I just want to send a blessed shout out to all of my Sisters and Brothers out there who have survived a “Stroke” and the Stroke Advocates/Caretakers that are out there doing their thing helping them along their journey as well.

Let me tell you something… a stroke is a very traumatic change. Not only to the person that has suffered the stroke directly, but everyone else around them. Can you imagine your life changing with a blink of an eye leaving dramatic results…? Can you imagine…?

As an Advocate myself, we not only have to be strong for ourselves but for the stroke survivor as well. And yes I said “stroke survivor” because they did survive. They are still here with us but this time around have to go about things a lot different to get the same results. Please pray for your strength and theirs, and always encourage. Say to them as I would say to my husband “the more you do the better you become” Yes, it may be hard right now for you to speak, or walk, eat and even write, but never allow the person to stop believing because with God all things are possible.

You are correct in trying to seek answers from others in your situation. The doctors will always give you a grim view. I guess it’s their job and they have to give the worse case scenario. Your so called friends will separate from you and your family as well. Initially they will try and tell you “just call me if you need anything and I will be there! Just let me know what ever I can do, what ever you need…” But they simply disappear and go on with their lives, leaving you to untangle yours “yourself” Aw, they come back long after the dust has settled, but what about all of that stuff they said…? I don’t know why things happen that way but they do.

At the time my husband had his stroke I had no one. It was just him and myself. I slept at the hospital in the chair next to his bed every single day and night and continued to speak with him when he couldn’t speak, feed him when he couldn’t eat, massage his paralyzed right side from head to toe, exercising his paralyzed arm and leg, washing his face and making sure to massage the right side of his face that was once mis-shapened from the stroke. I shaved his face every week just like he had when he was able. I mean I would shape up his goatee real nice around his mouth and everything! Y’all he was the best lookin guy up in the whole intensive care unit! ..hahahah. Yes believe it or not I did all of this as I continued to pray. My life at that point had to be put on hold because I knew how important it was to him, and for him to get back to himself.

One day he awoke and called for me as I was asleep in the chair next to the bed. I was so very tired and opened my eyes half way because I thought it was someone calling from the hallway or something. Then he called out to me again and when I focused my eyes in his direction he was sitting up in his bed and had removed his glasses from his face looking at them and he said “you know… when I get outta this place I’m going to need for you to call the eye doctor and make an appointment for me. I can see outta these glasses, but I think I need a new prescription.” I have to tell you at that very moment I couldn’t move from that chair and I sat eyes wide, mouth open thinking…”oh lord is this some kind of dream I’m having here?” I got up and walked over to the right side of his bed and stood next to him. He looked over at me and smiled saying that he had so much to tell me! I smiled at him holding back the tears in my eyes and held out my hand, and asked if he could take my hand. He gave me a strange look and his paralyzed hand opened and held on to mine, and I raised it to my face and kissed the back of his hand. I walked to the end of the bed and asked if he could wiggle his toes on his right paralyzed foot/leg and he had a puzzled look on his face and asked if I was alright, and repeated what I had asked him. He not only wiggled his toes but rocked his foot from side to side and moved his leg! At that moment I lost it and fell to my knee’s.

This was just a year ago today. He is a walking, talking, living, breathing miracle before my eyes, and I just smile every time I look at him, and thank the heavens above. God is so good when we truly believe, and I always have.

I hope I was able to encourage someone today. There are so many levels a stroke can have on our bodies but always remember… “you are still here to serve your purpose in life” Stay encouraged and never give up!

Warmest regards
-Dena aka “Boots”