I like to think of it as we are all "Blessed" people of God and if you want to call it luck, OK, but God knows His people, just look at yourself! Had your husband seen the right doctors it would have made a big difference for your husband in his condition.

I look at myself staying five months in the hospital to get better and still couldn't walk but here I am today doing pretty good considering my initial condition and getting to a hospital not a minute too soon, any later I wouldn't have lived.

The stroke was at 11am I finally got to a second hospital at 7pm with a brain bleed and passed out cold. It wasn't my time to go and now 9 years later I'm still here with all of you.

Call it whatever pleases you. If my husband had the doctors I did...he would probably still be alive and driving me nuts. We had (key word 'had') the same doctor and after she told me to drive to her office after telling her I had had a stroke or HA, I fired her; I should have fired her a long time ago.

It takes so long to figure it all out. There is no manual handed out to explain it all. I used to question the aides in the hospital because I thought they were the same as nurses. There is a big disconnect there.

You learn on the job, so to speak, so very hard to figure it all out. On top of the Adult Protective Service fear, and what people think of you, and every other insecurity there is. Like a scary movie, but you're living it!

There is not a person here who has not made a mistake, gotten misinformation, no information, made poor choices, ignored advice, etc. As Colleen advised there is no stroke recovery manual, but there is no life manual either.

Finding acceptance, peace is all we can ask for and work towards.

You have the gift (? - strange choice of words, I know, but true) of knowing stroke from the caregiver aspect and the survivor aspect. And will be able to help so many of us. We are lucky you found us and are so willing to share your stories with us.

I have found here that what works for others, may not work completely for Bruce and I. But I can't tell you how many times just one suggestion has led me off into a direction that has been positive for both of us. And sometimes not even related to the original issue - LOL.

So thank you for sharing and taking the time to explain this from both views. The more we educate, the more empowered we are. Debbie

Great Post! Welcome to the "Family" We all know what you are talking about, because we've been there. I look forward to chatting with you in the chat rooms. Never give up!

-Will

Thanks all and I'm glad to share and if any of it helps, I'm happy. I found out too late that our doctor was incompetant so, if anyone doubts his/her doctor...see another doctor.