LIVING LIFE AFTER / DURING STROKE RECOVERY

LIVING LIFE AFTER / DURING STROKE RECOVERY:

We always talk about how to prevent Stroke, signs of Stroke and Stroke recovery, but how about Living Life after or during Stroke Recovery?

October 6, 2022, marked the 6-year anniversary of the day when I walked / stumbled out of inpatient rehab, following a 10 week stay, after my two strokes in May 2022.

  

Now, I have come a long way in 6 years, and I recently returned to my home province of Newfoundland.  I was back several times since my strokes, but this time it was different. It was the first time in our post covid world.

I got to see my three grandchildren, two for the first time, due to Covid travel restrictions. 

I also got to visit with my two sons and spend some quality time with them and their families. 

 

I even got to visit with my two brothers and their families, spend some time in the woods, have what we call a "boil up", which in reality for me is toasted molasses / butter sandwiches over an open fire, with a couple cups of tea.  We even roasted toutons, which is simply homemade bread dough, that you roast over an open fire, dipping them in melted butter, and rolling them in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar, (I will worry about the diet when I get home, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.) 

 (8) Arise through rough terrain!! - YouTube

(8) Trip through my hometown. - YouTube

My brothers also took me for a couple rides on their Side by Side, with one of the ride's being through rough terrain.  How rough?  Well, my first clue should have been my brother's first question, "Can you hang on", and the second question, should have been a dead giveaway "Do you want to put your seatbelt on?", well I am sure glad I did!! 

The other video shows our hometown, on a beautiful Fall evening. 

Then I had two of my buddies stop by for a visit, that I had not seen in person since my strokes, which was my decision, as I was not ready emotionally.  You see, before my strokes, we would fish / hunt, cut wood together, it's different now.  The days of me walking across a cutover looking for the next 8-foot piece of wood to pick up and carry back on my shoulder to the truck, throwing a fly across a calm pool waiting for another salmon to strike, reeling up a large cod fish or trolling across a lake looking for the next large brook trout, are over for me.  There is no amount of exercise or rehab that will get that back for me.  I have come to terms with that.  But that doesn't mean, just because it's different, that it is over, because it isn't.  I am blessed to have a large group of family and friends, that have helped me adjust, putting my wants, above theirs.  

While I was away for three weeks, I did very little rehab, except a little EMS and SaeboStim Spa.  The break from my daily routine was great, but I will now have to work a little harder, to get back what I lost.  Yes, lost.  I regressed in just three short weeks, plus sleeping in different locations played havoc with my sleep patterns, which didn't help.

As bad as this sounds, I needed a Big Reset.  This break made me realize that I must maintain a strict exercise routine, if I have any chance of further recovery, while maintaining my progress thus far.  It was eye opening and put everything in perspective.  

 

A regular day for me consist of Active Assisted Range of Motion Exercises, before my shower.  Then I spend some time on the WEDGE, located beside my bedroom dresser, followed by Thirty minutes in the SaeboStim Spa, and when the weather permits, I try and walk around our neighborhood, about 3-5 kilometers, or spend 30 minutes on my Recumbent bike.  I then spend 45 minutes on my Ex-N-Flex 250, and now during the winter months, I will spend 45 minutes using the SaeboFlex, practicing grasp and release exercises.  Also, this year I have been inspired by a client's testimony, to incorporate the SaeboMas Mini, into my exercise routine.  Then once the day is over, after dinner, and relaxing while watching some television, I will use my SaeboStim Pro, using Electrical Muscle Stimulation on my forearm, wrist, fingers and shoulder, which takes between 2-3 hours.  It is a long day, gets boring sometimes, repetitive, but it's different now.  For me, this is LIVING LIFE AFTER / DURING STROKE RECOVERY, NOT BECAUSE I WANT TO, BUT BECAUSE I HAVE TO.

I had a great trip home, that I will never forget, and it would not have been possible without Jane, my family and friends, but more importantly, none of this would have been possible without God's miracle in my life, and for that, I will forever be grateful.  We have no idea what tomorrow will bring, so it is very important to LIVE in today!!

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