Recovering from a stroke
The Long Hill To Climb Back Up.......
Like an elderly lady, the 40 year old woman shuffles slowly to her kitchen.
Fluffy slippers, shuffling along, look brand new. A gift while she was in hospital, though while in hospital, she could hardly walk at all.
At home, finally, the beautiful, warm, softly feminine, slippers are finally being used.
Shuffle, shuffle, ........... let´s see, today can she lift the coffee pot.?
She reaches for her favourite mug, cartoon cats adorn it.
No problem placing it on the kitchen counter. The coffee pot, is not quite as easy.Much heavier than the mug. Her hand begins to shake as she lifts the pot her dad has already filled with steaming Mocca.
Although still slightly shaking , she manages to pour the dark brown liquid into her mug. Pleased that she has only splashed a little of the coffee onto the counter, she breathes in the.wonderful aroma that only morning coffee can bring..
Exhausted already, she sits down and begins to practise the breathing exercises that she has promised her doctors will become part of her daily routine. Then as if it is a reward for her efforts, she sips the delicious coffee..
Breathing excersises were part of the list of items handed to her dad , if she was to be allowed home.. Oh! How she had wanted to come home from that busy, busy place. Peace and quiet , please. Just let me go home to my cats and peace and quiet , please.
The poor woman has no idea of just how ill she has been, or how incapable she would be if allowed home too soon.
A stroke can kill.
A stroke can incapacitate.
A stroke can often be put behind you if it´s mild enough and it is recognised early enough.
(See . Signs of an oncoming stroke at the end of this hub).
Finally the day came when our young woman was allowed home into the care of her widowed father, . Together they´d manage with a little help from their nearest neighbour.
So, here she was today. Dad had gone to work, and her neighbour would arrive very soon.
She had managed to get her own coffee and did her breathing exercises. This was one step forward, she though as she sipped her coffee.
The phone rings..!!!!!
She ignores it. Her slurring voice would make no sense to anyone at the other end of a phone. The day would soon come , though , she felt positive, when she would shuffle along in her gorgeous slippers and answer the phone.
After that, the shuffling would develop into a more natural, though slow, walk..
For today, she sits now, stroking one of the kittens of her favourite cat. The little one that never leaves her side. Sleeps on her bed, sits on her lap, follows her to the bathroom.The faithful, loyal , little kitten who seems to think she is a great big guard dog.!
I hear about all this and smile, that she is getting better, but tears still stream down my face because I am not there to help her.
Notice certain signs of a stroke,. The quicker you dial the emergency services, the better.
Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arms, body especially if all down one side.
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding,
Sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes.
Sudden dizziness, trouble walking, loss of balance.
Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Every minute counts for a stroke patient, so act fast in calling for help.
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