As you all know, I had my stroke 24 years ago and 23 years ago, I was told not to expect anymore changes to my left side. What's left? My arm, I can now lift high enough to tell time(watch on that arm) I can touch my nose with my hand (in a fist) (have to be careful I don't knock myself out. lol) I can walk without cane and brace(I use the cane in winter because of the ice(slippy))For about 1 year now because I am not wearing my brace, I can wear normal shoes and don't have to buy 2 pairs(one for each size)The thing is I'm lazy, I know my b/f is right that with exercise it would still get better. never perfect but better than it is. The thing is when they told me that was it, I believed them. For over 20 years I've accepted and perfected using only one hand. I can live with that. I can do almost anything with only my good hand. This is a topic of contention with me and my b/f. My Dad told him, when we started together that I was a quitter because I had stopped exercising when I was told not to expect anything more. I was so upset with him for saying that, a man who's world stops when he breaks a toe. a man who doesn't know what to do with his dripping hands if my mother forgets to take a hand towel out. I had to go live with them after my stroke, one condition of my being released from hospital. I didn't overstay my welcome. Within the year I was back at work and bought a condo so I could start my new life. So how could he say that, I never depended on them for anything. I never asked for anything,What they did for me was done (I don't know) because they felt they had to because I was alone(husband had left 2 years before stroke)but I can tell you I paid them back tenfold by always being there for them (financially and moral and family support)Enough that for someone outside looking in they could have thought that everyone in my family had a stroke except me) At the time of my stroke they even made me feel like I had done something to them by having a stroke. They felt obliged to cater to me and years later that was put on my nose that it was so hard to see me like that and hard to care for me on top of their other responsabilities. (poor them) So thats why I can take care of myself regardless of my handicap. I was talking about my parents but the same thing goes for my brother, sister and my kids (for my kids it came later when they were older. If any of them were to read this , in their eyes I would be the most ungrateful person on earth. So why did I never cry? because they couldn't take it.

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