HenryB

Hi friend: Does some kind paratransit exist in your area? Most locales have a service for people with disabilities. If so, you should look into it. I never depend on a friend to get me to an appointment like the doctor's. Needless worry. Good luck, Henry

Hi Katrina: If you don't use it, you lose it, as Fred says. You must do your exercises every day to make progress. You're a champ and have the drive, but you have to give stroke deficits time. Good luck and keep moving. Henry

Fred: I'm sorry to hear about your brother. I don't have family, but I realize it's difficult to part with siblings. We can take solace in the fact that we're survivors of stroke. Carry on, buddy. Henry

Hi Glenn: I am 72 going on 73, and we oldsters do get tired after a long day doing what we can for our recovery. I can testify there is progress for older strokies, it just takes longer than for young people, I believe. Good luck, and keep posting. Henry

Katrina: You are dealing with a lot. To me, you are a prime example of staying in the game after stroke. Hang in there! Henry

Hi Cheryl: I'm a New Yorker, too, a little downtown from you (10024). I don't have family and am applying to residences that have assisted living. At 72, it is not a good idea for me to continue living alone. You should stay independent as long as you can, however. All the best, Henry

Thanks, friends. I still live in my own apartment, using an aide service for those things I need help with like shopping, house keeping, laundry, etc. It is not ideal, because I'm isolated, except for visits from friends. That's why the move to assisted living. I'm willing to work for independence from the w/c; I figure on a timeline of 6 mos. So here goes!

Hi Jamie: You are right when you emphasize the new you post-stroke. When I compare myself with my "normie" friends, I always come up short and feel bad. But God loves the new me--he created it! So I look for new channels to express myself as a person, and I find them! I can see that stroke has pointed me in directions I might never have found as a normie. Keep on truckin'. Henry

Hi Fred: I'm sorry to hear about your heart trouble and forced inactivity. I know how much your walking and other activities mean to you. I hope you feel better soon. You're in my thoughts and prayers. Henry

Hi Fred: Your strong spirit continues to inspire me! I've got a long way to go in my recovery, but as we both know, with stroke it's a lifetime endeavor. I'll keep working until the good Lord says--enough already! All the best, Henry

Folks: the strap around the handle works fine in the apt., but is no good walking outside. Since I always walk with someone outside, it's not an issue. Lin is right--walking in the fresh air is great and therapeutic in itself! Cheers, Henry

Thanks, folks, so much for your support. One issue that came up was--what do I do if I knock the cane over? This can happen. My aide solved this by tying a strap around the handle, which I'll practice with in her presence. The strap has room for me to grab a hand hold if necessary. All the best, Henry

Thanks, folks, so much for your support. One issue that came up was--what do I do if I knock the cane over? This can happen. My aide solved this by tying a strap around the handle, which I'll practice with in her presence. The strap has room for me to grab a hand hold if necessary. All the best, Henry

Hi friends: Thanks for the supportive comments! I'll keep posting and report any progress I'm making. It's great to be part of a blog community of folks who understand where I'm coming from! Henry

Hi Ken: You are right--a positive attitude is essential toward therapy. I am currently working on my walking with the Bioness L300, and though progress is slow, it is important to put in my hour of walking every day. I feel I am getting stronger and improving my balance, the key to independent walking. Besides, it gets me outside! All the best, Henry

Hi Lenny: You are right about recovery being slow; sometimes I wonder whether I will ever get some muscles back around the knee of my affected leg; I need these back to improve my balance, so that I can become an independent walker. I just keep on working, and hope for the best. You give me hope--thank you! HenryB

Hi Fred: Good luck with your heart issue. I have a feeling that it won't be so easy to kill a tough vet like yourself. I like being retired myself. I can work on my stroke recovery full time! I don't have combat experience since I was a Marine reserve and got out before Vietnam really heated up, but I have a lot of admiration for those who served in the Nam. Keep on trucking, my friend. You've helped a lot of people on this site, including me. All the best to you and your family, HenryB

Hi Lenny: You're so right--a positive attitude makes all the difference in stroke. I get discouraged with my walking every day with the e-stim device. I feel I'm not getting anywhere--but I forget--I can walk! If I give up I know that I won't walk! All the best, Henry

Hi Jessica: For Christmas eve, the memory of your stroke must be hard--but don't despair. You are young and have many years of recovery ahead of you. This will be my 3rd Christmas since I stroked, and while the holidays are hard for me--having no family--I'm 72, and very glad to be alive and well enough to experience them! All the best, Henry

Hi Asha: I am feeling down today, and its really because I am just tired! I do a lot of my own ADLs now to cut down on aide hours, and I walk about an hour a day, with supervision, so I'm going to feel tired. My recovery has been slow, but I don't have a lot of the problems some survivors have, so I should feel grateful--but I don't! Tomorrow is another day and it will be different. All the best to you. HenryB

I share that feeling--small setbacks are devastating when you're dealing with stroke recovery! Just take care of yourself and go to the gym if you can't walk outside. This week I couldn't go out for 2 days because of the rain, and I felt terrible--and I've been praying for rain because we've had a dry spring and summer so far! Go figure. HenryB

Congratulations, Fred, on your stroke anniversary! You have been an example to me of--a positive attitude carries the day. When I woke up in the hospital after my stroke, and my doctor said my stroke was a "random" event, but that I could have a good recovery if I was willing to work for it, I said, Sign me up! I've never regretted that decision. I had a fall but bounced back quickly, chastened in the safety area. In March I'm going to finish up the e-stim study I've been in, then keep working on my walking, and apply for arm/hand therapy at the rehab center I go to. Never stop working! That's my motto. All the best, Henry

Hi Judy: As the others said, it's too early to give up! There's always some progress to record. If Oliver isn't ready for a cane yet, use the walker, as long as he's walking--every day. If you can retire and work with him at home, good. There is so much to learn with stroke! I can finally walk outside with supervision--fresh air and saying hi to others is an immense tonic by itself. Work with him every day on the things he can do, even a little. When I make progress, I feel so good I want to do more. Good luck! All the best, Henry

Hi Fred: Congrats on 8 years. You make me grateful that I have come as far as I have in 2 years. I recently had a fall in my apt. Luckily, I didn't break anything. I was becoming independent at home during the day, and I risked making my bed w/o the wheelchair. I came out from behind the bed leading with my weak side, and boom (!) down I went. I bruised muscles in my weak thigh, and it will take weeks, if not months, to get back to where I was. I guess we have to learn these lessons, hard as they are. Anyway, I'm grateful I've been given another chance. All the best, Henry

Hi Kelli: Have you consulted with any health care professional about your memory problem? If you research this using doctors or therapists you know, and use the internet, maybe eventually you will find the help you need to deal with this. Anyway, from the short time I have known you, I can say you are a fine person and that you can be at ease with those who are closest to you. It's OK to tell your son "I love you", and not be sure whether you do or not. You responded as a mother would--naturally. All the best, Henry