a stroke survivor story

The last couple days I have been really, unusual. I don't know exactly how to describe it. I'm tired all the time. No matter how long I sleep at night I never seem to get enough sleep. The last few days I have noticed that my eyes have been acting a little weird. I tried to explain it to someone but it is like I just can't find the words to describe it right. It is worse when I have to change my focus, when I am looking at one thing and then have to change the focus to something else it seems as though it takes just a fraction of a second to refocus. Now, a fraction of a second does not seem bad until you are driving; then it can be pretty problematic. I also noticed that I seem to get a little dizzy when I stand up. It is not something that really bothers me, but it is a little irritating. It is not bad enough that I think "Oh, no, not this again." But it is something I notice. I don't know, perhaps it is because tomorrow will be the 2 year anniversary of the...

I know it is a day late, but I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year. It is hard to believe that I am starting my 6th year in my new life. I am 43, so that means that nearly 14% of my life has been post-stroke. I am so thankful for my family that has been  able to keep up with my changes. My wife is 40, which means that nearly 15% of her life has been post-stroke and yet she has been so faithful to support me and understand me. I have never felt a sense that she resents anything about me. Now it gets pretty tough. My son is 21, which means more than a quarter of his life - 28% - has been with a post-stroke dad! My oldest daughter is 15, which means that nearly half of her life - 40% - has been with a post-stroke dad! My youngest daughter is 12 which means that she has lived half of her life - 50% - with a dad that was post-stroke. Sometimes I feel bad that I cannot do what most dads can. I can't go and play baseball, softball or basketball with them because I just don't have...

It is hard to think about sometimes but 5 years ago today, I was in the Knoxville VA celebrating Christmas with my kids, my wife and  my mom and dad. 5 years later, the Knoxville VA is closed, my mom and dad have both passed away, but my wife and kids are celebrating with me. It was a great year and I pray that each of you had a wonderful Christmas holiday.

Today, as I sit to write this, is December 18. I had noted on other sites (mostly on Facebook) that December 8 was the 5 year anniversary of my stroke. You read that right 5 YEARS. Sometimes it is hard to believe that it has been that long. To bring some comparisons and insight: I was youth pastor in Louisiana for 3 years, I was in college at Trinity Baptist college for 3 years and 9 months, I was in the Army for 4 years and 10 months. What do all of those things have in common? They were major life accomplishments for me, but they were less than 5 years. It is amazing to me all that changes in my life; I cannot express enough how supportive my wife has been for me. I can't even begin to imagine how much her life has changed in the last 5 years, and yet she has always been with me. I survived a terrible 2012 as I experienced the deaths of 5 loved ones, to include my mom and dad. It has been a difficult 5 years, but with God's help I have been able to survive it. I remember aski...

I went back to my neurologist earlier this week; the neurologist that had been with me since my stroke left to take another position at the same hospital so I now have a new neurologist. Needles to say I was a little unsure about going to a new neurologist. I know, I know, I should not think that Dr. Benjamin walks on water but it is hard not to think that; without her I would be dead! But, I digress. This new neurologist told me some things that I had never heard before. First, I had always been under the impression that I cannot take any NSAID pain relievers because I am on an aspirin regimen. But, he told me that an occasional Motrin or Aleve is not bad; I should not become dependent upon them (that is, I should not take them daily, just periodically) but 1 every now and then is not going to hurt. The second thing he told me that made me go hmmmmmm was when he told me that all of my headaches (I get periodic terrible headaches in the back of my head. Those of you who have followed m...

I just looked today and was amazed that it has been over a year since I posted anything. On the surface that would indicate that everything has been great; but, the reality is that I have just been insanely busy. I know I mentioned that my dad passed away earlier last year (February 27, 2012), but after that things just got worse. My brother had triple bypass surgery in April, my mom was hospitalized in May with shingles, my Aunt Anne passed away in June, my Uncle John passed away in early September, my Uncle Jerry passed away in late October and then my mom passed away December 23! Needless to day, 2012 SUCKED. For 2013 my brother, Dave, really hit it on the head. He said that it would not be possible for 2013 to suck as bad as 2012. So far he is right. Thanks, Dave. I am getting ready to re-publish my book through Tate publishing. The first time I published Living the Life of a Miracle I used a local, self-publisher The Write Place. They were wonderful to work with but they did not...

I know it has been awhile since I have posted. I know, I know...shame on me. A little update: it has been nearly 4 years since my stroke. I do notice that I get tired more quickly. I tried to go to the local Rec. Center again to do some exercises and lift weights. That was really exciting...for about 3 weeks. Then it seems I hit a  wall. I was tired, I seemed to lose some stamina quickly. It does seem, too, that my swallowing is a little more sporadic. What I mean by that is that I find myself having to stop in the middle of conversations at time because I cannot seem to swallow when I talk. I did receive this the other day from another stroke survivor. She is only 26 years old and wants to share some insights to others. I have not edited any of her comments, so it appears exactly as I received it. "At 25 years old, I was untamable, spunky, spontaneous, moody, rebellious, occupied and preoccupied with love, radiating energy, full of life, healthy, fit, goal-oriented, driven, n...