merichsen

Stroke Survivor - female
  • Posts

    802
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by merichsen

  1. As she had every right to be Lois. They are beautiful. All fixed. Maria :friends:
  2. Sweetheart, Think about the full scope. Being an inspiration does not necessarily mean you always need to be perfect. To be one others can look up to and emulate isn't it important for them to relate and see you are human? What good is an image that's impossible to live up to? It's okay to hurt, feel tired, and ask for help. It shows others that you are human and a real person. When others see you are real like them, they are inspired because they believe you are like them so if you can do it they can too. I may be wrong, but I'm somewhat hearing that you'd like to live your life and through it be an inspiration, but aren't too happy with celebrity of it and the part you must play to uphold that. If you really don't like it learn to say no, instead get involved in other ways you can make a difference that are more in line with who you are. Maria :mwah:
  3. merichsen

    Lion and the sheep

    Kelli, I've always lived by the rule to not argue with ignoramuses. Just based on their behavior I knew it couldn't be just me and odds were those around were likely victims of the same nonsense too. Putting myself through the humility of defending myself the bully to those who likely knew just didn't make sense. Don't think for a second his family doesn't know EXACTLY what he is like or that this is the first time he has done this. They know he's the bully and power monger of the crowd so it's pretty unlikely anyone is going to make themselves a target by coming to your defense. Your family consists of you, your husband and your son. Who really cares what the dynamics are of your in laws family with their children? That was their kids sibling rivalry. Your strong prestroke personality may have just been a threat to it. Try to keep in mind there's really nothing to win. The best way to combat someone who tries to play with your emotions is with apathy; they can't mess with you if you just don't care. Love you, Maria xoxo
  4. Maybe reconsider renaming it "What Katrina usually accomplishes when her resilience and never ending spirit". Babies don't learn to walk by hitting the ground running and neither do we. Just because you didn't accomplish your goal in a short frame of time doesn't mean all is lost. Practicing walking short distances at home with dad nearby to spot you, trying to break the habit of holding the rail, and really thinking about your arm to swing it are things you just still need to work on. The botox only hurts that badly the first time because your muscles were so tight and had shrunk so badly. After the first it's a breeze and the results are much more dramatic. Don't quit now unless you want to go back to square one. Each time you get a series of injections it will help you pick up where you left off and you'll continue to make progress. By about the 3rd round I didn't even feel them anymore, I just can't look cause I'm too squeamish and chicken. Don't you dare give up now or you'll make me come down there and drag you there myself. Maria :mwah:
  5. Frankie, Blog whatever is on your mind that you'd like to share. Your great attitude, warmth, and positive outlook are contagious, inspiring and always welcome. Maria :mwah:
  6. Linda, I agree with making an appointment with your cardiologist. I had an aneurysm which burst during surgery to repair it. Afterwards each time I had the slightest headache or felt nauseous it was another aneurysm growing to blow point. I would actually bring on headaches half the times from the anxiety and stress of thinking there was another one lurking. I really needed to know there really wasn't anything up there ticking like a time bomb. I told my neurologist of my fear, he pointed me back to my neurosurgeon for reassurance. To give me peace of mind and as a follow up as well I'm sure, I got to have the fun of having a little camera snaked from my groin to my brain. Amazingly there was a brain but all else was clear. Not the most fun test but absolutely worth it! I never gave it a second thought after that. I had pictures and proof that I was good to go and was told to come back for a recheck in 5 years. I haven't given it a thought since. Until now. It's actually 5 years this month. ~ God works in mysterious ways. Thanks for the reminder. Make an appointment. I will too. ((((((((hugs)))))))) Maria
  7. Susan, Nothing is trivial when it's happening to you. There's no need for guilt since you're not complaining, just sharing what you are experiencing. I don't know how many will share their stories directly here, but you can read our collection by clicking on this link: Member Stories Keep blogging it will help. Thank you for your prayers, we will keep you in ours too. ((((((hugs))))))) Maria
  8. merichsen

    Ortiz

    Lenny's new Boston Terrier puppy who he got for his grandson Christian and named after Christian's favorite baseball player David Ortiz.
  9. Good for you Fred. Glad you made it there and back safely. My money would still be on you if you were still among the ranks. You're a tough act to follow. Those kids have nothin on you, you're a legend. :You-Rock: Maria :friends:
  10. merichsen

    OUCH

    NO SWEETHEART IT IS NOT EASIER GIVING UP. No the doctor is not crazy you do have to stretch it like that to excruciating pain every day. Best way to do it is to weight bear it or get someone with no mercy to help (I'll send my son over). The good part is the pain is temporary until your muscles stretch back to size. Once they do you'll be able to move your arm and hand pretty easily and if you keep up with your injections they won't shrink so it won't tighten up again. In addition to the painful stretching, as you're sitting watching TV, relaxing, whatever get in the habit of playing with it with your other hand by stretching it open. Before you know it you'll be amazed, you'll be relaxed and you're hand will just stay open. Now you want to be a real girl Pinochiette ~ shoes hmmm ~ that's a little tougher. but not impossible! Check out http://www.footsolutions.com/womensshoes.aspx Here are a few that should be near you: http://stores.footsolutions.com/zip-locate-results.php They're not Jimmy Choo's, but they have Oh!'s and some other pretty stylish nice ones. They are familiar with these type issues and will fit your very specific needs like if you have claw toes and an AFO. Acceptance is not necessarily settling and giving up, it is more being happy with and liking who you are. You are a beautiful, accomplished young woman with great will and spirit admired by many, don't define yourself by an arm and leg. You are so much more. Love, Maria :mwah:
  11. Congratulations Terry. God bless.

    My 16 year old was 9 1/2 weeks early, he's 6' 200 lbs. now.

  12. merichsen

    More senior Moments

    Fred, You are such a happy, cheerful person to be around. You brighten the site with your uplifting spirit wherever you are ~ blogs, message board. Thanks for just being you and part of our family. Maria
  13. Gotta tell ya sweetheart, I does not sound at all like you ran out of miracles to me. Sounds an awful lot more like you may just have received the miracle you were asking for. Maybe not exactly as you saw it, but one that God who is far wiser chose to grant you. It seems to me quite the miracle that after so much time and frustration, you now coincidentally chose to reflect and gain a new perspective for how far you have come. It sounds as though you were graced with acceptance and great appreciation for the amazing woman you are. Finally being given that peace of mind is indeed a miracle! I am so very, very happy for you Katrina. There is nothing like peace of mind, it's quite a gift. Don't ever let anyone take it away from you. Love, Maria :mwah:
  14. Katrina, Enjoy your break and time to take a breather. Just don't burn yourself out running on that hamster wheel. You don't need your left hand to achieve the same level of excellence in grad school. Don't let your disability define your future, allow your potential to do that. Imagine if you had put your education on hold to work on your arm. Where would you be now? If by some miracle your arm came back tomorrow, would that be enough? What do you really want most for your life? Don't spend it being a stroke survivor who devotes it to trying to get better but never moving forward elsewhere. It seems you decided not to do that long ago, why turn back now. Albeit this is an immensely amazing accomplishment, keep going forward and take advantage of all life has to offer. Love, Maria :mwah:
  15. np just thought ya disconnected. Pretty thick skinned ~ one of those dreaded, boring english teachers.

  16. merichsen

    RIP little brother

    Marie, I am so sorry for your loss Marie. Please know you have my sincerest condolences and you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Maria
  17. A very Merry Christmas to you and yours too. xoxo

  18. What a beautiful pooch Kimmie! Very cool dog.
  19. Donia, :friends:too! It's great you have a good attitude about just letting it go. I always looked at anger and hatred as useless emotions that only serve to bring you down and consume you with negativity. Just ignoring it by not allowing someone to push your buttons and control your emotions is the best thing you can do for yourself. You're a sweetiepie and are loved by your friends here. Maria :mwah:
  20. Ruth, It's great that William is being treated so aggressively and willing to work hard to meet the challenge. Seeing his progress as a result of his hard work and determination must make you very proud. Maria
  21. Yolie, I echo Sue's sentiments. Taylor is quite blessed to have such a supportive family who has exposed her to so much and provided her with the tools she needs to continue to thrive. Being too adorable for words doesn't hurt either. Maria:friends:
  22. When you're ready for a new one take your daughter's advice. Never, ever, ever again... We have 8 Dells in this house, a premium customer account, and theoretically a dedicated tech. Had a similar virus nightmare and was told it would cost me a couple of hundred dollars if I wanted to speak to someone in the U.S. Like somehow I might go for that. Two months and countless stressful phone call from my husband later thy did finally upgrade and replace my computer. Wasn't worth the angst for something that should have been taken care of without the run around. Like I said never, ever again...big mistake...they lost a good customer.. With schoolwork my kids go through computers at a rate of about one a year. At this point I thik of Dell as a cheap disposable that's good for them. BTW - One thing I learned from my tech in all this...(you mentioned you have a ouple of programs to catch the viruses ~ aka antivirus programs). You should really only have one. Dell comes preloaded with MacAfee. Many people then dd their own without uninstalling the MacAfee. When you have more than one it thy conflict and it creates gaps which can allowa virus to get through. For a few hundred dollars though we can connect you to someone in th U.S. to assist you in fixing that problem. Pretty sleazy business practice. ~guess that's all you can resort to when you're drowning and desperate. Glad you got yourself up and running again. Sorry you guys were stressed over it.
  23. merichsen

    Changes

    Fred is a very wise old coot. Getting your education, defining and learning to take care of yourself is the best thing you can do. No one can ever take that away from you. Relationships may resolve or not work out as you had hoped, but you'll always have your sense of self. A long time ago you asked what was meant by....you can't love someone else unless you love yourself first. This is it! ~~ not you can't. but you're really better off Never look to someone else to complete you. ~if they go away you're shattered. Educate yourself and grow from within so you are complete within yourself and no one can shatter that or take it away. Love and romance are then more of a choice you can enjoy than a desperate need to fill a hole which you always fear at any moment could bring your world to a screeching halt. We'll have to find you a younger version of Fred...He's a keeper.
  24. merichsen

    Changes

    Katrina, Great news on the arm. Keep throwing your left hand in there. It took many years for your brain to learn to live without it, now you need to reteach it to use it again. Keep up the great work, you'll get there. I'm so sorry you got hurt honey. I know you don't see it now but he did you a favor. No one should love you for what you do for him, but for who you are. You are an amazing beautiful young woman who deserves to be attended to and appreciated for who you are. Ones that will make you cry are a dime a dozen so...LATER! The one who's worth you time will jump through hoops for you because you are worth it. Never, ever sell yourself short or settle. Love, Maria :mwah: