Nancy's Stroke Recovery

On the evening of my birthday, Jim came home from work and we went to bed.  An ordinary night.  However, on this night I was extremely restless and soon had this terrible feeling like something was wrong.  I had trouble swallowing and told Jim so.  I got up to go to the bathroom and almost fell over.  What I didn't know was that I was slurring my words.  Jim drove me right to the hospital where I could no longer stand.  He put me in a wheelchair and the rest of the night was a blur of tests, nurses and oxygen tubes.

i am so very lucky that Jim knew what was happening and reacted so quickly.  I was given TPA, the clot busting drug but within hours had lost all movement on my left side.  My garbled speech and loss of my left arm and hand had me scared beyond belief..but Jim never left my side.  I went to ICU, then a regular room then off to JFK Rehab hospital.  Four weeks later they sent me home and while I have insurance the bills have started pouring in.  Tomorrow I start outpatient rehab and have to pay more.  Still Jim has helped me every step of the way even marrying me in the hospital because we had to be married for family leave.  Now he is only getting 3/4 of his pay WHEN it is approved and bills are really piling up.


We thought long and hard about this site because asking for help is so difficult but to have a stroke at 49 is not what we ever expected and while I expect a full recovery it is going to take time.  I can walk with assistance (Jim holds the back of my pants wherever I go) and I have some hand and arm movement but I sleep every night on the couch and my shoulder hurts from the subluxation.  Recovery and rehab are not for the feint of heart.  I choose to smile and trudge onward and upward every day but the bill pile is dampening my spirit.  Anything will help with the mortgage payment and bills.  Progress will be shared here.  Love to you all and learn the warning signs!  Be prepared if this happens to you!