I’m a 66 Year Old Model!

 

When in doubt, wear red.
Bill Blass

Who knew that Bill Blass would be right!

 

The truth is that I’m a 66 year old woman. I had a VERY severe stroke 2 ½ years ago. Miraculously, I made a 100% recovery. I wake up every morning and say, “Thank you, I’ve made another day”. These words were spoken every morning by my father, and now it’s me who’s keeping them alive.

 

I was dying to get back to work. For 30 years I was a Communications Manager/Change Management Leader working on contract for banks and insurance companies. Unfortunately, COVID ended that for me. When banks and insurance companies are looking for people to work on contract, they are looking for MUCH younger people who they can pay much less than they were paying me. So, I applied for my pension and still do some work for some old clients.

 

I really wanted to give something back to people who have suffered strokes, so I was lucky enough to be hired to do volunteer work for the Aphasia Institute. If you’re interested, please read the previous blog.

 

So, here I am doing a little work and volunteer work, when I got a text from a photographer (that I know) who wanted to know if I was available for a photoshoot for a recruitment company. I thought that it was a joke! But no, it was for real and there was pay involved. Needless to say, I said YES!!!!

 

It was great fun! I was in the shoot for 30 minutes and the photos apparently turned out WONDERFUL! I’ve only seen one and here it is.

 

 

So now, I’m officially a model at 66 years old! If anyone has more gigs for me, I’m available!

  

Life isn’t perfect but your outfit can be.

Kappit

 

Make someone smile today.

 

Geri

I'm Volunteering at the Aphasia Institute

 

I will never give up for I'm a stroke survivor.

Aaron Avila

I'm very proud to be volunteering at the Aphasia Institute. For those of you who don't know, aphasia is a language problem that occurs from a stroke or brain injury. It may also be caused by other neurological conditions such as dementia or brain tumours. The language problems can affect talking and understanding as well as the ability to read and write.

Since I've had my stroke and I've completely recovered, I have been wanting to give something back to stroke patients. Ryan Wood, my speech therapist at Bridgepoint, with whom I'm still in touch (because he's so wonderful), recommended that I volunteer at Aphasia. I would certainly understand how it feels to have the words in your throat and not able to get them out.

Lucky me! Aphasia hired me as a volunteer. They are an absolutely WONDERFUL institution! All of the volunteers have plenty of training and it continues once a week, year round. I am part of a team that gives group conversations, via Zoom. I'm really excited to one day have it in person. 

I feel really lucky that I have recovered, but I'm also really lucky that I can give something back to stroke patients.

Recovery is a process. It takes time. It takes patience. It takes everything that you've got...

TBILLifeCoach

Make someone smile.

Geri

I’m Celebrating My Complete Recovery From My Stroke

 

If you’re going through hell, keep going.

Winston Churchill

 

September 12^th is my anniversary. It’s not your typical anniversary – it’s the anniversary of my stroke that took place on September 12, 2018. It’s hard to believe, but I’m 100% recovered! And that’s hard to believe, considering the severity of my stroke.

 

My mother Shirley and I lived in the same apartment building. Every morning I went up to Shirley’s apartment at 7:00am to say good morning, ask if she needed anything and tell her that I’ll see her for dinner. Then I set off walking to work. I walk 10 kms/day. One morning I didn’t show up at 7:00am. It was now 7:15am and Shirley knew that something was wrong. She was afraid to come down to my apartment so she called my friend Erik, who lived in the building and had my key. He walked into my bedroom. I was on the floor with a towel and I could see him. I remember saying to myself that I had to stay awake until someone came. As soon as I saw Erik I became unconsciousness. I don’t remember the ambulance ride or any treatment in the hospital. I just remember waking for a few minutes at a time in ICU to see my best friend Sue.

 

After a few days I became alert. But boy, did I have a shock! My right arm and hand were paralyzed and so was my right leg. To add insult to injury, I couldn’t talk. I could understand everything but when I went to answer, the words were stuck in my throat! I spent 4 ½ weeks at St. Mike’s. 

They fed me by tube because my face was half paralyzed and they were afraid that I’d choke. After 2 weeks I started to say a few words. My right leg was getting a bit better, but no change to my right arm or hand. Three days before I was transferred to Bridgepoint for rehab I started eating.

 

I was in rehab at Bridgepoint for 4 ½ weeks. Everyday I had speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. I told them that wasn’t enough so they gave me an extra hour with the assistant occupational therapist. When I was released, my right arm and hand were still paralyzed but I was walking on my right leg a bit. I had outpatient therapy for 3 months. I asked my occupational and physical therapist for work to do at home, so I had a home program that I could do everyday.

 

I gained back the feeling in my right arm and hand. I started walking again. I started talking again. By March I was back to walking 10 km/day. My speech was almost right. My right arm and hand were still weak, but getting better every day.

 

It’s now two years and I’m back to being ME!

 

I have to thank my best friend Sue Foster, without her I don’t know how I would have made it. She put her life and her family’s life (husband John Purvis and son Thomas) on hold. She worked in the hospital. She translated for me! When I went home she took me grocery shopping. In short, she did everything that a sister would do, and more. I owe her everything!

 

 

And thank you to all of my friends who were there for me – Pam, Katherine, Everton, Judy, Sonya, Veronika, Josie and Rachel. Thank you Janice and Judy and Lenny who came in from out of town to visit me in rehab.

 

You only have 3 choices in life. Give up, give in, give it everything you’ve got.

Unknown

 

Make someone smile today.

Geri