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About this blog

Highlights of simple things observed that were taken for granted pre stroke

Entries in this blog

Spring showers

While making my coffee this morning I heard the patter if rain drops with an early morning rain I opened the window I love the fresh smell in the air as the rain begins to fall What a blessing to be here to witness such a beautiful event I think I want to go for a walk Peace and prayers to all Jay Not even a moderate rain can stop the birds from singing
Jayallen

Jayallen

5

3 years and my daughter still doesn't understand

My youngest daughter is moving into an apartment she sent me a text asked me if in my travels I could keep an eye out for the table for her cheap something like $20 I know what that means she wants me to hit the second hand stores to see if I can find a table for her and of course purchases it also with the 9 or 10 second hand stores in and around the area traveling by bus it would take me a solid two days to go to all of them get there and then wait for the next bus. if she made a similar reque
Jayallen

Jayallen

11

Non survivors really don’t get it, do they?

A relative was over last night She lectured me about “letting go of my label Stroke survivor” “that’s behind you now, time to move on” As you know our recovery is a lifelong process, unlike a broken bone that physically heals in a matter of minutes compared to our life long healing. It’s so much more than just physical healing; not that it is easy by any means. The mental and emotional struggles are challenging to articulate. I work hard every day to be positive, I fight off the despair th
Jayallen

Jayallen

7

Wow humbled,blessed,and amazed

Yesterday the volunteer organization at the hospital decided to pay for my bus pass for the next 3 months wow it's not a lot of money but when you have no money it's huge. Today when I stop for my morning coffee I threw my couple dollars and exact change on the counter and the barista said wait wait wait I thought maybe the prices gone up and he said nope I've got a note here that somebody's paid for your coffee for the next 5 days I truly do get by with a Little Help from My Friends. My last
Jayallen

Jayallen

10

War of attrition, over and I won

I received a call from a worker at local SSA office.   My disability is APPROVED.   Only 3 year. Now I can get on with my life. Happier dance. I would like to kick my heels but I know I would end up falling not worth trying.   Now I can breathe.
Jayallen

Jayallen

8

Old age, cognitive impairment, or 30 years of marriage.?

Yesterday waiting for the bus at the main transfer, I was talking ,as always, with another patron, a young woman. Just small talk about riding the bus the weather etc. Then she suddenly asked do you have someone, with a pause I waited for the rest of the question. I final said,im sorry I don't understand the question. She daid do you have someone a girlfriend or wife? I said yes I have a wife She replied too bad because I would be interested. I told her it was flattering. Well it's tru
Jayallen

Jayallen

5

A new holiday tradition

I have always made peanut brittle. As Christmas presents. I use a multigenerational recipe. Three years ago i had my stroke the weekend i had planned to make it. Since then when i want to make my brittle i have to arrange for adult supervision . Last year my sister inlaw agreed. This year decided. It is a new tradition for us. We have fun. I am so blessed.
Jayallen

Jayallen

6

Another absolutely amazing day

the sun is shining and it's a beautiful November day it is 25 degrees F outside 2and the sun is shining and as long as your block from the wind like I am right now it really is a beautiful day and it's amazing I am so humbled to be here to appreciate it
Jayallen

Jayallen

2

Another amazing day

I stopped by the hospital first thing this morning because my to see my patient because she's being discharged and I had to give her my So Long Farewell best wishes card which I always personalized based on our conversations and she's as I was getting ready to leave she said wait a minute she locked her wheelchair stood up just let me give you a hug wow what a beautiful way to start the day then I stepped outside and the sun is shining for the first time in over two weeks doesn't get much better
Jayallen

Jayallen

3

Making someone's day after she made mine

Saturday I was not feeling very joyful on my way to town. Money was tight, what else is new. I stopped for coffee I was d I going out change and the worker said that's good enough. I'll pay the rest. This person is always so happy and full of positive energy. As I was leaving to get my bus. I told her how she helped me push the negative energy away. I thanked her for the coffee she said don't mention it. I said thank you for being you. We shared a laugh and my day was brightened the re
Jayallen

Jayallen

3

Annual CT done

Hesitate in both beyond surgeon and neurologist have copies. As I was reviewing at library a friend who is a RN.   She said the most important thing is the findings. Comparison to past few years of CT.   "Stable and unchanged examination.   Yes I'm doing the happy dance but well aware docsnay see something in the report that I don't understand.   Peace out and have a great day. Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

4

Counting months

Today marks 35 months since my stroke does anyone else still count the months not wanting to minimize the tragic events of my past but at what point do we stop counting months and start counting years just curious I know it's up to each individual I'm just not sure where I land on that next month will be 3 years any input is always appreciated I love the support and encouragement I get from thank you thank you thank you
Jayallen

Jayallen

4

40th anniversity celebration

Wow what an amazing event. It was so good to so many former co-workers, so many hugs. A special acknowledgement, from the Executive Director. One of a few that saw me in the hospital. "So Glad you could make it and we all miss you."   I had to fight back the tears, once again so blessed and humbled.
Jayallen

Jayallen

2

Making lemonade

I know you understand when I say I'm making lemonade when God gives you lemons you make lemonade every day I realize more and more how blessed I really am to have survived for my stroke and I'm able to read this guy was able to ReDiscover the poet deep within me that I pushed aside all those years ago because of life I'm writing on average two to three Palms day and I'm having so much fun with it of course I love doing the volunteer work at the hospital I met a new Survivor last week of course i
Jayallen

Jayallen

3

Labels

what do labels mean what do labels do? labels are simply barriers they are preconceived notions or categories about youridentify the notion of what we should be or what we should do I am a stroke survivor not a stroke victim now I can add legally blind label to myself am i handicapped disabled differently abled what does the label tell you about the person that I am nothing simply an arbitrary notion of how I should be and how I should be treated there is only one label that matters to m
Jayallen

Jayallen

1

Raining Sunday Blues

I was feeling isolated on a little lonely I was feeling isolated a little lonely I realized I need to take a look its own my own writing and then I thought to myself WWRS that is: what would Rachel say rachel is the counselor I have been seeing for just over a year and I know what she would tell me about my mini pitty party. She would say pull your big boy pants up and get over it. Said with compassion and empathy, but that's what I needed today. that thought made me smile and laugh to myse
Jayallen

Jayallen

2

Please dont conplain to me

Sharing coffee with a felkiw survivor i was whining about the fact it took me over a month to read a book 180 pages , pre stroke it would've been 1 day. My friend said " please dont complain to me, Im still relearning to read, Id love to have what you have. No matter how frustrating it is. Lremember when you think you have it bad there is likely someone worse off. Keep fighting the good figgt. Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

3

Post rehab regression?

Real quick question I met a gentleman at the hospital followed him to a long-term rehab facility got to know him and his family quite well he is now home and his wife is frustrated with her perception of regression simple question since my memory is so bad of what what I am what happened to me as soon as I got home from Inpatient Rehab is there a is it normal to have some regression in the progress moving from a structured facility to home? This caregiver is really struggling right now I'm tryin
Jayallen

Jayallen

3

Laughter is the best medicine, at least for me

There is nothing funny abiut having-surviving a stroke, however there are humorous situations that arise and I must laugh at them or I would surely cry. The other day switching buses one driver I've gotten to know ealked by and i hear Hey you how are you.but I couldn't see eho it was. She walked up to me put her face directly in front of me. She said "can you sre me know? I assumed you couldn't see me " i daid yes but the best thing is I can laugh about. It was quite a sight the two r
Jayallen

Jayallen

4

Giving a friend an opportunity to smile during a dark day

A good friend of mine has been sick for a couple of weeks a couple of her children as well as well I had to top it all off on Monday afternoon her mother passed away I sent her a message today offering my condolences and I did tell her if you need anything you let me know although I don't know how much assistance I can be I have no money I travel by bus I can't see and I walk really slow She is one of the regular bus drivers I see on a daily basis I'm sure she said she sent a response back and
Jayallen

Jayallen

1

Cause and Effect

Be the case not the effect! Don't afford anyone the opportunity to laugh at you. Make yourself the punch line of your own jokes. That way people can laugh with you not at you.
Jayallen

Jayallen

1

My laugh for the day

I have been using the bus for about 4 years now.  There are a few places I go on a regular basis, I know generally when the bus should pass by.  Yesterday was very warm, okay hot by Michigan standards (90+ degrees F 35 degrees C.  I usually go to the bus stop about 5 minutes before I expect to see the bus.  Yesterday was the same routine.  I was hanging back in the shade.  I was day dreaming about getting home taking a cool shower and just relaxing.   looked up as the bus passed by, at the estim
Jayallen

Jayallen

4

No More Counting the months

this past Saturday November 12th I celebrated my 3rd anniversary as a member of the exclusive Club of stroke survivors I have decided that there's no sense counting months anymore I'm just going to tell me yours must be I'm moving further along on my road of renewal God bless and be well my friends
Jayallen

Jayallen

1

Out of context

Seeing people out of context with a visual impairment could lead to embarrassing moments or a good laugh.   While having my morning coffee and doing a little writing sitting in the coffee house to my left I hear this familiar voice hey how are you today so I had to turn my head to try to see who was talking to me and then Focus and she said it took awhile to realize who I was didn't it and I started laughing this is the counselor I've been seeing for over a year I don't think I've ever seen he
Jayallen

Jayallen

1