In January 2014, I had what I thought would be just another busy day. I was juggling work and looking forward to spending time with my kids. After they went grocery shopping, we came home and went through the mundane process of cleaning out the refrigerator. It was a simple task, but in that moment, I felt grateful for the little things—family time, laughter, and the joy of being together.
While organizing the fridge, I suddenly noticed water pooling on the shelves. Confused, I wondered how it had gotten there. I grabbed a sponge to soak it up, but as I reached for it, I felt something wasn’t quite right. My right hand seemed uncooperative; I struggled to close my fist around the sponge, the water slipping through my fingers instead of being absorbed.
Although I was in no pain and thought I felt well, just tired, I knew that not being able to open and close my hand into a fist was not normal. I didn’t realize it was a sign that I might be having a stroke, but I understood that something was seriously wrong. Deciding to sit down, I turned to my two young children and told them I needed to call 911 so someone could look at my hand. They did everything right. They called and explained that their mother needed assistance since she couldn’t open or close her hand. They gave our street address and promised to have the door open, flashing the lights to help the responders find us.
They rushed me to the hospital, where a CAT scan revealed a clot in my brain that was starting to hemorrhage. I was airlifted to Boston hospital for immediate attention and treatment. Unfortunately, while I was there, I suffered a stroke.
[In this photo my family was trying to see if I could follow commands. I needed to see my mouth but all I did was smile. ]
I spent about four to five weeks in the intensive care unit, specifically in the neurology and stroke unit. During that time, I lost the use of my right arm and leg, and my speech was impaired. My body was experiencing other puzzling side effects, and after extensive testing, doctors discovered I had a thickening of blood gene disorder that had never been diagnosed before. Although they didn’t know what triggered it, I was now facing a new reality of impairment and uncertainty.
This day, which began like any other, turned my life upside down. It was a moment that would test my strength, resilience, and the support of my loved ones in ways I could never have imagined.
Helpful Books that are available via Kindle or Paper. Written by DR who
Disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.