The Mayo Clinic and Postpartum Stroke

Hi Fellow Strokies!

I got a piece of information from Narayan Kisson regarding the Mayo Clinic. They are researching postpartum stroke, which is a stroke that occurs within 6 weeks of giving birth. If you have suffered from a postpartum stroke, Mayo Clinic is conducting a study to better understand the condition and your participation would be helpful in determining optimal preventative or treatment strategies.

To participate in Mayo Clinic's postpartum stroke research study, learn about study participation here


Help prevent and treat someone! Knowledge is prevention!

10.30.10

I woke up with a migraine.
I went to work.
I ate a granny smith apple.
I felt sick.
I left the office.
Threw up in the trash can by the elevator.
Went home.
Threw on pajamas.
Curled into bed.
Slept until dinner time.
Had Chicken Milanese.
It tasted like metal.
Went back to sleep.
Hoped I would be well enough for Halloween.
My head hurt.
My head hurt.
My head hurt.
10.30.10

Roller Coasters No More

On Saturday I went to Great Adventure for Fright Fest. As you know, I LOVE Halloween. Ghouls and gremlins and zombies and all that. I pretty much felt like a 10 year old child when I arrived with my eyes wide and grinning from ear to ear with my heart jumping out of my chest at the thought of funnel cake and ice cream and fries and and and!!!

This was my first trip to GA since the stroke so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. I used to be a roller coaster girl. I would be the first one in line for anything with a drop or a loop ready to scream my head off and smile for the camera right before the ride came to an end. This was my thing aaaand now it wasn't my thing. Whenever you walk up to these rides, there is a sign that tells you whether or not you should even attempt to get on, a list of warnings and whatnots. Aneurysms and high blood pressure was on there right next to pregnancy. I saw this in front of numerous rides and didn't think much of it until I thought it didn't apply to me. A few of us were on line to get on Nitro. I really thought I could do it. I even walked up to the front of the line and then, when I was in my seat, all strapped in, I panicked and ran off. I got the same terrified feeling from the ride as just sitting in the seat. People have had strokes from roller coasters and I knew this, but I still wanted to go on the coaster, I wanted to be the old me. As I watched everyone turn and twist and scream on what was supposed to be my ride, I felt sorry for myself but not for too long. Just because I can't ride Nitro, doesn't mean I'm any less of myself than I was before. It's just something I used to do. I've evolved :) Just go with me here, you guys!

We continued walking around the park and came to Skull Mountain. For those of you who don't know, Skull Mountain is the roller coaster for people who don't like roller coasters. It has a short little drop and NO loops, basically a warm up to the other coasters. This I could certainly do! Not only had I been on it 100 times but I knew the route and there were 9 year olds going on this ride. Never had you seen anyone with a bigger smile their face than me getting strapped into that ride. The wind blew in my face, I laughed when we dropped, I put my hands up, I got my fix.

Is It Weird?

Is it weird that I look at October with such glee? As a child looks at Christmas? This is my month, My rebirth. Take back what it took from you. Take it for what it's worth. Take back your stroke month.

I replay what happened in my mind. What I can remember at least. I try and replay every move I made this month. Everything that happened. Everything that could have changed my path. And then, about mid month, when the feeling of this had to happen sets in, I exhale, I breathe, I give thanks. This had to happen to me. I am happy it did. I am happy today! 3 YEARS A SURVIVOR! 3 years strong. I pledge this month to my Dad who survived a stroke 12 years ago, to little Ava, who hasn't yet reached 3 years old, to Stacy, who just had her first child, to David, who is recovering and finding his footing, to Heidi, who survived open heart surgery, to everyone who shared with me and continues to walk with me through this journey with stroked out hand and foot. I thank you.
You inspire me.
You are amazing.
You are a survivor.
Take back your month!

October, I Hate To Love You

October...
I hate to love you,
Leaves that change,
Beautiful colors,
Stimulating to the senses
I thought I lost,
You are a reminder,
Of what was taken,
Of what I took back!
October...
I love to hate you,
I remember,
What you want me
To forget,
I remember,
I can remember,
I won't forget.

HAPPY STROKIVERSARY MONTH TO ME!

My Film Is Going To Be A Web Series!

In October of 2011, the first scene of a full length play I wrote after my stroke was made into a short film. Since then, it has success in over 20 film festivals and even winning awards in 2! It is a constant affirmation that I can achieve my dreams. F you stroke! I'm still winning! The end of October, beginning of November marks my 3 years a survivor anniversary! I can't think of a better way to celebrate good health, continued recovery and awareness than by filming this web series and continuing to live well because after all, everything I do is dedicated to the survivors out there. I am living proof that life doesn't end because you have had a stroke! We may be different post stroke but I like to look at us as being under construction. Nothing wrong with a little transformation after all the caterpillar had to turn into the butterfly so I try and look at my post stroke self as a transformation. I don't have a word for what it is that I've turned into yet but I'm working on it :) What other animals transform? We need to work on a name for us!

When I think about it, I probably wouldn't have been doing this had it not been for the stroke. I wouldn't have signed up for that Playwriting class. I wouldn't have pushed myself to write this post stroke. I wouldn't be in Grad School for Playwriting. I wouldn't be standing there in that picture with that glass trophy. This is another reason I am so thankful for this stroke. You never know what path your life will go on with a bump in the road and I am so happy with the bump. Granted, as you know, recovery was no walk in the park (haha true literally and figuratively) but I am stronger for it. 

I wanted to share the Crowd funding campaign I am taking part of to get this series off the ground. It is for the people, funded by the people! Please consider contributing if you can by donation and we love tweets. We have a Facebook fan page where you can keep up with all the happenings and our Twitter @docket32357 is pretty active. I am also on Twitter @misseljon

Check out our Seed and Spark campaign here We will be updating every couple of days with fun little sneak peeks to what we are working on. October can't come soon enough! 

This is for you dear strokies! 

Bigger and Better Stroke Detector

Hey, that rhymes!

The Reader's Digest recently posted in their current issue new and exciting medical breakthroughs, one of them being a better stroke detector. According to them, there is now a new test that may determine whether dizziness is being caused by a stroke or another condition preventing misdiagnosis's of as many as "100,000 strokes a year." Boy, I wish this was around when I had my stroke. Then time wouldn't have been wasted and it couldn't have been mistaken as a migraine.

How it works is that a patient wears goggles connected to a webcam and a laptop records video of eye movement as the patient looks at a target. If one is experiencing just dizziness, eyes wander off. If it's a stroke, well they stay focused. Imagine, a test that is better than an MRI or CT scan!

This is currently available at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Hopefully more hospitals will have this available soon!