I am so tired of Stroke! I went through 58 years of my life, dealing with only one family stroke, my Grandmother: Ethel -when I was a teenager. She stroked in a car coming here from upstate New York for a visit. By the time my Aunt and Uncle got to a hospital, Grandma had passed.

Flash forward to 30 years later and I become a Nurse, working in sub-acute rehab. We did not do much with stroke rehab. Connecticut has a world class Stroke-TBI hospital. We received a few of their patients, for extended post-stroke rehab, but not much. Flash forward to 2009 and Bruce strokes.

We are in such a good place right now. Bruce actually multi-tasked today, first time. Took me a minute to realize what he had done. I am tying his shoes and he is wiping off his WC, never even considering that I am right in the line of the mess. But today, says I have to go do my dishes, but can we make a pit stop first? Remarkable. He is enjoying the quiet time here, no caregivers until 4pm and we spend our days together doing house stuff. Tonight we did sausage and peppers together. I hate giving him the real sharp knife, but all of you survivors have told me this is a must. He cut all the sausage himself. Later I am cleaning up the kitchen and he is channel surfing, well come into the kitchen and help me. Even stood to put the stuff I store at the top of the refrig away.

He hasn't asked to go to work or to the pool. PT advises she wants to work with him until the next round of Botox. Bruce groaned-lol. But we had a good talk this afternoon about setting goals for himself, whatever he decides they are.

And then Wham, Bam, Thank you Ma'am! Stroke never allows a respite. Our family friend, Barry stroked last July at age 56. My best friend in September, my sister's brother-in-law last month. In the meantime, Bruce's college room-mate's mother-in-law last year and now same room-mate's daughter, two days before giving birth to her second child.. The baby was delivered with some stress to Mom, of course, but is fine and healthy.

Maybe the good thing is I am somewhat numbed by stroke's path of destruction. My heart dropped when I read of Lucinda's stroke-25, a two year old son; husband a pilot. And her parents, so supportive of us. Steve flying back and forth when he had mileage, just to see his buddy. Now his fragile wife is in California, tending to their daughter; he is in New Mexico tending to his stroke-affected mother-in-law and their younger daughter, worrying about his family in California. Steve himself is not healthy! And all I can think of is how am I going to tell all of this to Bruce tomorrow? He knows something is going on, the phone keeps ringing.

I spoke to 2nd college roommate and his wife. They are relatively close in California, but had not heard. They are terrific people and I will not be surprised to hear tomorrow that they have arrived in San Francisco and are there for Vickie, Lucinda and family. In the meantime, I have yet to speak with Steve in New Mexico. We all know here that phone calls and messages are not a priority. I used to finally sit, after all was settled here and update friends and family. Mostly late at night, when we should be, but can not sleep.

Please all, prayers and thoughts for all of them. I have my hands full. Mary Beth's Mother-in-Law passed this week. Bruce is already dealing with that. He liked Marty in her certain way and they all or some will be here at some point, enroute or back.

Will update when I can, but for now, just have to spend some time getting my head around all of this and yes, precious sleep; Debbie