Survivor???
Entry posted by Michael
700 views
People that have survived strokes, wear the title "Stroke survivor" like a badge of courage, which they should. I sometimes feel like I am not deserving of the title stroke survivor. Though in February 2007 I had a TIA (transient ischemic attack) caused by a tiny blood clot breaking loose from the back of my heart, traveling through an artiel septal defect (an abnormal opening in the wall separating the left and right upper chambers (atria) of the heart) in my heart and up my carotid artery to my head and lodging itself there, fried part of my brain. When I read or hear of how severe other people's strokes were, I felt like mine was not worth mentioning. Well, thanks to some very supportive folks, I am here to say, I had a stroke, be it mild, it was none the less a stroke. After all, I had no paralysis, only limited speech problems, minimal logical thought process issues and I was able to get my doctor to release me to return to work only two months after the stroke. That being said, I did not want to believe I had a stroke. Just because I had not hemorrhaged in my head does not mean, part of my brain did not die. Returning to work so soon was a serious mistake. I dismissed the fatigue and depression I was dealing with. Trying to keep up my job caused me to suffer a Gran Mal seizure 9 months after the stroke. I was relieved of my duties and let go due to poor economic conditions and reduction in staff. At the time this was written, I am still unemployed and struggling financially. I try to keep the faith, knowing I have never been given more than I can handle and always been provided with more than I could ever need. I am grateful for many things in this life. Way up on the list is this site. In the short time since I joined, I have made some great friends. Thanks be to those that started it and all those that volunteer their time to keep it's wheels greased.
4 Comments
Recommended Comments