Rose Smith

Stroke Survivor - female
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About Rose Smith

  • Birthday 05/25/1961

Contact Methods

  • ICQ
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  • Skype
    rosiefsmith61

Shared Information

  • Stroke Anniversary (first stroke)
    September 17, 2008
  • Facebook URL
    http://Rose F. Smith
  • Interests
    family, reading, crosswords,warm water exercise
  • How did you find us?
    Google Search

Registration Information

  • First Name
    Rosemary
  • State
    North Carolina

Rose Smith's Achievements

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New Member (1/10)

  1. Happy Anniversary Rose Smith!

  2. Happy Anniversary Rose Smith!

  3. Happy Birthday Rose Smith!

  4. Happy Anniversary Rose Smith!

  5. Thanks, Sandy. Yes, I always let my transplant coordinator know about this sort of thing ASAP. We are playing around with my BP meds. Swelling's gone down a bit, thank goodness.
  6. Had to go to the Dermatologist stat today as my lung transplant coordinator didn't like the look of a growth on my left calf. Immunosuppressed transplant recipients are highly susceptible to skin cancers and I am fair skinned. They did a biopsy and I should know something by the end of the week. Also,my lower leg edema (my "cankles")seem to have returned. Probably because I'm more active and upright now, so I'm back in the TED hose like back in 2009, right after my stroke. REALLY???!!! Is this supposed to be funny? In the words of Queen Victoria..."We are not amused!" :growl:
  7. hang in there beanna, my recovery has jump started again recently and I'm SIX years out!
  8. Yesterday was the 6 year anniversary of my double lung transplant, during which I suffered my stroke. The transplant saved my life. The stroke changed my life. It was a steep price to pay, but I have lived to watch my son grow up and see my husband embark on a second career as a middle school teacher. I've been able to see my parents reach their 90's, and to know and love our dog, Gus. I hate having a stroke, but I love being alive. Know what I mean?
  9. Thanks for the encouragement you guys. And for always being there. This site has made it so much easier to get through some of my darkest days. :)
  10. (I've decided to try blogging from the perspective of my left arm/hand (my affected side) who I affectionately call "Mr Lefty.") Lefty's Blog I'm feeling less tight lately. The new brace Rose has been using at night seems to help. It holds my wrist in place and stops me from staying in the bent/flexed position I seem to crave. She also has me hold a tennis ball when she's driving. (Mr Righty does all the steering, I just hang out on her lap.) When we're stopped at a red light, I squeeze and release my grip on the ball a few times. The best is when I squeeze in time to a song on the radio. Today Rose tried to put me on the steering wheel to see if I'm able to help out yet, but my arm just didn't want to relax and straighten out enough yet and I couldn't keep a grip on the steering wheel, so not today. Maybe one day though, when I feel ready. I'm helping out more these days: holding on to things like a toothbrush or pill bottle while Mr Righty does his fine motor magic. The more Rose remembers to include me in stuff, the harder I try to come back to life. It's snail-pace slow, but I really WANT to get better, it's boring just hanging by Rose's side all the time, I want to get back in the action. My greatest dream? To one day accompany Mr Righty on the piano again, or even type the letters on the left side of the keyboard. Wish us luck, we'll keep you posted Rose and Lefty :goodjob:
  11. Wonderful news, Judy. So happy for you and Ray. Something to celebrate, indeed! All the best, Rose
  12. Today I held a 1 pound weight in Mr Lefty and did some arm stretches holding it. On my morning walk someone waved to me and my left arm instinctively tried to wave back. It achieved a slight arm raise, but the point is, it tried to do something without my thinking about it. Some pathways from my brain to my left side are starting to develop. I know that my brain is trying so hard to heal itself and if I encourage it along; trying to hold things with my left hand, stretching, squeezing a ball, it will take the ball and run with it. Here is my new mantra: IT'S NOT HOW YOU DO IT...IT'S THAT YOU DO IT! (RCVA-9/17/2008)
  13. Here's my new stroke mantra: IT'S NOT HOW YOU DO IT, IT'S THAT YOU DO IT! What do you all think?
  14. Things are changing for me and I want to share them with my fellow survivors and their families. I am almost 6 years post-stroke. I have left side hemiparesis. Lately, I've been exercising more(walking and exercise bike),stretching out my arm and hand more regularly, and getting better sleep. Also, I am FINALLY on a cocktail of antidepressants that seems to be working for me. Recently I have been able to use my left arm and hand more (for assisting the right hand; I'm right handed) and I am able to relax Mr Lefty (as I affectionately refer to my left hand) more and am able to attempt and sometimes succeed at doing things with my left hand that my PTs and OTs used to urge me to do but I just couldn't seem to do it, and gave up trying after a while. Anyway, I wanted to encourage folks that this recovery thing is a LONG term process and to never give up hope...I certainly had.