Public Spark

My grandmother had a stroke about 10 years ago. My family and I still remember as though it was yesterday and what a frightening experience it was.

My grandmother complained of as we have come to know to be classic signs of a stroke:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg and usually occurs on one side of the body

• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

• Sudden trouble seeing in one eye or both eyes

• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

What is a stroke?

It occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted either by a blood clot that blocks a blood vessel or artery in the brain (ischemic stroke) or is caused by a blood vessel in the brain that breaks and bleeds into the brain (hemorrhagic stroke).

We immediately called 911 for my grandmother and although she went through a long rehabilitation process, she fully recovered.

During the rehabilitation process, it was difficult not only for my grandmother but for my family and I. As caregivers, we had to assist with daily living, monitoring safety, coordinating rehabilitation care and doctor’s appointments, as well as providing emotional support.

However, it was important for us to care for ourselves as well because providing care can be a lot of work.

For us, it we found support from our extended family and friends. There are also adult day care facilities, home health care services, respite care, transportation services, and many more. Support groups can also be helpful such as the American Stroke Association’s Stroke Family Support Network, which can be contacted by dialing 1-888-7-STROKE.

References:

• American Stroke Association

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Please stay tuned for tomorrow’s blog on preventing strokes.