19

I am a 36-year-old wife and the mother of a two-year-old son, Jack. After Jack was born in February 2009, I saw many doctors because I was having strange dizzy episodes (later diagnosed as partial seizures) and vision problems. At first I thought all these strange things were normal after having a baby and not getting any sleep, but my complaints persisted even after I got more sleep. I felt something was wrong, but mostly the doctors looked at me and said, “You are young and healthy. Maybe you

June

2018

19

I try hard to forget; Yet I can still remember When this nightmare started On the 15th of November. It was an evening like any other When it all began. I suddenly heard these funny noises Coming from my man. He was breathing hard and heavy, So I jumped up just to see. I saw at once there’s trouble And surmised what it could be. His eyes were both wide open And he was in a daze; I knew we needed help That only 911 could raise. Thankful that the I-phone Was resting right nearby. I told him I

June

2018

19

I experienced kidney failure back in October of 2011, when I was 42 years old. I dropped down to 86 lbs. and had a fever of 105.6. Later, in December, I had a stroke, seizures, high blood pressure, a concussion and was diagnosed with Lupus. Even though I was blessed enough to wake up in the middle of the night and fight my way through the remainder of the stroke, I was in bad shape after it occurred. I don’t know about you, but I could feel it happening. My ring finger on my right hand began to

June

2018

19

My life used to be normal, rather uneventful. I had a fulfilling career and was busy, doing things I enjoyed — shopping, reading, going to the bookstore and being with my family. Then I had a hemorrhagic stroke, and things changed drastically. Initially I did not understand what had happened nor the physical toll of the stroke. The left side of my body was affected. I had to learn to walk, read, use the stairs and perform some daily activities such as writing a check. It was hard work, but after

June

2018

18

I started running about the time my third, and last, child stopped breast feeding.  It helped me figure out who I was after I stopped being the center of an infant’s existence.  I ran so long and so hard that I became a runner.  My husband began calling me a Valkyrie, those warrior women who led the Norse brave to Valhalla.  I Boston Qualified during my first marathon and ran the mother race in Boston the next year.    A month later, I had a massive stroke in the middle of the night.  I

June

2018