Like so many stroke survivors, I thought it would never happen to me. I consider myself to be pretty fit and healthy. My daily blog is all about health and a green lifestyle. My book is all about fresh foods and quick and healthy bites for busy moms. I do not just sit at home inactive, I am a busy mom of two and I am always on the go. However my naiveté was quickly and emphatically altered on a cool march morning. I woke up with a terrible headache. I thought it was stress as my mind was foggy, but still able to function. I got up to start the laundry before packing for our trip to China and felt a pure exhaustion like I have never felt before. I knew I was in trouble when my speech began to slur and my the left side of my body went numb. My daughter noticed drooping on the left side of my face, quickly called my doctor, and raced me to the hospital. It was determined there that I was having a stroke.
Within a few minutes everything became foreign to me. I felt trapped as although I was conscious of my surroundings, I was unable to communicate or move. I was in the hospital for a while, and then went to a rehabilitation center. I came home with limited speech, limited movement, and a left side that was not functioning as it once did.
Recovering from the psychological wounds of a stroke can be just as challenging as recovering from the physical wounds of any accident. It required unbelievable humility. It was not easy for me to ask for help with something that I was once able to do myself. The first thing I wanted to do was walk. I think everybody wants that because it makes you feel less handicapped, but actually walking is highly overrated. Speech is where I should have concentrated more. I remember times where I wanted to say something so simple and I would get a look because I could not carry on a conversation.
The frustration was unbearable, it was worse than I feared, and that fear got to me. It was life changing I went from being a dynamo to a downer and spending most of my time feeling sorry for myself.
However, my untouchable faith, my strong will, my family, my friends, and healthy lifestyle got me through an amazing quick recovery and I am so grateful for my second chance. I am no longer living on borrowed time. I am thankful for the little things in life, I am back stronger than ever, and I am partnering with some amazing women.
I have survived cancer, a stroke, and made it out alive due to my healthy lifestyle. I am not sitting at home during my recovery. I grasping this recovery by it’s head and using it as inspiration for new beginnings. I recently partnered with some amazing women in Santa Monica, CA during an Ovarian Cancer Research Fund event. My new website is coming out soon, my journey with Rodan and Fields is about to begin, and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for me. I made it through the storm and I’m excited again. Let’s do this big!
Have a fabulous Green Life,
Xoxo Gia
Greenmouth, Green lifestyle
No comments:
Post a Comment