stessie

Happy New Year! I am not sure if there are those who still remember me (Stessie) but I remember ever so many. I turned 65 in November and celebrated with family and friends. Life in 2014 was good and I am hoping for the same in 2015. I am on Facebook under Stephanie Richey Wolfram...would enjoy hearing from you.

I just read your blog and wish you the best in 2015.

Thanks everyone. I am so happy to be back. I truly appreciate your comments.

Election day is Tuesday and the recorded phone calls will stop Wednesday. We are considered a swing state by both parties. One day this past week we received 12 recorded phone calls. One thing is that this has given me an opportunity to listen to both candidates live by attending two ralleys. I have worked the polls for the past five years and am looking forward to doing it again this coming Tuesday. I pray the turnout is great and that folks vote. I'll keep you posted about voter turnout. It is so good to be back on Stroke Net,

I haven't been on here much this year but just enjoyed catching up and reading blogs. In March of this year, I suffered from an infection in my upper leg that turned into sepsis. I was shaving my legs and had an inverted hair. Thank goodness my spouse talked me into going to the hospital as my blood pressure had plummeted and my temperature was rising. I was admitted and on the third day fell into a coma and suffered multiple organ shutdown...on dialysis for my kidneys; two heart attacks; stroke; collapsed lung; on a ventilator; had a trach; pneumonia; and etc. I was in the coma for almost a month. When I woke up, thank goodness I remembered my name but could not remember where I lived. After almost a month in ICU, I went to an accute rehab hospital and then on to a nursing home later for daily care. I survived! On July 27, I had heart surgery due to the heart attacks and spent more time in ICU and then to the nursing home again for more recovery. I have been going to cardiac rehab three days a week for more than six weeks. I feel blessed to be on this side of the ground and continuing to recover. In the last five years I have suffered a stroke; had breast cancer; sepsis; and heart surgery. I am truly a survivor! I continue to volunteer for Make A Wish, Be A Kid, and etc. I still watch our grandson several days a week...he is now 4. I believe that caring for Logan truly inspired me to push hard for recovery. I turn 63 later this month and am thankful for more birthdays. I am blessed and continue to make the most of what I can in life. Sure, I have some deficits but I work daily to try and overcome as much as I can. Stroke Net has played a big part in my life. I am so thankful for the friendships I have made here. I am on Facebook under Stephanie Richey Wolfram, too.

Leah, what a beautiful pic of you. Your blog is uplifting and I suspect much healing has and is taking place.

Leah, I am saddened by the news of Jerry's passing. It is so easy to make the statement "that you are a strong woman and everything will be okay," because it is truly not easy. You are so in my thoughts and prayers.

Leah, sending healing thoughts and prayers your way for both you and Jerry.

Hi, Kimmie It is alright to vent and it's healthy, too. This may be the only resource where you have to vent and you are among friends. We have in common things we cannot do with our grandchildren. You know what...I made up my mind early on there were things I knew I could do and things I knew my body would not allow me to do. Sure, I watch his other grandparents take him places during the day but I can't (my husband still works) so I read to him. He loves our reading time so it works out great. When he gets a little older and won't run on his own, I am sure his parents will let me take him places. I can't do the things my sisters can do now but there are things I can do that they cannot. I decided long ago I couldn't be jealous...takes too much time and breath. I love them both. This time a year ago I had gone through two surgeries, radiation, chemo, had no hair, broke my right wrist and had another surgery, broke two fingers on my right hand, cracked my elbow, and still walked like a penguin from my stroke. There is hope...a year later things are looking up. My cancer meds give me some challenges but I am still above ground. Hey, I just vented,too. Is there any way you can volunteer? I do so for four groups and being around others helps me realize there are others out there far worse than me. Plus, it makes me happy to be around other people during the day. Love you, Kimmie. You have had an incredibly challenging past year and you are a survivor!

Fred, I enjoy your blogs. Get some much needed rest when you get home, my friend.

Leah, I am so happy you are now living in the "now." I think it comes with time and realizing there are some changes and improvements we can make but there are some that cannot be undone. When you take each day at a time and get out as much as you are able, you interact with others and this is so important. I am so proud of you for getting out to get your nails done, going to your stylist, and etc. This is independence any way you look at it. I enjoy your blogs!

Fred, you are so wise and your words spoke to me of the truth I now know...without my brace on my left leg, I will still probably walk like a penquin the rest of my life. But, that's okay because I have never quit trying and there just might be something that comes along in my lifetime that will help. I exercise every day and keep that "mind of its own" leg on its toes. Love you, Fred, and enjoy and welcome your blogs.

What a year you had, Kimmie! Thank goodness most of those don't happen too often. Life is all about change and there are no guarantees. While a lot of what happens doesn't seem "fair", no one knows why the load of one is often greater than that of another. I have found that time seems to have a way of healing...you don't ever get over it...but the pain lessens somewhat and your heart begins to heal. Andy's body was a casement for his spirit and his spirit still lives on. You have that with you each and every day even though he is not here in body. Kimmie, you and Donna S. were there for me when I stroked...I think of you as a friend who helped me through my crisis. I am still on my stroke recovery journey and I know today it will never end. When I was diagnosed with cancer after the stroke, I had a huge pity party the day I found out and some so not very flattering words came out of my mouth that I never use..and thank goodness only one person heard me say them. The next day I moved on and knew that chemo was my only hope and it needed to be my friend as I wanted it to enter every part of my body in case there were still cancer cells floating around. I took the OncoType Test and it showed I had a high reocurrence rate. I know it is not for everyone but volunteering can be a wonderful opportunity. Think of the love and compassion you have for animals...there are animal shelters that could use your love and skill set. There are ways to get transportation if you do not have it. Most importantly, Kimmie, we love you here at SN. Keep on reaching out and getting those feelings out there...you were there for us...let us be there for you.

It is so good to hear from you. It sounds as though you have experienced some challenging days this year. We live with never ending change and really never know what the next day will bring. I wish you peace in your decisions and continued health improvement.

After breast cancer last year, I was hoping and praying 2011 would be a year without health challenges. It didn't take long after the beginning of the year for that to change when I had a second stroke. This one affected my left hand and through physical therapy, I now just have numbness in several fingers. I know that this, too, can change as I had the same numbness in my left foot after the first stroke and it went away about eighteen months later. No complaints here...I am thankful to still be around and loving each and every day. I just had a mammogram last week and all looks good for cancer remission. I still watch our grandson, Logan, who will be three in July several days a week. I am blessed to be such a big part of his life...if I were still working, I wouldn't have this opportunity. This week he told me, "now that you have hair, you are a hot chick." Where in the world did he ever hear this??? This is the same little fella who told me after he sniffed my new purfume that I smelled like a skunk. So maybe I am a hot chick who smells like a skunk..lol. I continue to volunteer and have added both the Wellness Community (cancer center) and Hospice. This is in addition to Make A Wish and Be A Kid Again. The Wellness Community is dear to my heart and I have made so many new friends there. Of course, you don't make too many friends at Hospice but if I can just do one deed for them while they are there...I feel honored. You can just pass them a glass of water or turn a different radio station on or switch the tv...easy things. I have always had respect for stroke caregivers but being at Hospice has tripled this respect. You give so much of yourself to loved ones and there are many times when you are exhausted. Life continues to be good. I am anxious to get out in the yard and do some plantings. We have some greenery coming up now..the rain this week and then several days of sunshine are the magic that is needed. Spring is such a time of rebirth. I love all of my Stroke Net friends and keep you in my thoughts and prayers daily. As a stroke survivor and hopefully a cancer survivor, I will never give up as I have too much to live for. My husband still has six years to work, so I am just hanging out until he gets to retire and we are able to enjoy retirement every day together. To all my stroke survivor and caregiver friends...don't ever give up.

Fred,go and have fun...safe travels.

I've spent the last several months doing physical therapy for my right wrist that was broken in a July fall and for two fingers on my left hand that were broken in an August fall. The first time I slipped on water near a pool and the second time I fell over boxes of hangers next to a counter at Dillard's. Wbew! What a summer I had. I started seeing a chiropractor who has worked with me on strengthening my upper torso muscles to help me in my walking. All in all, I have made progress. I'm also doing yoga and finding that very relaxing. Hey, I can't do everything but I enjoy parts of it. Logan (grandson) is now 2 1/2 and I now watch him three days a week rather than two. I love, love this child. It is so amazing seeing things through the eyes of a child. When he wraps his arms around my neck and tells me he loves me, my heart just melts. Of course, there are days I am exhausted and go to bed early, but having the opportunity to be such a part in his life is all so worth it. I'm helping a college prof with his on-line teaching by grading submitted work and etc. This is fun and keeps me involved. I am still very involved with Make A Wish and also Be A Kid First. These are two organizations that really give back. I volunteer one day a week at the Cancer Wellness Center and meet so many nice people. This gives me a chance to interact with adults. I finally have hair! I relegated "Rennie," which was my wig to storage. All wig companies name their wigs and Rennie was a good companion to me for many months. All in all, life is good. I continue to work on my left leg deficits and doubt I will ever give up. For me, I'm hoping for less doctor visits and hospital stays in 2011. It can happen. For you, my Stroke Net friends, I wish you nothing but health and happiness in 2011.

I am saddened to learn of the death in your family...but delighted to hear about Dan. What an amazing year it will be for you in 2011 with your family.

Fred, my condolences to you and Marion. It is not easy to lose a parent.

Brian, you are moving on with life. I am Stephanie and like to be known as Logan's "G." I am a two-time survivor of both stroke and breast cancer but that doesn't defne who I really am. Sure, my life changed but I choose to live in the present I am happy for you, my friend, that you are refocusing and moving on.

Thanks for all of your support in my winning bid for breast cancer survivor for 2010. The pics are up at www.cincinnati.com, then under Living, and then to the right under Out on the Town (Bras with Flair). It was a magical evening!