Many people associate medical strokes exclusively with being elderly, but that is false. For example, I had a stroke when I was five-years-old. This episode presented me with both short term and long term challenges. From relearning skills to dealing with neurological damage, having a stroke taught me how have patience and endurance through the hard times.
In my experience, having a stroke was like having a reset button pushed on my development. I went from an almost kindergartner to having to relearn basic skills. These skills included walking, talking, and eating independently. To help with this goal, I went through regular sessions of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Honestly, my balance was not very good, even before the stroke. However, the fact that I am able to write this is proof that recovery is possible The key is to not be afraid of hard work. It also help to have a strong support system that will listen to your fears and pray for you throughout the process. Nevertheless, it is important to understand that functional recovery doesn’t means that there won’t be longing effects.
Strokes affect a person’s brain and nervous system. In my case, having a stroke at such a young age likely contributed to the nerve damage on the left side of my body. These effects can range from a simple tingling sensation to intense coldness. To be more specific, this coldness can feel like it is bone-deep, and can make it harder to move my joints. This feeling compels me to frequently and rapidly rub my limbs, in the vain hope of improving blood circulation, and can lead to slight dizziness. The best way to handle these effects is to slow down and try not to stress yourself out. Just because some things take more effort than usual, that doesn’t mean that they can’t be done, even if that means adapting them. The important thing to understand is that it’s okay to admit when you didn’t feel up to your usual activities. Acknowledging weakness is actually a sign of strength.
Regardless of age, strokes can challenge people in a variety of ways. The efforts to relearning skills will test a person’s determination. Lingering damage challenges a person’s ability to endure whatever problems that life presents. The lesson here is that your circumstances didn’t control your life. With God’s help, I have found that challenging circumstances can inspire the greatest growth. May God bless all of my readers.