Hello Stroke Smarties!
Have you yet heard of the Companion App for your smart phone?
This innovative app means you can virtually walk home with your family and mates (/possessive partners) - even with the police department! Definitely something that makes you feel more safe and in my particular Special K instance, assists the caring 'PAs' find my distressed self if ever I find myself lost in the 'real world' (it has happened - several times! Thank you for taking it on the chin, dear patient family + mates and realising that the spatial navigation I once cherished is currently out-of-business due to brain bruising).
Admittedly, the youth of today/the future have it tough when it comes to sneaking out!
Still a tad confused about what a stroke actually entails?
You're not alone.
UK's reliable NHS have provided an educational pieceon how to identify a stroke and so has Australia's Nine News with particular attention given to the correlation between women and stroke. Even if you regard yourself as 'low risk of stroke' (much like myself prior to Stroke 1 at 26 years of age in July 2012), you may save the life of another by being stroke smart and swiftly acknowledging a stroke + Acting FAST!
Well done, you!
Our old mates at TED, have created a clever piece on what a stroke entails - be in the know!
Such brain attacks are serious stuff -
it's the second leading cause of death for people above the age of 60 years
and the fifth leading cause in people aged 15-59.
Time to be stroke smart.
Reflecting on the past 3+ years as a stroke survivor, I've noticed a troubling trend that strokes aren't typically talked about (from prevention, identification & treatment to rehabilitation and life after stroke), perhaps because survivors and their close supporters worry their problems will distance them (which they have for myself as a stroke survivor under retirement age) or ultimately reflect upon them as an unworthy person - as if they’re/we're now defective as human beings and/or did something to directly cause the brain damage so should therefore suffer for surviving (for however long that should entail) - and this has surely been the vibes I've received from some in the strokes' wake. So it seems that survivors tend to struggle on their own. Have you noticed this yourself? Do you find it odd - or perhaps unique - that there are only a selection of us survivors who (fortunately) do openly share our experiences, our insight and our newfound passion with the hope that stroke smarts become common knowledge?! These stroke smarts are not just for making others aware of how to identify a stroke as it's happening (or here's hoping, before it's about to strike), but also to know how to consciously make stroke smart lifestyle choices that will directly affect our risk by actively reducing such, whilst also gaining a broader understanding + compassion for stroke survivors (and their support network) on their confronting loss and ongoing, intensive rehabilitation journey. All winners! Such compassion and support includes a tale about a stroke survivor named Jon Petchey from Poole, U.K., who has fortunately shared his experience after he suffered a stroke in May 2008 which affected his right-hand side's movement, requiring a walking stick to assist with his balance and mobility in the brain injury's aftermath. In his line of work where luggage handling was a necessity, he then felt vulnerable and I'm sure other stroke survivors can relate to this sensation of uncertainty. Fortunately, open-minded (no pun intended) support came his way through a fellow stroke survivor, David Allen, who was empathetic and eager to support stroke survivors (good on ya, DA!) with fresh opportunities in their newfound brain-damaged life, so he contacted Stroke Association's Back To Work Project and Jon got a job (boom!), where instead of adapting equipment, Jon has simply adapted his working style with a perching stool in instances where others would stand. You beauty! Thanks for the stroke support, fellow survivors!
When my particular strokes happened in 2012, I too had an overwhelming fear of going back to work (a mere 6 weeks post Stroke 1 - straight after my school's Summer Break which was my own decision that was supported by my school in Twickenham, U.K.) where my *damaged* brain's intelligence (+ emotional intelligence), leadership, confidence, vision (fortunately for my 50%+-lacking-eyesight-brain, this 'vision' is figuratively speaking!), courage, passion, curiosity, motivation, judgement (mentally + physically judgement given majority of eyesight lost - it impacts more than just banging into people and objects and/or reading a book or email, although that too was initially embarrassing and exhausting - neurofatigue is more intense/in tents than *being the teacher* at a school camp *pun intended - heh geddit?!*!) and resilience were required for every single minute of the day. There is no taking the back seat as a teacher and I accepted this after the first stroke when I ignorantly and insistently went straight back to work after the initial 1.5 months of official school Summer Holidays in mid 2012 (<<Stroke 1's 'Recovery & Rehabilitation' - this can be years) where I quickly realised many of my former teacher traits were currently (<<operative word) not brightly shining, but rather dull and hiding, hoping not to be noticed (which was/is most unlike me!). As the fierce, hard-working brain of mine (that I still love with all my heart - the damage wasn't its direct fault after all and its dual comeback is better than Terminator 2) rerouted around the out-of-business dead-neurons, my confidence fortunately grew and I - along with my energetic supporters (boom!) - started to identify my former self (with enhanced traits, of course!) and my role in our universe. Unfortunately, as other survivors can attest, for the most part, I was ultimately alone in my mind's torment as I didn't want to worry people with this new unusual and depressing life chapter. When I had my second stroke in late 2012 (recurring strokes happen to 25% of first-time stroke survivors according to National Stroke Association), just two months into the school year (3.5 months after the first stroke - prime time for brain to have another fire), I was shocked to discover that despite my own lack of self-belief, there was a decent (and absolutely hilarious!) army of support from my dear school, family and mates (+ hospital staff at every ward I hung out in + mates of mates + lovely children - the list goes on!). And that's it - you never realise exactly how important and cherished you are by others until you are unfortunately close to death. Let's change it! Now it has become my personal mission to let others know just how much I adore them in the present moment and that includes the students (and fellow teaching staff!) whom I am fortunately able to work with over a few (full) days each week (not yet back in U.K. though - but I did get to visit my former school + staff in January 2016, have a cuppa with them all and tell them they are all divine beings!). Moving onwards and upwards! Like fellow stroke survivor/my old mate, Kirk Douglas, supporters quickly discovered that humour truly is a stroke survivor's best ally, where I have always encouraged family + mates + medical superstars + strangers to laugh at/with my stroke stories. There are many and they can be absolutely hilarious (can't even share all online, youknowwhatimean)! It is with the humour and laughs that those cherished endorphins are being released into the bloodstream and like Douglas, The Bible's Old Testament, insightful Monty Python and good ole Hippocrates, I genuinely believe that jokes are essential in stroke recovery where life can look rather bleak without the laughter. Always look on the bright side of Life - so keep the witticisms coming!
"A merry heart doeth good, like medicine"
Hippocrates would appreciate a cheese pun.
FYI:
get yourself checked out today.
Simple.
You may be one of the billion (estimate by World Heart Federation) people worldwide living with this 'silent killer'.
Furthermore, be aware of other stroke risk factors and brain facts (i.e.: your brain's CEO is in the Frontal Lobe).
Think you know how to manage your blood pressure?
Take this simple test.
It wasn't surprising for myself to learn 25% of stroke survivors suffer from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder within the initial year of a stroke/s striking.
In other words, that's 1 in every 4 of all survivors - a truly concerning figure that would certainly make you realise it is beyond the immediate brain damage.
A year after the brain injury, generally speaking, one in nine stroke survivors experience chronic PTSD. The effects of brain damage are like an iceberg and it takes time (in this time-poor world). Depression, being afraid and general anxiety are common mental illnessespost a stroke, particularly in the initial years of rehabilitation and I certainly felt these former alien emotions. From my point of view and from avid stroke research, stroke survivors can be assisted in their recovery with support from family members, mates and mental health professionals (objective and subjective mix!) to help regain that sense of calm and normalcy in their lives post strokes striking, but it's not always as it seems nor as simple, especially when you're under 30! It was truly fortunate that my dear Mother Duck is a mental health nurse for she has been my main source of support over the past 3+ years (I tell her I'm giving her complementary professional development so we have a healthy balance!). Furthermore, wise Nurse Duckie has helped with educating others in grasping what's below the stroke's surface with her medical expertise! Thank you dear Nurse MD - we always knew that Masters In Mental Health was going to be put to good use!
Through my own experiences, stroke rehabilitation support is horses for courses - certain family members and mates will not complement stroke survivors' rehabilitation and the same can be said for mental health professionals (there were a select few I had absolutely no time for *if they treated me like a suffering invalid and/or didn't listen to what I actually had to say nor respect it because I was now brain damaged or because they were stroking their egos by being in my company - my executive function is still considered high level in official psych assessment IQ Tests, so there's no need to be patronising* and others I adored like they were my childhood dog reincarnated!), so I feel it is essential stroke survivors find the best suited to their particular mind and its woes otherwise that negative energy will eat them up and taint the rehabilitation. Find what specifically works best (and try not to take anything personally - survivors, PAs, docs, nurses & therapists) for the individual, yes!
After the two fierce strokes smashed through my mind in 2012 and the vast loss of quality of life they caused in their wake, I now know the value in support, consistency and humour (and now, so do you!). A strong social network may be able to aid in a stroke survivor's emotional recovery (like they fortunately did for myself) and guard against the perils of PTSD and the brain damage itself if only for their positive spirit and making a survivor feel they are still cherished post acquired brain injuries. For caregivers, family and sacred mates, I'd encourage them to directly (and openly!) interact and communicate with a stroke survivor (there's always a way) as quickly as possible to discover how he or she is feeling regularly (and tell them how you're doing too - be involved, boom!). There's also apps for such! As a stroke survivor, reaching out to family and friends for emotional support is essential as I've experienced firsthand that alienating myself post strokes was counterproductive for both parties and caused unnecessary stress, but I am also mindful of being a 'wet blanket' in my young mates' healthy lives so have insisted on a balance with deflection at times. The Three Cs - Company, Communication (in any/all forms) & Chocolate (stroke smartafter all) can make a substantial difference to supporters and stroke survivors alike. Additionally, joining an online support group (American Stroke Association's website can assist in such searching!) where a stroke survivor can share their feelings and experiences with others who are further along in their rehabilitation and/or have some firsthand advice that may also help to ease anxiety and lift a stroke survivor's spirits where their faith is restored in the brain's plasticity + progress and that they, despite brain damage, are still normal. The online support surely has benefitted this Kitty during the rehabilitation journey, easing stress levels and boosting spirits (for everyone involved). Yes!
'Neuro Fatigue' won a spot on the 'Top 5 Effects' list after my two strokes, in particular.
After 3.5 years, I still need to sleep for over 12 hours a day - lack of sleep only makes the effects of my particular brain damage even more evident and intense.
Try explaining that to a 26-year-old fire cracker!
Many family + mates and even colleagues at school camp have been incredibly understanding of this overwhelming need to sleep (/nap time at parties) - thank you!
Check out these insightful articles about how stress, in particular, affects the mind.
The mighty good news?! Regular mindfulness (3-5 sessions a week - feasible amount) through yoga and meditation, in particular, is said to encourage positive moods due to an increase in GABA levels (while it has nothing to do with Brisbane's #1 cricket ground, The Gabba, it is suggested by Boston sorts that low levels of this neurotransmitter, good ole, GABA, may result in anxiety and depression), provide improvement in executive function (higher-level cognitive skills you use to control + coordinate your other cognitive abilities and behaviours *i.e.: lack of concern for others, inability to multitask and plan, difficulty with abstract concepts* + the rather special function called prospective memory *remembering to remember, which I've currently been lacking such for the past 3+ years. Effective strategies - including sensational IPhone apps have been proactively put in place in prospective memory's absence - yes!*), protect the brain from aging, ensure optimal fluid intelligence (street smarts) is achieved, fine tune abilities to project into the future and solve problems that are likely to arise in anticipation of such + splendid organisation (attention, planning, problem solving, sequencing, working memory, cognitive flexibility, abstract thinking + rule acquisition - the usual!) as well as help ease stress, in particular, PTSD.
Mindfulness - you beauty!
Not a big fan of ole style yoga?
21st Century Yoga is here with F*ck That Meditation.
While I'm not a mindful yogi (yet), the research on improving your mental capacity with yoga does seem promising. One definitely needs to approach yoga, mindfulness and their mental health carefully and these regulations certainly offer some clarity.
Metacognition is valued beyond university days. Boom!
American neuroanatomist and fellow stroke survivor, Jill Bolte Taylor,
feeding our minds with her knowledge (firsthand and researched) about the devastating fires in our brains.
Despite the teeny tiny size of our mind's Hippocampus (shown deep inside the brain, below), it is actually significantly important to our being. If only my particular mind took a stroke-bullet in another spot (ala Stroke 1 in Occipital Lobe style - at back of brain - where I returned to full-time work just over 6 weeks later) when I was 26 years old, you all would be hearing my repeated (hilarious) jokes less often and the selfless PAs may get more days off! Since the second stroke, my own research has shown that Hippo-C is technically a little substructure of the Limbic System in your Temporal Lobe that has a range of mind functions including visual perception, spatial awareness, facial recognition, object recognition, dividing neurons to migrate to new thoughts & memory acquisition, understanding language and emotional reactions (apologies to my Klubbers who may now be realising my range of confronting effects of brain damage are 'just so textbook'). So despite its insignificant size, the little hidden seahorse gem has many cherished functions (that are generally out-of-service or at the very least, compromised, in this current Special K world) and it is absolutely necessary in coding and forming new declarative and episodic memories (don't cry for me, supporters of a strokie). As you may have deduced, your brain's Hippocampus is most vulnerable to Alzheimer's Disease hitting its cells first (memory loss is typically one of the initial symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease and is generally the most associated one) which should help you grasp my present (<<operative word) predicament (although, my brain's damage effects have the opposite journey ahead when compared to Alzheimer's Disease, in that my mind and its current capabilities are fortunately improving with time). Unimportant information (as Einstein famously regarded matters of short term memory) in the long term, yet important in day-to-day running, such as remembering to get the food out of the oven an hour later (+ before you leave your home), where you have to be and what you have to do precisely throughout the day, your bank card's new pin (/online banking details) needed when catching a taxi or paying for a service/item and the location your meeting is going to take place in 20 minutes' time (+ how to get there), for instant example (wahh!). Through my own research to better understand what's going on up there, I discovered that on top of losing cells in your Hippo-C first when Alzheimer's Disease strikes, the Hippocampus is responsible for the birth of new brain cells and seems to shrink when one is severely depressed (so continue to make jokes for my sake!). The little seahorse deep inside your mind is quite the intriguing creature, yes?! Hippo-C is also a fan of oestrogen (aren't we all?!) which stimulates brain cells making more connections to other nerve cells (known to us in the 'know' as 'synaptic density' - I'll test you later!). Boom - women for the win!
Want to know how to enrich that magical mind of yours to grow new brain cells? Here is a TED Talk (all the cool kids are doing it - i.e.: Jill BT, Jack Attack and I!) on your mind's mates. It's the hip version of Netflix & Chill!
JBT also shared her wisdom on Oprah!
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Currently, almost 1/3 of strokes are under 65.
We really ought to drive that home - they are not limited to the elderly nor to the people that are necessarily at high risk (I was previously one who was considered 'low risk').
1 in 6 of us will have a stroke, therefore, as it currently stands, 1 in 18 of the population will have at least one stroke before they reach 65 years of age - still during prime working/living years.
The likelihood of stroke is higher if you are simply a woman,
currently standing at 1 in 5 (20% - that's higher than the alcohol content of *stroke smart* red wine! BIG statistics there).
Not once have I pondered 'why did this happen to me?' (if not me, then who?!).
However, I have pondered -
'Why isn't my brain's abilities improving?
'Will I be this 'way', reliant on others, with no significant progress in life, forevermore?'
'Why don't some grasp the strokes' effects and my newfound life?'
'Why are some making life even more difficult?'
'What is the purpose of living when you're brain damaged?'
'How will I ever be able to have a full-time worthwhile career again?'
We really ought to drive that home - they are not limited to the elderly nor to the people that are necessarily at high risk (I was previously one who was considered 'low risk').
1 in 6 of us will have a stroke, therefore, as it currently stands, 1 in 18 of the population will have at least one stroke before they reach 65 years of age - still during prime working/living years.
The likelihood of stroke is higher if you are simply a woman,
currently standing at 1 in 5 (20% - that's higher than the alcohol content of *stroke smart* red wine! BIG statistics there).
Not once have I pondered 'why did this happen to me?' (if not me, then who?!).
However, I have pondered -
'Why isn't my brain's abilities improving?
'Will I be this 'way', reliant on others, with no significant progress in life, forevermore?'
'Why don't some grasp the strokes' effects and my newfound life?'
'Why are some making life even more difficult?'
'What is the purpose of living when you're brain damaged?'
'How will I ever be able to have a full-time worthwhile career again?'
“Rise to the challenges that life presents you. You can't develop genuine character and ability by sidestepping adversity and struggle.”
― Buddhist philosopher & leader, peace builder, educator, author and poet, Daisaku Ikeda, who also encourages us to never give up despite shortcomings for it is the key to achieving in life. You beauty!
Not only are these well wishes from a few of my former British students an absolute tear jerker, but it also brought about the nickname of 'Miss Laid' by eager mates who noticed the misspelling.
Always making others laugh - even by default!
When you have lost your mind, your life and your identity, I have realised - firsthand - that you run to what you ultimately love.
After the first stroke (on the last day of school - at our staff celebrations), my English Queen (/colleague) would receive letters and adorable handmade cards (even gift vouchers from the loving and supportive parents + staff! Always appreciated :)) sent to her home and she'd eagerly bring them to the 'vacay ward' in whichever hospital I was in (I got sent to a few after Stroke 1 given different specialties and closer to home - one even had a summer rooftop that has been lodged in my brain's long-term memory bank = emotional connection! Summer rooftop party!). My dear former colleagues still send cards, chocolate and English delights to show their support and when I worry that I have been forgotten by them (the master of memory lapses!), they remind myself of my particular legacy and/or how much they surely aren't coping without me there (perhaps an exaggeration just to 'stroke' my ego there!).
Well wishes from supportive (+ creative!) year 4 students =
Hospital Bible - Miss Laird Style
What gives you pleasure, engagement, flow?
Get head strong!
Learn about your mind's magical functions and locations of such today. Boom!
If you have someone who has suffered a stroke in your circle, you may want to help them through their rehabilitation journey. Yes - be proactive!
Below are some ignorant remarks a person may very much find themselves wanting to say to a stroke survivor that ultimately are counterproductive for all parties concerned
(by Marie Rowland via Brainline with a few Kitty Inclusions).
Heads up!
1. You seem fine to me.
The invisible signs of a brain injury - memory and concentration problems, fatigue, insomnia, chronic pain, depression or anxiety - these are sometimes more difficult to live with than visible disabilities. Research
shows that having just a scar on the head can help a person with a brain injury feel validated and better understood (sad, yet so painfully true as I'm sure you've acknowledged firsthand also - let's change this attitude, dear stroke smarties!). Your loved one may look normal, but shrugging off the invisible signs of brain injury is belittling.
Consider this: A memory problem can be much more disabling than a limp
(Exhibit A - This Special K has had both and can attest to such).
2. Maybe you're just not trying hard enough (you're lazy).
Lazy is not the same as apathy (lack of interest, motivation or emotion). Apathy is a disorder and common after a brain injury (despite my eagerness to get back into the classroom, I have felt immense apathy about life and school has been my blessed escape - a wholesome reward in my otherwise dark world!). The pros explain that apathy can often get in the way of rehabilitation and recovery so it's important to recognise and treat it. It is basically a decrease in novelty seeking behaviours - be aware stroke supporters and complement rather than hinder (with positivity and an open mind) your stroke survivor mates (and their supporters) today!
3. You're such a grump!
Irritability is one of the most common signs of a brain injury (and why some have turned off their support switch in this Special K's instance. It's a blessing in disguise, fellow stroke survivors going through a similar ordeal). Irritability could be the direct result of the brain injury or a side effect of depression, anxiety, chronic pain, sleep disorders or fatigue. Think of it as a biological grumpiness - it's not as if your loved one can get some air and come back in a better mood (they may also be reacting to a frustrating situation and are being over analysed with misconceived stroke survivor perceptions).
Certain prescription drugs, supplements, changes in diet or therapy that focuses on adjustment and coping skills can all help reduce irritability.
4. How many times do I have to tell you?!
It's frustrating to repeat yourself over and over, but almost everyone who has a brain injury will experience some memory problems (after Stroke 1, I - at 26 years old - needed help *full-time assistance* with the simple task of finding our tent at a week-long music festival in Czech Republic despite the recently acquired - mere days earlier - brain injury being in the Occipital Lobe *thankfully, eager PAs - it's worth noting, many newfound, considerate ones - at hand who never said such an ignorant remark as 'how many times do I have to tell you?!'*). You may have to just be the bigger person you always wanted to be in this instance and suck it up for your splendid stroke survivor!
Instead of pointing out a deficit, try finding a solution (HOT TIP!).
Make the task easier (i.e.: mates putting my familiar belongings hanging from the particular bedroom door I stay in when visiting or messaging instead of calling so that I have an easy reference - geniuses!).
Create a routine.
Install a memo board in the kitchen (we have used one for myself since Day One of Home Rehab so that I don't overdose on my daily steroids *for muscles, I presume, but also for my sensitive blood vessels*, avoid that traumatising feeling of being certain I'm actually not living, but rather, in a coma/dead *Cotard's Syndrome* and know what day it is/what the plan for the day/week ahead is).
Also, remember that language isn't always verbal.
"I've already told you this" comes through loud and clear just by facial expression.
5. Do you have any idea how much I do for you?
Your loved one probably knows how much you do and feels incredibly guilty about it. It's also possible that your loved one has no clue and may never understand. This can be due to problems with awareness, emotions, memory, or apathy - all of which can be a direct result of a brain injury. It's never a productive or considerate attitude/comment. If you do need to unload your burden on someone, let that someone be a good friend or professional (two-in-one would be in even better!).
6. Your problem is all the medications you take.
Prescription drugs can cause all kinds of side effects such as sluggishness, insomnia, memory problems, mania, sexual dysfunction or weight gain (we called my 'water retention' from the range of drugs pumped into my body, Steroid Face` to make it sound somewhat desirable and sophisticated. We were successful!) - just to name a few. Someone with a brain injury is especially sensitive to these effects. But if you blame everything on the effects of drugs, two things could happen. One, you might be encouraging your loved one to stop taking an important drug prematurely. Two, you might be overlooking a genuine sign of brain injury. It's a good idea to regularly review prescription drugs with a doctor. Don't be afraid to ask when will be the right time to taper off a drug (fortunately, Nurse MD does this after consulting our Dr D in my particular instance).
7. Let me do that for you.
Independence and control are two of the most important things lost after a brain injury (here, here!). Yes, it may be easier to do things for your buddy. Yes, it may be less frustrating. But, encouraging a stroke survivor to do things on their own will help promote self-esteem, confidence and quality of living. It can also help the brain recover faster! YES!
Furthermore, it is essential that the task isn't one that might put your loved one at genuine risk - such as driving too soon or managing medication when there are significant memory problems.
8. Try to think positively.
(or as one who has not had two strokes shockingly and ignorantly said to this Special K at the first opportunity we were alone, "you have the wrong attitude" - haters gonna hate!)
That's easier said than done for many people and even harder for someone with a brain injury. Repetitive negative thinking is called rumination and it can be common after a brain injury. Rumination is usually related to depression and anxiety and so treating those problems may help break the negative thinking cycle. As we all are aware, chances are if you tell someone to stop thinking about a certain negative thought, that thought will just be pushed further towards the front of the mind (literally, to the prefrontal cortex!).
Instead, supporters should find a task that is especially enjoyable for their loved one (i.e.: drinking stroke smart red wine and getting some blood-thinning Vitamin D!).
It will help to distract from negative thinking + release chemicals that promote more positive thoughts.
Too easy, Campese!
Check out this insightful list of ways to calm the overactive mind. Brain massage!
9. You're lucky to be alive.
This sounds like positive thinking, looking on the bright side of things. But be careful. A person with an acquired brain injury is 1.8 times more likely to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder than the general population and 8 times more likely to develop depression with the majority (82%) suffering from Acute Stress Disorder following a brain injury (a particularly out-of-body experience for myself!). Strokes are serious business and while I encourage the jokes and light-hearted banter about my current situation, nurture, consistency, inclusion and reliability are also traits I have valued most in my support network. Additionally, stroke survivors are six times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than someone without a brain injury and some may not feel very lucky to be alive. Instead of calling it "luck", talk about how strong, persistent or heroic (+ funny) the person is for getting through their ordeal. Tell them they're awesome (because they are + they get all the blokes!).
Stroke Recovery =
Life After Stroke - A Carer's Perspective -
What a lovely couple showing how they handled the 'hiccup'
Life After Stroke - A Carer's Perspective -
What a lovely couple showing how they handled the 'hiccup'
"Brain surgery is a terrible profession. If I did not feel it will become different in my lifetime, I should hate it."
- Renowned ground-breaking scientist and devoted surgeon, Neurosurgeon and Montreal
Neurological Institute Commissioner, Wilder Penfield (1891 - 1976), who was known as the 'greatest living Canadian'
(this title now belongs to a young Canadian woman :)).
Neurological Institute Commissioner, Wilder Penfield (1891 - 1976), who was known as the 'greatest living Canadian'
(this title now belongs to a young Canadian woman :)).
Penfield (pictured in action) mapped the motor cortex (planning, control & execution of voluntary motor functions) using mild electric current to various epileptic patients' brains where they'd then explain to him (totally conscious and alert while he was investigating their minds) what they were experiencing, including whole memory sequences (perhaps not in my case!), body movement and even songs (one particular patient assumed music was actually being played due to how crisp the sound = mind boggling heh!). Even more fascinating, when Penfield would poke at the back of the brain (as you do), patients would see dots due to the doc hitting the Occipital Lobe (Kitty Stroke 1 style which initially left 50%+ sight deficit); the mind's section for vision and they'd also feel sensations if he poked at the back portion of the parietal area + move body parts if he touched the front portion of that lobe!
The brain = so bloody (indeed, twofold) fascinating!
Another neuro guru you should know about, Dr. Henry Marsh, leading British neurosurgeon extraordinaire, was one of the countless medical hotshots at London's St George's Hospital that 'got to' examine my Special K make-up and although he was 'fortunate' enough to see the insides of one very ill, yet quite (/incredibly) special, young patient, the results from the brain biopsy came back 'inconclusive' (everyone had to explain many a time that 'inconclusive' was in actual fact a positive in my unique instance as I initially interpreted it as meaning I was going to continue having strokes until they eventually killed me given the cause wasn't found). When I was in hospital for over 6 weeks in 2012, I greatly appreciated the balcony garden to entertain my 'guests' and I have since learned that it was old mate Dr HM who organised such a therapeutic space to make it a better experience/vacation for patients and their visitors.
We certainly loved the bright balcony chills during such dark, depressing days - thank you dear Doctor Marsh!
Drilling holes in skulls = all in a day's work for this British neurosurgeon superstar
The very neurosurgeon and medical device/tool used to drill a hole (never to replace for vanity is the least of their/our concern!) the size of a typical thumbprint out of my skull to extract brain (surgeon or zombie?!) in late 2012 within the initial weeks following the second stroke when testing was extensively being done (some examinations were repeated considering they had also been done after Stroke 1 just a few months prior) throughout my body to finally identify the cause of strokes in fear of impending strokes/death inevitably striking (<<without appropriate medical intervention).
Please Note: Dr Marsh has since retired - Kitty brain biopsy = Doctor fulfilment!
Being a splendid superstar, he's written an insightful memoir -
Do No Harm: Stories Of Life, Death & Brain Surgery.
Dr Marsh's 'handy' work -
Days post brain biopsy (where's my hair extension?!) where they were drilling for antimatter, no doubt!
This shot was taken first day finally out of hospital too
(5 weeks post stroke on the strict provision that I was cared for by my mental health nurse of a Mother Duck) -
some decent sorts had flown over from Australia to collect myself in fear of recurring strokes and quite possibly, death
(+ grab some decent bites - perhaps more importantly).
Boom!
Canary Wharf, London
December 2012
Would you like to get inside your mind?
Let's do such with this insightful Brain Tour!
Further ways to actively be stroke smart -
The brain = so bloody (indeed, twofold) fascinating!
Another neuro guru you should know about, Dr. Henry Marsh, leading British neurosurgeon extraordinaire, was one of the countless medical hotshots at London's St George's Hospital that 'got to' examine my Special K make-up and although he was 'fortunate' enough to see the insides of one very ill, yet quite (/incredibly) special, young patient, the results from the brain biopsy came back 'inconclusive' (everyone had to explain many a time that 'inconclusive' was in actual fact a positive in my unique instance as I initially interpreted it as meaning I was going to continue having strokes until they eventually killed me given the cause wasn't found). When I was in hospital for over 6 weeks in 2012, I greatly appreciated the balcony garden to entertain my 'guests' and I have since learned that it was old mate Dr HM who organised such a therapeutic space to make it a better experience/vacation for patients and their visitors.
We certainly loved the bright balcony chills during such dark, depressing days - thank you dear Doctor Marsh!
Drilling holes in skulls = all in a day's work for this British neurosurgeon superstar
The very neurosurgeon and medical device/tool used to drill a hole (never to replace for vanity is the least of their/our concern!) the size of a typical thumbprint out of my skull to extract brain (surgeon or zombie?!) in late 2012 within the initial weeks following the second stroke when testing was extensively being done (some examinations were repeated considering they had also been done after Stroke 1 just a few months prior) throughout my body to finally identify the cause of strokes in fear of impending strokes/death inevitably striking (<<without appropriate medical intervention).
Please Note: Dr Marsh has since retired - Kitty brain biopsy = Doctor fulfilment!
Being a splendid superstar, he's written an insightful memoir -
Do No Harm: Stories Of Life, Death & Brain Surgery.
Dr Marsh's 'handy' work -
Days post brain biopsy (where's my hair extension?!) where they were drilling for antimatter, no doubt!
This shot was taken first day finally out of hospital too
(5 weeks post stroke on the strict provision that I was cared for by my mental health nurse of a Mother Duck) -
some decent sorts had flown over from Australia to collect myself in fear of recurring strokes and quite possibly, death
(+ grab some decent bites - perhaps more importantly).
Boom!
Canary Wharf, London
December 2012
Would you like to get inside your mind?
Let's do such with this insightful Brain Tour!
Further ways to actively be stroke smart -
Reduce your blood pressure and thus heart attack + stroke risk with some regular rays of healthy sunshine (+ sun smarts) - the sacred vitamin D will improve your memory, concentration & protect your mind against aging. Yes!
A little Kitty and older bro (not necessarily bigger bro = I ate all his pies - evidently) were all about the sunny, vitamin D enriched mind mending endorphins last century!
Back in the 80s - Australia's tropical Far North Queensland stylin'
(hence strokes whilst in grey, dismal UK after almost two years of living there in 2012, riiight?!).
Would you believe glorious sunshine is also a blood thinner?!
I certainly do.
We would have undoubtedly had stroke smart dark chocolate (with brain food - fruit and nuts) after this Vitamin D health check in The Tropics!
Call us chocolate fiends soaking up the sunshine, 'healthy'!
Do join us!
A little Kitty and older bro (not necessarily bigger bro = I ate all his pies - evidently) were all about the sunny, vitamin D enriched mind mending endorphins last century!
Back in the 80s - Australia's tropical Far North Queensland stylin'
(hence strokes whilst in grey, dismal UK after almost two years of living there in 2012, riiight?!).
Would you believe glorious sunshine is also a blood thinner?!
I certainly do.
We would have undoubtedly had stroke smart dark chocolate (with brain food - fruit and nuts) after this Vitamin D health check in The Tropics!
Call us chocolate fiends soaking up the sunshine, 'healthy'!
Do join us!
Blood thinners for the brain-win!
Considering alcohol (always in moderation) is a blood thinner, we're actively being stroke smart at the weekend/weekday when we have a few certain alcoholic beverages. As you'd expect with a stroke survivor in their 20s, I certainly ran/sprinted with this one (after the supportive docs said I could in my particular situation - not all stroke survivors necessarily have such freedom), relishing my newfound passion for 'looking after (stroking?!) the mind'.
To get the best results, the studies suggest (enjoying) a
few glasses of red wine each week for its particular brain food - ethanol
which thins blood, in particular - and hugs your heart as well. YES!
Not only is red wine (especially the Concord variety + Malbec, St. Laurent Petite Sirah and the always classic, Pinot Noir! Get to the wine rack/bottle-o/bar pronto!) - with its high levels of resveratrol content - said to lower blood pressure + cholesterol levels and reduce blood clot formation (all positives in the stroke smart world, yippee!), it also protects the heart against disease + prevents damage caused by oxygen radicals,
discourages hearing loss
(which isn't always as enjoyable as teenage children who tease their hearing impaired parents regard it as!) and inhibits cancer.
Pour us a massive glass/goblet now!
Considering alcohol (always in moderation) is a blood thinner, we're actively being stroke smart at the weekend/weekday when we have a few certain alcoholic beverages. As you'd expect with a stroke survivor in their 20s, I certainly ran/sprinted with this one (after the supportive docs said I could in my particular situation - not all stroke survivors necessarily have such freedom), relishing my newfound passion for 'looking after (stroking?!) the mind'.
To get the best results, the studies suggest (enjoying) a
few glasses of red wine each week for its particular brain food - ethanol
which thins blood, in particular - and hugs your heart as well. YES!
Not only is red wine (especially the Concord variety + Malbec, St. Laurent Petite Sirah and the always classic, Pinot Noir! Get to the wine rack/bottle-o/bar pronto!) - with its high levels of resveratrol content - said to lower blood pressure + cholesterol levels and reduce blood clot formation (all positives in the stroke smart world, yippee!), it also protects the heart against disease + prevents damage caused by oxygen radicals,
discourages hearing loss
(which isn't always as enjoyable as teenage children who tease their hearing impaired parents regard it as!) and inhibits cancer.
Pour us a massive glass/goblet now!
Want more mind (monkey) magic?
Check out these hidden brain talents.
Do tell myself what fascinated you the most about our minds. I'm forever intrigued by our clever grey matter! Boom!
"If brains were simple, we would be too simple to understand them"
- American author and screen writer (ala Godfather), Mario Puzo, describes the Catch 22 of our sophisticated minds
(^^you'll love this piece!)
"In one stroke, literally and figuratively, it was all gone"
- Stroke survivor and acclaimed Hollywood actor, Kirk Douglas, reflects on the drastic effects of stroke.
"In one stroke, literally and figuratively, it was all gone"
- Stroke survivor and acclaimed Hollywood actor, Kirk Douglas, reflects on the drastic effects of stroke.
Above: "I am still me!"
- Fellow stroke survivor, Kate Allatt, offers insight into how it feels to live after a stroke in this confronting drawing depiction.
Spot on.
Surviving two major strokes, some say I should simply be grateful, but it is a continuous living nightmare for a decent chunk of my young life now. Surviving is the key word about the aftermath of the brain attacks and for some, like myself, it is ongoing for many years and all the while in the prime of my life. Life as a young stroke survivor feels like constantly trying to drive a car with no gas. It is not enough to simply be alive - I want to thrive (just like you). A healthy brain has close to 100 billion neurons (my damaged one is missing about a baboon's worth in the strokes' wake - tens of billions!) including dendrites and axons that like to chat to each other (aka synapses) more than this Chitty Chat loves a yarn with my good-egg mates/new-found mates at the local bar! These connections enable us to be who we are as human beings and individuals and make possible our everyday existence - from running away from a venomous snake (and knowing to do so quietly!) and checking the road before we cross such (<<and I've had that particular ability officially tested - however, OTs obviously knew snake smarts were long-term memory from a tropical Far North Queensland wild child!) to putting our seatbelt on once getting into a vehicle (+ understanding why). The two strokes of 2012 that only took two sections of my mind's complex map have showcased for many - especially in my age bracket (now - I'm proud to say after experiencing two strokes at 26 - I've reached 30! Proud as Punch!) - just how durable, fierce, plastic, determined and magical our human brains are and that it is with my own human spirit (that's in my tenacious young mind!) that I shall one day be triumphant in again living a life that's full! You can't (and I won't) give up on your dreams - it's better to risk starving to death than surrender! Stroke survivor stories are forever inspiring myself to get back out 'there' (which I am! Below is how I recently celebrated reaching 30 years of Life - big deal!) and one of the most intriguing aspects of their anecdotes is how the brain fights back despite an utter meltdown in our body's head(pun intended!)quarters. Because our magical minds are plastic (phew!), the healing process and progress after a stroke despite initial (for some survivors) severe effects, means there is hope - Neuroplasticity, you beauty!
Given the severe anterograde amnesia I've experienced after losing the brain's Hippocampus in my right hemisphere's Temporal Lobe, I am sometimes referred to as 'Dory' from Finding Nemo and I'd have to say, it is quite spot on with my damaged brain and its
current (<<operative word) inabilities.
Obviously just as funny too!
Obviously just as funny too!
Wise words buddy!
Let's remember (heh), Dory made that movie!
During those initial confronting months (3+ years ago now) when I was certain death was imminent whilst in my prime/20s, my world was completely dark and void of purpose. Given the morbid situation, where I (and probably many others) assumed I was a 'goner' painfully waiting for death to strike once and for all, I encouraged jokes about the blasted strokes in typical Australian manner where defiance and humour was (/still is) the key in my particular rehabilitation ('recovery' implies that the brain will just bounce back to its original place like a broken bone, but I've had to accept through the most stubborn of gritted teeth that the damaged mind now will never be where it once was - its former renowned memory and spatial navigation abilities would have blown your socks off!) journey. Although my circulatory and immune systems (suppressed by a rare autoimmune disease that had yet to be detected before both strokes struck) flared up (<<as docs constantly tell me, it could happen to anyone in this hectic 21st Century world), causing mass prolonged devastation, my brain certainly is fighting back.
A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because their trust is not on the branch, but rather, on their own wings.
Check out my (+ other stroke survivors') decent wings flapping (gliding will come in due course) away!
In January 2016, my former school in UK's elegant borough of Richmond Upon Thames let myself (+ PA, Nurse Mother Duck, whom they had met when she came in for a day *Take Your Mummy To School Day!* in mid-2012, just a month before Stroke 1 surprisingly struck) come for a cuppa tea and chinwag (including with the head teacher who must have missed my clever jokes :)) and some even joined in celebrating the end of the working week!
They were the best medicine :).
Initially, time was always on my mind, but now, 3 years on, I'm focusing on the here and now where I actively let the universe know what I want and am passionately working towards that without analysing how it may come nor the time it takes. Throughout this chapter, I've been forced to sit still in my life's progress - during its prime - which ultimately strips you of everything that makes you feel secure - your coat of armour if you will, in work, recreation, travel, love and even friends. It strips you of who you thought you were and eventually leads you to a place where you're defined by something larger. But it surely isn't an instantaneous revelation and the torment over the years will never fade in my (damaged) mind. As other people who have been unwell can relate to - including musical sensation, Jessie J (who wrote her first song, Who You Are, when she was in hospital recovering from her stroke - perhaps we could make a little *cheeky* song with all my diaries filled with colourful notes in memory's absence/fears of being dead!), rugby player Michael Lynagh and the gladiator-general Spartacus himself, Kirk Douglas, who lost his ability, as an award-winning famous actor, to talk post stroke (so in 2014, wrote an insightful piece for the Huffington Post that describes the 'equal opportunist' stroke's devastating aftermath) - it soon became abundantly clear that unfortunately there were some absolute shockers of people out there who have needed myself to convince them that I was still worthy after strokes, yet the strong supporters of my world have eagerly and consistently reassured myself on my/our darkest days that despite strokes, brain damage and all their ghastly effects, nothing substantial had actually changed; I still mean the world to them, they still mean the world to me and my brain's recovery has been paramount in our shared vision. Together, we accepted what is (by making blogs/media pieces/celebrating life/volunteering at a supportive school with what brain function has been spared - the list goes on), eventually let go of what was and had ultimate faith in the future!
What genuine characters - more refreshing than a dip in the ocean!
Celebrating reaching 30 - you beauty!
Europe
November 2015
