We all know that stroke recovery is a slow marathon, but along the way there can be little wins and big highs. So here was my highest high.
Four months post stroke I was lying in a hospital bed with no movement in my arm or leg. I would periodically try to move my leg. One day I sent the message ‘Lift’. My leg lifted one inch off the bed. I then lowered my leg. Happily my mother was visiting at the time, so “Hey mum Look what I can do”. The high I felt then was one of the most intense experiences of my life, It is an experience that most people will not have and would not want to need to have.
Hi @Janetb you are so right the highs of stroke recovery are amazing aren’t they. I never thought I would so happy to do some of the simple things most people take for granted. I know the first time I was able to squeeze the toothpaste onto my toothbrush rather than all over the sink/wall I thought I had won the lottery.
The first time I made the bed was a big win for me and even bigger win for my partner who hates doing it. As much as it pained me to continue doing it, each time was an achievement and now I’m so confident with it, I feel I can do it in my sleep.
Great that you are ticking off your achievements, the brain needs as many rewards as it can get post stroke.
Hi @Janetb agree with you that some of the best or highest highs are when a small thing becomes doable again. New years morning 2025 was one of my favourites, gone to bed at 9pm exhausted and because I’m mixed Irish/ Scottish and well they both like to party a wee bit, so to avoid it ear plugs meant I missed all the noise etc., but woke up early and managed to tie the laces in my sneakers I was so excited proceeded to charge about the house and waken everyone else whilst behaving like a proud and very loud 5 year old.
This went down like a bowl of cold sick but hey I was happy.
Have a great day.