward. I have Polish names so it was very easy for her to find me. It was great to see and to tell her how much she helped me.

The unexpected, again.

Marcus

Hi Marcus

I realised I didn't reply to your comment, whoops, missed that one.

Your very welcome as far as the appreciation of how I have walked with you on the way through your EnableMe experience. Look at where this conversation began - I think it might have been me responding to your using the pencil as an app!

It works both ways as you know that. Funny thing for me to be using this public platform to continue to nourish myself. Knowing that my privacy came first in recovery, I was very aware of the judgments and curiosity that I just did not have any clue how to manage other than trust my instincts.

And using your hippie philosophy - I didn't know that's where good vibes comes from. I just have always known this term and thought it made sense. Send out the good vibes, the song by the Beach Boys "Good vibrations", comes to mind.

Sue

Weekend Conversation No. 4

Weekend Conversation No. 4

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