Reader's Digest

118 | July• 2018

I SURVIVED A STROKE

brought me to her small hotel and ar-

ranged for the proprietor to give me a

room and feed me for two days.

And now as I lay in bed my mem-

ory reminded me of the generosity

and caring nature that sustains hope

at the core of human consciousness.

And I was learning that memories

help you find yourself help you re-

connect with the person you’re losing.

The next morning Pat and Nicole

were both there when a man and two

women arrived to take me for a walk.

“he faster we get you up the better

we can assess your needs” the man

explained.

My right side didn’t appear to be

working but nevertheless with one

swift movement they had me perched

on the side of the bed. “We’ll walk as

far as Nicole OK?”

I stood slightly stooped looking

across the room at my daughter. I

shuled my left foot lifting my right

foot dragging behind. Each step

seemed like a gigantic task. I almost

lost heart halfway across the room but

I refused to give in.

I walked a distance of only six me-

tres but Nicole seemed excited and

applauded my performance. “Oh

Dad” she said. “You did it. I’m so

proud of you!”

I felt drained of energy. But Pat reas-

sured me “Well done dear. hese are

the irst steps to full recovery.”

“Congratulations” the therapists

chimed in. “You’re ready for therapy.”

Back in bed I slept. hen a woman

in rehab. You’ll be put on a six-to-
eightweekintensiverehabcourse
followed by eight weeks as an out–
patient.Youneedtobewillingto
workhard.Whatdoyouthink?”
“YesIcandoit”Iansweredal-
thoughatthemomentmybodysug-
gested otherwise. “Count me in.”
ButirstIhadtopasstheswallow
test.IlongedtomeettheSwallow
LadysinceIwassohungry.When
the smell of hot food wafted along the

hallway all I could think about was
myemptystomach.WhenhadIever
been this hungry?
Again I recalled my trip to Europe
and the day in Paris when I paced in
front of an eatery staring through the
window at the food. I hadn’t had a de-
cent meal in three weeks.
Later that same day I collapsed
from hunger. A woman kneeled down
beside me. “Are you OK?” she asked.
I was scared. I was famished but had
no money for food; and I was ex-
hausted and ashamed with no place
to go. he woman helped me up. She

I WAS LEARNING THAT

MEMORIES HELP YOU

FIND YOURSELF

TO RECONNECT WITH

THE PERSON YOU ARE

LOSING TO THE STROKE