WELL, IT'S BEEN SOME TIME SINCE I HAVE BLOGGED, BUT I FEEL SO GOOD ABOUT THIS. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, RACHEL AND I ATTENDED A STROKE CONVENTION IN HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL. WE TRAVELED 400 MILES TO MEET WITH OTHER STROKE SURVIVORS, CARETAKERS, DOCTORS, STROKE ADVOCATES, AND THERAPISTS.

WHILE THERE, WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING AND TALKING WITH LYN WISMAN OUR VERY OWN STROKENET VOLUNTEER. THIS WAS SO GREAT FOR RACHEL AND I TO MEET WITH ONE OF OUR CYBER FRIENDS FACE TO FACE. WE SAT AT THE SAME TABLE WITH OTHER STROKE SURVIVORS, A SOCIAL WORKER, AND MY SISTER WHO ALSO JOINED US. WE HAD LOTS TO TALK ABOUT BUT SO LITTLE TIME TO DO SO. THERAPISTS AND DOCTORS WERE GIVING SPEECHES ON THE LATEST STROKE EDUCATION.

IT WAS JUST NICE TO BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU WERE GOING THROUGH SINCE THEY TOO FACED THE SAME CHALLENGES. THERE WERE 140 STROKE SURVIVORS AND CARETAKERS PRESENT. TO ME THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE AFFECTED BY STROKE, YET THAT'S ONLY A SMALL PORTON OF THOSE AFFECTED ALL OVER THE WORLD.

MANY STROKE SURVIVORS HAD THE SAME MESSAGE FOR RACHEL: "NEVER GIVE UP" I KNOW RACHEL FELT GOOD ABOUT OUR VISIT. WE MET LOTS OF INTERESTING PEOPLE AND HOPEFULLY MADE SOME LASTING FRIENDSHIPS.