163. Stroke recovery: 10-month update, and my new book

Aging in Style with Lori Williams

How’s Mark doing after his stroke?

Christmas will be here before we know it, which will make it one year since my husband Mark’s stroke.

My husband of 33 years had a stroke on Christmas Day 2022 that led to a series of strokes, 4 total. These occurred on the left side of his brain, which affects the right side and communication center. As a result, he has issues with speaking and no movement of his right arm. He’s in rehab learning to regain movement, but most of the time he’s in a wheelchair.

For my family, it was a worst-case catastrophe. But we pulled together and learned a lot, and 10 months later I have gained a new perspective on caregiving and a true understanding of what my clients go through.

What has helped us:

- Have the right attitude and stay motivated. Mark is a great, hardworking patient and has what it takes to get better.

- Stick to a routine. Life can be overwhelming, so it helps having a schedule where everyone knows who does what.

- Change something if it isn’t working for you. We left our previous rehab facility to find one that would provide better communication.

- Get help. We hired a caregiver to come 3 days a week, which has been a game changer that gives us peace of mind.

- Find a purpose. Stroke survivors need a purpose separate from just getting better. For us, Mark made caring for our golden retriever his purpose. She keeps his spirits up!

- Engage in a therapeutic activity. For me, it’s writing.

Also, it’s important to recognize your triggers. Now that it’s gotten colder outside and the Christmas decorations are going up, it mentally takes us back to the horrors of last Christmas Day. But my family is determined to shift our thinking, make Christmas something we love again, and create new memories.

Topics discussed:

- Strokes / stroke recovery

- Rehab

- Finding purpose

- Routines

- Tips for caregivers

- Tips for stroke victims

- Regaining your joy

Takeaways from this episode:

1. If a stroke occurs on the left side of your brain, it affects the right side of the body and your communication center.
2. If something isn’t working for you, don’t be afraid to make a change. Find a new specialist, rehab center, hire help…whatever it is you need. There are many resources.
3. Make your lives simpler by finding a routine to stick to and finding help where you can.
4. Strokes are a traumatic event for families too. Be aware of your triggers and find ways to alleviate them.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Get your copy of my book Surrounded by Love: One Family's Journey Through Stroke Recovery:

https://amzn.to/3Y41CxA

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Get my new book, 'Surrounded by Love: One's Family Journey Through Stroke Recovery': https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/book

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Mentioned in this episode:

Surrounded by Love

You can find my book, "Surrounded by Love: One Family’s Journey Through Stroke Recovery," on Amazon. It is available as a Kindle, hardcover, paperback, and also on Audible. More details can be found on my website: https://loriwilliams-seniorservices.com/book