Survivor's Stories - Mid Life Stroke for an Adult Female.
HELEN'S STORY
From the moment I suffered the stroke that lunch time in a crowed Melbourne restaurant my life took a dramatic turn. Looking back I now know those long months in hospital and rehabilitation unit were just the beginning of my road back to recovery. It was a cerebral haemorrhage that caused the stroke. I have long since come to terms with the reality of my situation and have found my comfort zone. This makes me think that no matter what happens I can go on.
My life is now very different because of the stroke and the long years of rehabilitation I have experienced. I believe that it is a far richer life for having travelled along this road and as I wrote in the poem Hidden Treasures, ‘We all have some darkness shadowing out lives. Without it we may never know how much there is to learn, to gain, and for us to give’.
I believe I was given a number of gifts by God after having the stroke. The first was that of acceptance. Accepting what had happened to me without question was such a powerful tool in helping me through many difficult and unpleasant experiences. Another gift was the hope of recovery I received from the therapists and medical staff. Another was the loving and continuing support I received from family and friends. They too gave me hope. These were all treasures in my darkness.
I also learned many valuable lessons. One was that there was no answer to what had happened and it was no use trying to find one. Another was a that at some stage we have to take responsibility for our own recovery. I believe that healing itself comes from God and we cooperate with Him by taking responsibility for our healing, being positive and expectant. Others can advise and help but they cannot do it for us.
I cannot do some of the things I once did, but that doesn’t matter. Two such things are playing golf, and sailing. But I have learned to surf, on the World Wide Web, I have written books and I have designed web pages and many other things.
The stroke has allowed me to take a different turn in my life’s journey. I have travelled roads that I would have missed if it had not been for the stroke and my horizons have been greatly widened. I would not have chosen this path but I do not regret it.
Thank you Helen, for sharing your story with us.
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