So, it's been a while since my last blog and so much has happened since. At the end of September our Landlord informed us he had to sell up and therefor we needed to look for somewhere to live. Our issue was, our landlord was a family friend (still is) and because of that we paid below market value for our house. So finding somewhere was a bit stressful. We found a house, that we could afford (just about) had all the paperwork sorted and a moving date of 30th October was set!
All good, right? Nope! On Thursday the 29th October whilst at a children's Halloween party, I came over all strange, in less than a minute I was on the floor! I vaguely remember a family member shouting for someone to call an ambulance! Everything was vague, and I only remember bits and pieces. I was put in the ambulance and taken to hospital. I remember going in to a room with loads of people doing various things. They were asking me my date of birth and address and I couldn't remember them
I was rushed through to have a CT scan and was then taken back to A&E Resus. I just remember thinking to myself, this is how I am going to die and feeling devastated that I didn't get to say goodbye to my kids! I didn't get one last hug or kiss!
I was told by the doctors that they believed I'd had a stroke! I was thrombolised straightaway and by this time I had a family member in the room with me. Finally Mark arrived, I was admitted to the hospital and taken to the stroke ward. I was unable to properly move my right side and could not feel anything. I was completely bed bound for about 2 days!
Saturday the house move went ahead with our family all turning up to help. Both Mark and I were totally overwhelmed with all the support we had. We are definitely blessed to have such amazing family and friends.
By Sunday I was able to actually go to the toilet (with help). Thank god for that, bedpans were just awful and so embarrassing! I had reached my first goal! On Monday it was confirmed I'd had a stroke (Left Posterior Cerebral Infarct). I asked what the chances of getting out by Friday would be, when they asked me why Friday, I burst in to tears! I was just about able to blub "because I want to pick my kids up from school" that was my goal! It then became their goal too!
I had a week of physio and occupational therapy and by lunch time Friday I was discharged with an intense course of home physio. We had called the school and we were able to park in the school grounds, and with help from Mark I made it to our youngest child's class. Seeing his face light up when he saw me was incredible! He ran out and gave me to tightest hug ever. Apparently the other parents all got chocked up! My eldest son came round, saw me and said "Hi, look Mum, I've got the same toy as Dylan!" lol!
It's exactly a month today since my stroke and I am really on the mend. I have physio 3-4 times a week and occupational therapy, I can walk further each week with the aid of a stick, I can now get in and out the shower by myself with the help of a bath board and also get up and down the stairs on my own with my new hand rails!
I am so determined to get back to normal as soon as possible. Taking each day as it comes. One thing I have to say is a huge, enormous thank you to Arbonne and also Tamlyn and Andrew for the strong emphasis on personal development. I can honestly say if it wasn't for that, I would be in a much bleaker place, asking why me?
I know that I cannot change the situation I am in and the only way to control the outcome, is to control how I handle the situation. The way I see it, I've had a stroke, and yes it's horrible but maybe I am going through this now, so that one day I can help and support someone else who goes through this. This is just a life experience I am going through and I intend to come out feeling stronger than ever! Nothing will keep me down!
I look forward to hosting my first Post Stroke Arbonne Event! And for anyone reading this, struggling with anything, remember you are never given more than what you can handle! Take the positives from every situation and nothing can keep you down unless you let it!
Much love and kissed to my Arbonne family xxx
