In The Beginning

Think of John Ritter, then you think of me and why I’m writing this blog.  He died from an aortic dissection.  I also had a dissection.  I had one in my brain and survived.  I sometimes wonder why. But I did and had to learn how to deal with life all over again. It takes a tremendous amount of effort to come back, but I have to say it’s worth it.  I am in recovery from a dissection and have been for the last 5 years.  I am writing this blog from the perspective of someone in recovery and will offer practical suggestions for stroke rehabilitation, for both the stroke survivor and their caregiver.

My story is important because it is truthful and inspiring and it offers hope to family, friends, caregivers and medical professionals a that person can have a productive life despite a severe stroke. 

When I had my stroke, a surgeon told my husband to give up, thankfully he refused. How many other families might have had this same experience?  They need to read about the potential for a full life despite the stroke.

This information is topical and timely because there is neither predictability nor a cure for strokes, but a tremendous amount of interest in a medical problem that costs U.S. citizens $43 billion a year.  It is estimated that four out of five American families are impacted by a stroke.  There is a tendency for people in the brain injury community to view us as people who can’t do something.  This couldn’t be more wrong.

I still love all the things I loved before, fashion, exercising, hanging out with the girls, socializing and having a good time. The point is that in spite of the tendency of those around me to marginalize me, I still love these things.  I just have to approach them differently.  This blog will share how to do these things again and provide shortcuts to a productive life.

Every once in a while I surprise myself and do things that I could have done before the stroke.  Today that thing was to fix the toilet.  It would not flush this morning.  I removed the top, jiggled the chain and this caused the tank to start filling with water.  The reason this was significant is after the stroke there are many things I won’t even attempt.  I am trying to adapt this “can-do” attitude. Now granted, the problem that needed fixing was inside my home.  I need to tackle outside issues and get out of my comfort zone.

An anecdote, if you will allow me, is that I sometimes watch reruns of Sex And The City.   I watched one yesterday where Aiden was moving out of Carrie’s apartment, and as he was walking out, he noticed she was trying to fix the toilet.  He offered to help and lifted the lid and said to her “The ballcock needs adjusting.”  She said to him.” Ok, you cannot leave now because we can’t have the last words we say to each other be ballcock.”  I laughed and laughed about this again as I was fixing my toilet.