Coping With Stroke

My Mom, Peggy, had a stroke on August 21, 2007. She underwent two brain surgeries that day. My mom, was 61 years old and super healthy (had all her check-ups done, as usual). Also she had a low fat diet, exercised daily and was very active and upbeat. She did not smoke, drink or have genetic history.

We are all struggling with it. We feel so helpless. My dad and mom have been together for 40 years. They are still in-love and so this stroke has been even more scary, for their future retirement. My mom is still a registered nurse in New Jersey. She was school nurse of the year a few years or more ago, out of all N.J. school nurse. She was a terrific nurse and mom. We are a family of five and are doing all that we can but it doesn’t seem like enough.

Peggy is at the second best rehab in the country, Kessler, and there she is receiving wonderful therapy and care. We are lucky we have good health insurance. I feel terrible and scared for those with-out. Stroke victims need lots of rehab and care for at least a year, usually much longer. I am hopeful she will get the use of her right side back but it hasn’t yet. Her speech is coming, she can talk but says few words and phrases.

Its been pretty horrible, I keep thinking why, why her, she did everything right. Bad luck?? Its all been a nightmare but we are dreaming about her return home. I miss talking to her, shes not only my mom but my best-friend. No-one is ever too old to need or want their mom. I know that now. Well, I hope that this will only be a bad memory this time next year. I keep telling my mom to think positive, think forward, we will get there.

So, I guess, I want everyone who is in my position or in my moms, to stay hopeful. Things will get better, in time life will return.