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About this blog

Notes from a stroke caregiver

Entries in this blog

The Next Step

As I sit here thinking about the past seven months I can't help but feel that somehow I've lost my identity. When someone you love has a stroke or any life changing event which turns your life upside down you tend to forget all about yourself and focus all your energy and time towards that person.   I have a few notebooks that I either carry around with me or leave scattered around the house which are used to write down to-do lists. I'm not really good at remembering things so lists are a

julskovac

julskovac

Waves

Wow, I didn't realize that it's been so long since my last blog post! Things have really taken a turn these past few weeks. My husband has now gone from stroke survivor to heart surgery survivor.   Everything was taking its normal course (as normal as it could be) with regards to his stroke rehabilitation and healing up until a few weeks ago. Quite suddenly things took a turn for the worse. He wasn't eating at all, got more and more lethargic and increasingly difficult to get motivated.

julskovac

julskovac

A typical day in this caregivers life

Today started off fairly well only because I was up early in the morning after somewhat of a good night sleep which I haven't been getting much of lately. My husband had nothing on his schedule except for a doctor's appointment at 4:30 pm. The routine now is to get up, check my emails, have coffee and maybe a light breakfast, shower, dress and then get together a breakfast for him and go to work. My son is helping out during the day on weekdays and I take over full time on the weekends.  

julskovac

julskovac

Wii bowling is driving me crazy!

After a long hospital stay and major life-changing event the patient needs something to stimulate him and motivate him, right? My husband ended up with left side paralysis in the arm and leg after his stroke. Much of it has come back thanks to the wonderful therapy that he received in two separate rehab facilities. For three weeks he was in Yale New Haven hospital. Towards the end of his stay they determined that he was an excellent candidate for accelerated physical rehabilitation because h

julskovac

julskovac

This week I can't stop crying

My husband had a hemmorage aneurysm on January 24, 2011. He spent 3 weeks in the hospital followed by 10 weeks in two separate rehab facilities. I spent nearly every day of that time visiting him while dealing with my full time work schedule and taking care of our home. It seemed so hard and time consuming but everyone said I'm a "rock" and his best inspiration. Finally the day came when he could come home. Easter Sunday of all days - the resurection! I took 2 weeks off from work to be wit

julskovac

julskovac