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About this blog

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

Entries in this blog

Walking multiple miracle

I saw a friend Saturday evening. She told me when she saw me when I was in ICU 2.5 years ago. I was in such bad condition. She told the friend thaT was with her " we need to brace yourselves, he likely will not make it.He doesn't need a miracle he needs multiple miracles." Well here I am I guess I have a little better idea why those that saw me then and now are so amazed at the fact I can walk and talk, omah maybe not at the same time. wow a comment like that will make you stop and once again r
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Wow what a day ( Saturday)

I met another new Survivor at the hospital on Saturday, it could've been me laying in that hospital bed. Just the way he joked around with the nurses I had the opportunity to meet his wife and two of his daughters I was there for lunch as his wife was feeding him and he looked at me with a big grin on his face and said I kind of like being pampered. One of his daughters asked me if I played chess. I said yes. It in not real good. I told my new friend next time we would play a game of chess and
Jayallen

Jayallen

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incredible blessing

While volunteering yesterday, I talked to an elderly woman about the patient portal.   We chatted about a number of things, I gave her the cliff note version of my health scare 2.5 years ago, and my lastest blessing of having my poetry published in the newsletter. she asked if I had any with me, I said no, but I offered to recite "Darkness to Light", in June's newsletter. Her comments were humbling. She Said," oh that was so beautiful, thank you for sharing, that has inspired me. I replied
Jayallen

Jayallen

3

Sun Tanning the hard way

Everyday I get complimented on my way tan. I tell people they can have the same thing it's called waiting at the bus stop to him. Too bad it's just my face. But it is 10 minutes at a time so they have to worry about burning my face or head just the rest of my body when I do get to the beach. I'm not complaining I love the public transportation that we have give me my freedom and I've got really good color on my face be blessed and be a blessing. Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Be sure to check out the newsletter

Heads up today's edition of The Stroke Network newsletter I am officially on staff healing with poetry I've always believed poetry was written to be shared and this is such a beautiful opportunity for me. The blessings continue to come your way I know they're coming my way we will everyone be well. Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Blindness made worse temporarily

I have my annual exam yesterday of course they had to dilate my pupils why was it they do that on the sunniest brightest day of the year. And that doesn't want to see me again for another year I love it when the doctor say see you in a year. Be blessed and be a blessing. Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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One Step Closer

I stopped by my lawyers office and my disability case has been assigned to judge no date yet but that's a big step forward anyways keep me in your prayers you guys are all in mind blessed and be a blessing. Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Follow-up appointment with my opthamologist tomorrow

I find it hard to believe that my opthamologist determine that I was legally blind and even if it's the Social Security Disability Administration definition of legally blind and yet they still denied me again I think it is a war of attrition if I can withstand the gauntlet of all the doctor's appointments etc. They finally give up and grant disability. I'm looking forward to the appointment because I really do like the doctor keeping a positive attitude I do know that my vision has diminished
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Witness the Beautiful teaching moment between a mother and her small child

while waiting for the bus outside the grocery store a young mother with a small child, I guess 4 years old they walked to the dollar store nearbt then came bck to the grocery storethe mother said to the little girl you know how that lady help you in that store now you have to pay it forward you need to help someone else I didn't get the opportunity to talk to her but I wanted to tell her what a beautiful lesson that was to teach her little girl that is how the world can be changed if we start
Jayallen

Jayallen

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I'm so blessed with great kids and friends both old and new.

my daughter called me this morning and told me she was coming over to mow the grass " because I know you still have challenges with that".   Most Tuesdays I meet a friend for coffee, I know he had surgery a week ago or maybe 10 days.   We played phone tag. Well this morning his wife stopped by the coffee house on her way to workout at the YMCA, just to update me on things, because she knows how close I am to her husband.   Sitting outside the coffee house soaking up the early morning Sun,
Jayallen

Jayallen

2

Another day of amazement

It started with the white-capped waves washing up on the beach beautiful son with a North Wind Mother Nature's natural air-conditioning in full gear dropping the temperature 10 to 15 degrees so humbled and blessed to be here to witness that. No bus service on Sunday is really struggling with Sundays we all can recall those days. I secured a ride to the hospital from a friend or family member and I'm so glad I did the smile on my friend's face when I walked into her room on a Sunday afternoon i
Jayallen

Jayallen

5

Another Blessing filled day

while doing volunteer work at the hospital I'm currently working on a special project getting patients signed up for the patient portal. I walked into a room and I verified the patients first name and introduce myself with my first name and she said oh my God I can't believe it's we met just over a year ago when we were both in outpatient t,herapy, a fellow stroke survivor and I told her that she was my inspiration for working with stroke survivors in the hospital and she said no way and I sai
Jayallen

Jayallen

1

a day of funk turned into a day of fun

I start my day not depressed but not jovial really just in a funk I can't pinpoint why it was just there so I went to the hospital did my volunteer work put a smile on a couple faces and then the charge nurse stopped me in the hallway and introduce me to a new trainee and commented on how wonderful it is the work that I'm doing because it really does help those survivors now if that doesn't put a smile on your face nothing will then I finally had an opportunity to work on my email see what's goi
Jayallen

Jayallen

2

30 month anniversary. 2.5 years

2.5 years ago today a dramatic and traumatic Health crisis stop the journey I was on and started me on a path of a New Journey a new normal the path of the new Journey has not always been smooth there have beenroad blocks, detours and bumps along the way. This morning sharing a cup of coffee soaking up the early morning sun I contemplate the beauty of life and how blessed I really have to be here to experience this. Often Words fail me when I try to describe the intense Jubilation I feel t
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Memory slip leads to monor anxiety attack and a solution

I was on the bus thinking about the different [laces I wanted to try to get done this afternoon it all the sudden, I realized had forgotten where I was going. after 20 seconds I remembered it was Tuesday and I needed a transfer to go to the hospital for work. Now on my solution moving forward.I have a written itinerary for the day primarily the sequence of places to go, I cross them off as I get to the destination. My memory slip, may be a function of my stroke or just part of the aging pr
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Back on stage literally and metaphorically

As I continue my journey I was challenged okay may be prodded to get "back on stage." I love theater, I has always been a part of my life, except the past 2.5 years. This last weekend I was involved with the Stage production with our local Community Theatre Group which I've been a part of for the last 32 years. I was very apprehensive with my memory issues about going back on stage. A discussion with my councilor a few months ago she said to me I promised I would never tell you what to do b
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Humbled beyond words

I've been volunteering at the hospital for just over a year now my title is patient Ambassador which is really a quality assurance day talking with the patients making sure everything's okay and make sure they understand I can't fix anything but I get it directed to the right people recently one of the nurses introduced me to a stroke survivor is the stroke and bassador and when I introduce myself I let them know that I am a stroke survivor that definitely opens the door to a lot of discussions
Jayallen

Jayallen

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yesterdays blessing and life lesson came from a 4 year old.

My grandson was visiting yesterday when I walked in the house he screamed hi papa!   Grandma showed him how to make a balloon sing, you now put air in balloon and pinch between fingers as the balloon sing, followed by a lid squeal and uncontrolled laughter, all I could do was smile and laugh. We all need to take time and appreciate the little things in life and just enjoy things. Amazing that this 4. Year old teaching this old dog new tricks.   Okay maybe just a reminder.   Still a lovel
Jayallen

Jayallen

3

Spring has sprung

Drinking coffee watching the sunrise or Southern Lake Huron I hear the drone of freighters moving grain and other Goods to Parts Unknown. Otherwise is quite silent alone single steps to say good morning. The silence is broken pushing a 1932 wooden Hull Chris-Craft up the shoreline a true sign of spring. What an absolute blessing to be able to witness these sites. Be blessed and be a blessing. Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Boasting turns to Blessings

Tuesday April 12th Mark 29 29 months Post-stroke while at the hospital doing my volunteer work I encountered the charge nurse on the floor and she said how are you and I said I'd excellent and she said really and I said yeah it today marks 29 months post stroke she says well you look like you're doing great I said thank you I was so humbled by that one. To do more boasting of course and I encountered my OT and told her it was 29 months and she was just a big big smile on her face she said yo
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Another Blessing just begging to be shared

While having coffee with a friend of mine wbo sees me counting out change to get my coffee he said are you okay financially and I kind of pausd and I said well you know he pulled out his wallet took out a $50 bill and slid across the table to me and he said I hope this helps I wish I could be more and this will never be spoken of again I wanted to cry I thank ed I'm as much as I could but how do you think somebody that does something like that out of the generosity of their heart. What an abs
Jayallen

Jayallen

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A brief flash of the past

Last week the volunteer coordinator send an invitation to the annual volunteer recognition dinner, with a deadline to RSvp.   Yesterday she sent out a follow-up email to all the volunteers yesterday she sent out a follow up email to all the volunteers as reminder to RSVP for the dinner. With the new security measures put in place by the new company that bought the hospital when you send a group email it hides all the other email addresses except for the person that's receiving it. some of t
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Double connection

At the hospital today I met a new stroke survivor when I introduced myself as the stroke Ambassador because I am a stroke survivor her face just lit up I could tell she appreciated having somebody who could understand what she's going through and we chatted about that quite a while she mentioned something about her work and I said well where are you working or where were you working and she need to place that I worked worked for quite a few years ago but I spent 10 years working for the organiza
Jayallen

Jayallen

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paying it forward

Chatting with a friend at the coffee house, he asked where my coffee was, l said i was broke so he bought me a cup. I said when I have some money i would pay him back, he said no need next time you have money buy a cup for someone who needs it. The very next day chatting with another buddy. He looked at the clock and said 10 more minutes and I get some money so I can have a coffee, I bought him a cup I told him no need to O pay me back. I told him the story of yesterday and said just pay it
Jayallen

Jayallen

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