Each person’s experience with stroke is different. We would love to hear about yours!
Feel free to email your stroke story to info@strokekyin.org with “stroke story” in the subject line.
I am a stroke survivor and board member of KSISA. Watch my interview and testimonial on being a stroke survivor. I am a business owner of my own financial group, Ratliff Financial Group and it was a struggle to be a business owner while recovering from my stroke.
At 40 years old, on December 23, 2010, I suffered a hemorrhagic stroke in the right hemisphere of my brain. More than likely, a genetic spot in my brain was aggravated by my smoking over about 25 years of my life. Smoking causes many bad things but it also caused these spots in weakened blood vessels to begin to bleed over time.
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I am currently 38 years old and have been a nurse for 15 years. I have a recently-acquired brain injury related to an unplanned removal of a cavernous angioma on my brain stem that was diagnosed in October 2013. It bled 4 times in 1 year before it was urgently removed in April 2015. It has essentially left me with significant deficits, many of which are stroke-like deficits. It’s as if I had a hemorrhagic stroke on my brain stem. I have gone through extensive therapy, but still have significant mobility and balance issues and cannot work or perform basic housekeeping skills. My therapy doctor believes I will be more independent with the help of my service dog. I am currently on disability due to my mobility status, but I refuse to let this take over my life and my career! I am currently in training with my lab and getting my Doctorate of Nursing Practice through U of L. I will be a Nurse Practitioner with a neurologist, and I want to be an inspiration for all! (written in fall 2016)
Click below to download pdf of Rozella's Story.
Ginger Drummond's stroke came without warning; its effects lingered like an unwanted guest. After the stroke six years ago, she spent a long time in the hospital unconscious for much of is, she said. When she woke up, her fact felt twisted, her side was weak and she needed a wheelchair.
My name is Jalen Matthews, I am 16 years old and 5 years ago I had a stroke. It started as a normal 4th of July day. The barbecue was going, and everybody was happy. All of a sudden my left arm went numb. My mom didn't know what was going on so she told me to breath. A few seconds later I couldn't raise either arm. She called 911 immediately. Thirty minutes later, the ambulance arrived to pick me up.
In February of 2007, while Jerry was coordinating a performance there for 1200 students, he began to feel badly disoriented and as if his feet wouldn’t move the way he wanted them to, especially on his left side. As many people do, Jerry tried to ignore these feelings. Unfortunately we lost Jerry several years ago, but he was a loved and appreciated volunteer for our organization for many years.
At 40 years old, on December 23, 2010, I suffered a hemorrhagic stroke in the right hemisphere of my brain. More than likely, a genetic spot in my brain was aggravated by my smoking over about 25 years of my life. Smoking causes many bad things but it also caused these spots in weakened blood vessels to begin to bleed over time.
Get Yourself Checked - My Stroke Story. I am a 39 year old CPA. It was a typical Sunday afternoon in October of 2014. All of the sudden I had a severe headache, double vision and no balance. I knew something was wrong but I did not know what. I was experiencing a left cerebellum stroke. I went immediately to the ER and I was treated and admitted right away. 2 days later I had a right cerebellum stroke. I do not have any memory from the time I went to the ER and the next 9 days. During that time I was medically sedated. As I drifted in and out of consciousness, I was combative and verbally abusive to family, friends and hospital staff. I had to have emergency brain surgery to relieve inter-cranial pressure. I would rip out my IV and try to remove the tubes in my head. I had my arms and legs restrained.
On the evening of the 9th day, I regained consciousness. I had all 4 limbs restrained to the bed, tubes coming out of my head and no one believed anything I said. I had no idea what day it was or what was happening. I tried to sit up and couldn't. I could not keep my inter-cranial pressure stable and I have a permanent shunt that goes from my skull to my abdomen. I spent a total of 17 days in the ICU and 5 days in a regular room.
This all was a result of having unchecked diabetes............
It has been a long recovery and I am still recovering. I have lost 55 pounds and have 80 more to go. I check my blood sugar 4 times daily. I am on insulin and blood pressure medication. I keep my blood sugar and blood pressure under control. I have some permanent effects from the stroke, but I can manage them. You can recover from a stroke. You may have to do things differently, but you can recover. Get yourself checked. If you are tired or thirsty all the time, you are not getting old. You have a diet and medical problem that can be treated. Get help. It will change your life for the better. My body no longer makes insulin and I am on medication for the rest of my life. I have learned to live with that. While I may be a little slower than I used to be I still stay busy. I still have 80 pounds left to lose, I am doing it slowly on my terms. My cousin has lost 100 pounds. While I am not running marathons like her, I am proof that life is not over after a stroke.
To have your Stroke Story featured by KSISA simply email us at info@strokekyin.org with “stroke story” in the subject line. If possible include a picture. (Stories submitted to KSISA maybe used by KSISA to promote the mission in our community)