My Personal Christmas Miracle

[Dee Bee]

Dear S2K family, 

Last Friday in the late afternoon I experienced an ischmeic (clot) stroke. 

I had gone to my daughter Sarah and son-in-law David's home in Vero Beach Thursday night so I could take Sarah for lab work Friday morning and spend the day with her. The stroke occurred as I was getting ready to leave after David had come home from school. Sarah immediately called 911. The medics arrived shortly, assessed me, and took me to the emergency room. The speed with which this help occurred made me a candidate for tPA, an extraordinarily powerful "clot buster," which worked for me without any adverse side effects. Only 3% of stroke victims belong to this "club." I remained in the Intensive Care Unit through Sunday, was moved to the cardiac and stroke floor, and then released Monday evening. 

My post-tPA CAT scan and MRI/MRA were remarkably clear, according to the neurologist.  After the initial symptoms of loss of control and spasms in my left arm and leg, difficulty swallowing, slurred and slow speech, and visual difficulties, I am now primarily fatigued -- and a bit apprehensive. My motor skills, speaking, and cognitive abilities have not been permanently impaired, although weakness in my left side and hesitation in speech occur infrequently. 

Sarah and David literally saved my life. 

Although greatly hampered by a major accident which had closed down all lanes of I-95, my husband Kurt arrived as I was transported to the ICU, and he lived at the hospital and Sarah & David's house until my release. 

I am on my regular blood pressure meds, on aspirin therapy to deter future clotting, and on antibiotics to ensure that the lump in my arm is indeed a hematoma and not a staph infection. 

I firmly believe that the prayers offered by persons Kurt was able to contact were decisive factors in my personal "Christmas miracle.'' Truly, [in the words of my favorite affirmation for health, wholeness, and vitality] every cell and atom of my body responded to God's love. 

My goal is to return to 100% as soon as possible so I can be ready for our grandson-to-be, whose appearance may occur before the end of 2008. 

With love, 
Diane 

[southerngale]

WOW! Thank God you're ok! Your story really choked me up. You and your family are truly blessed this Christmas and I will keep you in my prayers for a quick and complete 100% recovery.

[JonathanBelles]

wow! I hope you continue to get better! good luck!

[Miss Mary]

Diane - wow, you are indeed a walking and breathing Christmas miracle! I am so glad you belong to that club. Yes if you are able to receive the clot busting meds, then recovery is much better. I have a brother in law who does not belong to this club. I am convinced you know how lucky you are but if not, you are!

The doctors are going to watch you very carefully now though. So be prepared for that........so relieved to know you are on medication!

Thanks for sharing such an uplifting post!

Blessings and well wishes definitely coming your way!
Mary

[azskyman]

Christmas gifts come in a variety of packages. Sometimes they take on different shapes altogether.

Yours was not a package you chose, but was a blessing nonetheless.

That you can write and tell this story just a few days later is also reassuring. Not all are so fortunate, but yours is a story worth reading at Christmas.

Stories of good news and hope are always nice.

Being a first hand, very real account, makes this post even more meaningful.

Take care, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your story.

[vbhoutex]

OMG, Diane!!!! I am so happy you are recovering and obviously recovering well!!!! Indeed God has produced another miracle. He works in the most mysterious of ways and you were in the right place at the right time. Thank you for sharing your story and the miracle with us!!

May your Christmas be Blessed and may the New Year and beyond bring 100% recovery in a short time. You will definitely be in my prayers.

[CajunMama]

You've received the best Christmas gift of all....your life. You definitely had some angels with you that day. You may not have been able to see their wings but they were definitely angels. Merry Christmas and may you have a blessed new year.

[Ptarmigan]

You got the best Christmas gift ever! God bless!

[Dionne]

Diane......all I can say is WOW!!! You are indeed fortunate.

Last Monday night my mother in law called telling us she could not move her left arm or leg. The paramedics that arrived immediately hooked her up so that the ER Doc's could see her vitals during transport. She was given some sort of shot before the ambulance ever left the driveway. It was a rapid transport to St Dominics in Jackson, MS. traveling in excess of 100 mph. She spent 2 days in the hospital and has since been moved to rehab. She already has movement in both her arm and leg. Her speech was never slurred. She gets to come home today for Christmas, but then must return for rehab which they anticipate at less than 2 weeks.

Santa can keep all my gifts......I want more miracles like yours and Mammaws!

Merry Christmas.

[Stephanie]

Diane, I am so glad that you have survived the stroke without any severe, permanent damage. You were fortunate that you were with someone at the time, since time is of the essense. Just keep focusing on that new bundle of joy coming into your family soon and taking care of yourself. Realize that your recover is going to take time and don't get frustrated.

My mother had a brain aneurysm in 2006 right after Thanksgiving. She was fortunate that her fiancee, Dan was there at the time. She was just about to go for a walk when she had the "worst headache" of her life. She has not had any serious side affects from it, thank God. While there's never a "good time" for a stroke, etc., the holidays often amplify the seriousness of the situation.

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Please keep us informed as to your progress and when that little one comes into the world!

[Dee Bee]

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and support. You are the best family anyone could have!

The tremendous, utter exhaustion I was experiencing right after the stroke is abating now, with "good" days happening with more frequency. However, I still tire quite easily and can get unpleasant one-sided headaches (at the top/back of the right side of my skull). If I overextend myself, I experience speech hesitation and aphasia -- but I can always blame the latter on middle age, too!

At my first check-up last Thursday I had a medication adjustment [my doctor added Benecar HTC and Crestor for my blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as Protonix for gastric reflux issues] plus a serious discussion about stress, exercise, and diet. My doctor said that she could throw all the latest medicine available at me, but without stress management, regular exercise, and balanced nutrition I'd be setting myself up for another health crisis.

I've begun a daily walking program (I'm already up to 40 minutes!), and we've purchased WiiFit, which will be set up this weekend. I am also considering enrolling in a tai chi and/or yoga class in February, since my deteriorated left hip rules out many types of exercise.

I also have been reading up on nutrition and have a referral from my doctor for a consultation with a nutritionist. Since I haven't gone back to work yet, I've been taking time to become familiar with portion sizes as well as nutritious meal components so that when I do return to work I won't be tempted to fall back on my old, bad eating habits because I don't have time or ideas. I will also need assistance on losing weight. I was anorexic as a young adult and do not want to return to any of those old, bad habits, either.

My neurological check will not be until February 9, and my family doctor wants me to stay away from the office until after that. I may try a few half-days the last week of January or first week of February. My boss has been extremely supportive and has taken over all my active projects. With my doctor's advice ~~actually, "insistence"~~ my usual 13-hour workdays, three-cups-of-coffee-at-the-office breakfasts, no-time-to-eat lunches, and bring-home-a-heavy-suitcase-of-work-to-do-until-midnight evenings must come to an end. It sounds so obvious and so easy, but it will take some major adjustments and serious "inner speech" moments on my part.

I decided to write this long posting so that anyone reading it might learn from my poor choices. I'm not just making resolutions for the new year; I must change my physical habits as well as my mental/emotional outlook if I want my body to function. Period. I have to start with loving myself and caring for myself enough to make that commitment.

My wake-up call was abrupt and unexpected.

But now I'm awake -- and I'm ready.

[tropicana]

continue to get better DeeBee, im glad you are feeling much better

[BocaGirl]

DeeBee,

I haven't visited Storm2K much in this off season, so I didn't have any idea that you'd had such a rough time. Please PM me...you know I'm only down the road a few miles (give or take) and I can shoot up I-95 and keep you company some day when you need me.

I hear you about the long days and the not so great food choices...I'm looking at three half-drunk cups of coffee right now!

I'm so glad you're doing better! You know my thoughts and prayers are with you.

BocaGirl
Barbara