The Stroke Association Life After Stroke Awards

Receiving the Award

"Adult Courage Award"

Citation

On June 29th I attended the "Life After Stroke Awards" for the Yorkshire & Humber region event at Rotherham. It was an inspiring event with people who in one way or another been affected or touched by a stroke. I sat on a table with a girl who was only 8 or 9 who had suffered a stroke some twelve months ago. She had been nominated by her teacher for her courage and fortitude and I could see why: she has taught herself to write with her left hand and was helping to sew a collage for her school.
Some hard facts were given about strokes by the Head of Operations for The Stroke Association, Yorkshire & The Humber: Age is no barrier and in this particular region alone 10,000 people suffer a stroke annually, 500 of whom live in Rotherham. - A truely staggering statistic.

Lunch was served and it gave us a chance to introduce ourselves and have a chat and to find out a little background to the nominees and their guests.The Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham attended the event and he chatted to several of us and seemed genuinely interested on how we and our families had been affected.
Afterwards the Certificate presentations took place with information about each nominee read out by The Regional Communications Officer.Quite a humbling affair with so many deserving people.

Afterwards there was again a chance to meet up with the others who had been touched by stroke and The Stroke Association staff. The event was a happy and informal occasion, which I'm sure will be long remembered.

London Week-end

London was fantastic, but oh so busy, and again I more or less coped with the situation.

The drive down was fine, not too much traffic and good weather, infact the whole week-end was gloriously sunny and hot. It was good to be with our eldest son and his wife whom we had not seen for a couple of months.

On Saturday after brunch we set off to central London, by tube, to see "Betty Blue Eyes" the musical comedy. The journey is some 13 stops on the Piccadilly Line to reach Covent Garden and all was going well until Kings Cross/St. Pancras. Hoards of people seemed to be waiting at this station and it was all  push, shove and squeeze on the train. I was thankful to have had a seat as soon as we got on, but now I seemed to be hemmed in and I silently began to panic that I would not get off in another four stops. I could feel my face redden as I began to get hot and my eyes began to fill with tears, I felt totally overwhelmed. My family quickly recognised that I was not coping and swiftly moved in to help. They were giving me advice on how they would help me off the train and for the first time in ages I felt vulnerable. Once off the tube and up in the lift to fresh air and space I felt much better.
I quickly drank the bottle of water that I was carrying and then it was off to a pavement cafe for a drink before going to the theatre.

We had a meal after the show before making our return journey. Once on the tube platform, we moved to the far end so hopefully the carriages wouldn't be as busy on arrival. Success! Once we arrived at our final stop I could hardly manage the steps to pavement level and my son to "chivvy" me along counted them for me.

Sunday was very hot and after showering I stayed indoors, declining a trip to the local supermarket. Yes! I had acknowledged that the intense heat wouldn't be good for me. After Sunday lunch with our daughter-in-law's parents we set off or home, a four hour journey, which was thankfully uneventful. When we arrived home I could hardly walk and had to be helped to get upstairs and into bed.

The following two days saw me quite tired and lethargic and the initial swelling of the right ankle subsided.

Another milestone completed.

Get Up & Go - - - Went Again

I have been busy doing lots of good things recently, but have now come to a mega grinding halt which I hate.

Since the beginning of the month I've been to a local theatre for the final of an AmDram competition - 4 teams competing for the overall All England Theatre Festival winner. Attended The Great Bed Race, which is an annual community event where I live. I have also been to a local hotel with friends for a theatre lunch, and in addition been on a day trip with my local W.I. to Beverley and Hull and gone home to visit my husband's parents.

I am now having an enforced rest before we go to London this week-end to stay with our eldest son and his wife. Whilst we are there we are going to the theatre to see the musical "Betty Blue Eyes".
http://www.bettyblueeyesthemusical.com/ 

I so want to lead a normal life to the extent that I find myself wanting to join in with every opportunity that comes my way. In my own mind, I had made a concession to my state by taking my wheelchair on the day trip.
All this concentrated activity has made me very tired and because of this doing my physio exercises, which are of paramount importance, has been quite difficult at times.

My heart tells me that I should seize these opportunities, but my head says "no, hang on, be sensible". I have to sadly admit that my heart usually wins these conflicts of thought. I was speaking with someone yesterday who had a blood clot on the brain five years ago, and she re-enforced just how lucky I have been and that I must listen to my body and take notice of my current physical state. - Yes I have been "ticked off" but in a caring way.

How right she is and how frustrating for one whom has always had a busy life both at work and out of work.

I will take note from now on.

Life After Stroke Award nomination

I found out today,15th June 2011, that The Stroke Association has nominated me for a 2011 Life After Stroke Award. Although I have not "won" a main prize, I am to be recognised for courage, determination and commitment.

There is to be a presentation ceremony which will be followed by lunch and a chance to meet others who have been touched by stroke and The Stroke Association staff.

The Stroke Association recognises the huge and overwhelming impact a stroke can have. Every day they witness stroke survivors as well as carers, volunteer stroke clubs and stroke professionals showing true compassion and commitment as they provide vital support to others. It is for these reasons that The Stroke Association organise the Life After Stroke Awards.

As yet I do not know who has nominated me or exactly what for, and I am absolutely certain that there will be people there who are far more deserving. 

All I would like to say is a massive thank you to hubby, family, friends and my care team for being there for me with oodles of affection and giving me the spirit to beat the stroke.

Lists and Rotas

This week have had another good report from my physio, although this has made me buoyant I still have frustrations in other aspects of my recovery.

I have the need to feel as though I have some contribution to make around the house, I would like to be able to do so much more than I am currently able.I can still feel upset at watching my husband do things that I feel I should  be able to do. He takes it all on the chin and is uncomplaining.

I have decided that "structure" is the key to this part of my frustrations. So, with this in mind, I have drawn up a list of tasks that I can manage and from now on these will be mine with only me to do them.
Hopefully, this will give me a sense of purpose and take some resposibilities from my husband.