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About this blog

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

Entries in this blog

Wow what a day

It started with the birds chirping to me first thing this morning I'm sure they are excited because they Spring Lake temperatures were having I'm sure in the rain I'm sure there's a lot of worms crawling around then to squirrels decided to come by me just say good morning. The first bus driver I was in contact with this morning what's listen to oldies music and singing along not the best voice Bright House sweet see somebody just enjoying life. Part1 jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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another great day.

Sun is shinning, lifting my spirits. Oops, forgot what time our support group meets, I was 10 minutes late or 50 minutes early, with the time I thought it was, oh well must laugh at that one. I got to the meeting room, and saw people in there, so I looked closer and realized it was my group.   no sense worrying, everyone understands, some may have done the same thing. be blessed and be a blessing. jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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My glorious amazing day

The sun is shining its 25 degrees F but it did get down to minus 8/2 this morning so that's a 33 degree increase in temperature throughout the day   Any day I can have the sunshine on my face is a great day 25 degrees notwithstanding. Everybody needs to stop and enjoy the beauty of each day that we have be blessed and be a blessing. Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Another glorious amazing day

Sunrise is still a half hour away but it is getting lighter and lighter not a cloud in the sky which would explain the temperatures we have it is -6 or -20 C Living where we do geographically we very rarely get lake effect snow we did yesterday. It may only have been 8 inches but it's light and fluffy easy to move around and walking up to the bus stop with the cold temperatures I am able to hear the snow crunching under my feet like walking on popcorn. I am so blessed to be able to walk the
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Another funny moment

Just downtown terminal it's really quite nice. This morning it wasn't melting very good the sidewalk wasn't melting very good and I said no its not use as well its a heated sidewalk so I said kick your shoes off and let me know if it's working we both just laughed we've only got about 6 inches of snow on the ground right now just from overnight and the windshield is down into the single digits I really am a joker. Be blessed and be a blessing, Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Laugh for today

At the coffee house that I hang out at there is a single unisex bathroom for patrons always trying to be courteous I always knock on the door before I attempt to open it well today was a little different I knocked on the door and one of the guys that works behind the counter rather lovely said come on in definitely threw me for a loop and he just started laughing. It was pretty humorous. Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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New Year traditions

I know most people usher in the New Year at ghtNew Years Eve I choose to watch to start my New Years by watching the sunrise on the first day of the new year and what an amazing sight it is so beautiful once again I realize how blessed I am to even be here on this earth thank God. Be blessed and be a blessing, Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Thank you, bi thank you, oh,no thank you!!!!;

This morning I stopped to visit my new friend before she was discharged from the hospital and I gave her a card wishing her well. We chatted for a few minutes and she said I just have to thank you you for what you're doing and I'm so glad you stopped to meet me you've given me so much hope for my future and I said well I need to say thank you for telling me that sharing that with me made my day because that's all I ever wanted to do is to help others and she said oh no I need to thank you beca
Jayallen

Jayallen

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New Year's wish

2015 is drawing to a close and here we are on the eve of 2016 may we all take time to reflect on the blessings we have for being here being Survivor as we enter the new year may the road of your journey be smooth May this new year bring you happiness and joy even contentment and prosperity. Be blessed and be a blessing, Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Amazing day. Top notch

While doing research on peer support. I found a study that validates whT I have said, the best person to provide emotional support to add a new stroke survivor is another stroke survivor because family and friends cannot understand what the individual is going through but we can, It's so nice to have validation from a scientific study. I finally met the new be at the hospital today today is May 8th and she's being discharged tomorrow day 9. We made an instant connection website for the strok
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Silent contemplation leads to an interesting revelation

While in the bus. Just staring out the window at the scenery passing by I realized I was very blessed I am to be here and there major blessing is the realization that I'm still here to help other stroke I recall 2 years ago because it was two years ago today that I was discharged from the hospital to go home what a beautiful day that was for me to be out of that hospital two days before Dr decided to Prescribed Zoloft My daughter God lover was protesting And if I got any benefit of anti d
Jayallen

Jayallen

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desperately seeking beauty today

Air temp is 27F wind chill 10F, no need to look too far in a beautiful person (inside at least), I am comfortably and confident to start conversation with complete strangers. Having fun and hopefully add joy to someone's day. My regular coffee hangout is closed for the holidays Had to find another haunt, easy a young lady that went to school with my oldest has a restaurant downtown, nice atmosphere free Wifi and coffee refills,nice people all around, Having a great day, I hope you are as wel
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Incredibly amazing gift

As my daughters packed up their gifts and their children, I hug my daughter and said hopefully next year I can get you a real present referencing getting my disability. She said dad first of all I don't need anything and the best gift gift you gave us was surviving and being here to celebrate Christmas as a family all of us together. Wow my daughter understanding what the true meaning of Christmas is. As my wife was preparing to go to bed she complimented me on all the cooking that I did sta
Jayallen

Jayallen

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An amazing moon rise

I happen to look out the window at Lake here on and saw the most amazing full moon rising was beautiful and silhouette today freighter heading down to the Sinclair River with a Christmas tree lit up on it bow. What a Blessing. Be well my friend I hope you're having your Christmas day was as lovely as mine my daughters with their grant with the grandchildren are coming over. Can't wait to see the other ones. Be blessed and be a blessing, Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Another new tradition has begun

My Christmas present to the family has been making breakfast Christmas morning. The kids have all grown and 3 of the 4 have children of their own so last night I stayed with my youngest daughter and her four year old grandson and she made Christmas morning breakfast. It was actually quite nice to see my daughter carrying on my family tradition. I think before the stroke I probably would have felt differently about giving up my tradition, But as a stroke survivor I will learn to accept thing
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Sea's greeting

How blessed am I, 2+ years on my new journey. I spent the night at my daughter 's house. I was provided the opportunity to see Christma morning through the excited eyes of a 4 year old. People tell me I'm lucky to be alive I couldn't agree more of an absolute blessing everyone has decided to go back to bed. May this holiday season bring you peace and joy. Be blessed and be a blessing,. Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Must control my enthusiasm/ curb my enthusiasm

Just thinking about the new be at the hospital I'm excited about the opportunity set before me. Ensure that I do not cause more harm than good. I'm sure this person does not need anymore stress or anxiety put on them at this point. When I get up to the hospital this afternoon and right to meet with a few of the nurses and let them know to tell the family hi all available to them as well. I believe it needs to be a formalized process. Oops now I'm talking like the administrator that I once
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Of family and friends

This afternoon when I stopped at the grocery store I finished my shopping and was waiting for the bus when my father in law stop me he asked where I was going I told him home and he said let me give you a ride that saved me about an hour and a half on the bus I might late night run to the store where you had it are you waiting for Kay as a no I'm waiting for the bus will come I'll give you a ride. My life is so blessed with family and friends Be blessed and be a blessing, Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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A delightful greeting from my bird friends

I decided to make a last minute run to the store via bus just a few items I have to pick up and I won't have time tomorrow I won't be able to do it tomorrow I've got multiple things to do including babysitting my grandson and for the neighborhood birds decided to stop by about five feet from me and start chirping at me what is delightful greeting. Be blessed and be a blessing, Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Everything happens for a reason

My brother was supposed to come over for Christmas his wife is out of the country visiting her family he is diabetic and has a dietary restriction of no knots so my peanut brittle is out of the question so I decided to make and I decided to leave out the nuts I also decided to make banana muffins without the nuts actually I made a dozen banana muffins without nuts and a dozen Banana Nut muffins with a record high temperatures I started thinking summer food so I thought about a pulled pork sandwi
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Glorious sunshine

To a break in the overcast cloud filled sky it didn't last very long but it was so beautiful to sit outside drinking a cup of coffee and feeling the warmth of the beautiful sunshine on my face. Before blessed and be a blessing, Jay
Jayallen

Jayallen

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How soon is too soon to meet a newbie

At the hospital today they did have one TV a patient on the rehab ward and the church showed day 0 she was just admitted to the rehab today I had a brief discussion with the nurse taking care of the person today and we decided she may need a couple days to adjust to the whole thing before being introduced to it the stroke ambassador as they call me. As I told the nurse I was talking to today it took me almost a year to say the words I had a stroke without cringing and almost breaking down cryin
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Another amazing day, one year ago we had 17 inches of snow on the ground.

Temperatures were in the low teens for a high temperature yet today a high temperature is expected to be close to 50 degrees and our overnight low was only 44 degrees last night. As a person who uses public transportation to get ever ready to go I'm appreciating this climate change it's much nicer to walk around in misty rain then a foot and a half of snow. The rain we are experiencing the last couple weeks is replenishing our water table. The Sun is fighting its way through the clouds warming
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Answer to a prayer revisited.

The young woman I encountered a week or so ago I ran into her on the bus the other day with depression and even suicidal thoughts and I said you are being you are seeing somebody for that aren't you and she said yes I am I just think it's critical to intervene with stroke survivors even if they are not severe enough to go into inpatient rehab do we all have the same issues dealing with the loss 10 dealing with the new normal everyone should have someone who can reach out to I continue to pray t
Jayallen

Jayallen

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Volunteer role may expand.

I scheduled a meeting with our Volunteer Coordinator at the hospital I asked if it made sense to reach out to the acute care ward and I see you but earlier intervention with stroke survivors she expressed her concerns about the politics involved with sonic boys are very territorial that sounds like my former life as an administrator in the male health system. Brought it up as a possibility I will definitely keep it in the back of my mind and as I have the opportunity I will present it as an id
Jayallen

Jayallen

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