Me and my sister, Cherie. 2010. Showing off my lopsided grin. This is when my left side still didn't work well.
2020 marks 10 years! 10 years ago I had my stroke. I have learned so much during this journey. I have come a long way. My biggest lesson has been that I can keep improving. I can keep getting stronger and find a little bit more of the old me. Never think that a stroke has defined your abilities.
My biggest improvement is with my physical stamina and my left leg and arm strength. This year I started going on walks which led to hiking again for the first time post stroke. It hasn't been super far and the ground has to be fairly smooth, but I am hiking! I walk about 3-5 miles each time. My daughter, Tiffany, says that she thinks I am the fittest she has ever seen me. What a wonderful compliment!
I am also getting stronger with my balance. I have focused on yoga to help with this.
More improvements include: I am driving a little farther on my own. I'm getting a little braver. I can wear a little a bit of jewelry now. I've learned more coping techniques to deal with my sensory overloading.
My daughter-in-law, Brianna, has told me that she can no longer tell that I had a stroke and she definitely could when she first met me 6 years ago. I no longer explain to people that I have had a stroke. My stroke does not define me.
I still have things to work on. Some things may never improve, like my arm. My focus is on what I can improve. I tell people: I am the turtle, not the hare. And like the turtle, I keep moving forward.
2020 has been a hard year in a lot of ways, but I am grateful for the quiet time, the personal time I have had to focus a little more on my healing.
My mother-in-law, Nancy, and me with our 2010 injuries:She had a partial leg amputation. I had a stroke and starting wearing a glove and jacket to keep my arm warm. The warmth takes the edge off the pain.
2020: Me learning yoga.
