I am honored to tell you about Wendy G., an amazing friend of mine who suffered a stroke a little over a year ago and has fought her way back in a way that is truly inspiring. She is the ultimate definition of I CAN and one of my inspirations to finally move forward with my I CAN journey. Please see her message below that was written on the anniversary date of her stroke.
January 28, 2016
Friends,
It was a year ago today that I had a stroke. I was on the floor in my home all day before I was found that evening by my now fiance and was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery to bust up the blood clot that had formed. I spent three days in the ICU and four weeks in inpatient rehab and then I spent 6 weeks in Alabama with my family undergoing additional physical, occupational and speech therapy. I came back to Georgia in March. To say this past year has been difficult is an understatement. I fight daily to not be tormented every second and every minute and every hour and every day thinking about the events of January 28, 2015. It has often consumed my thoughts. I’m often scared and fight huge amounts of anxiety and depression and longing for what I had and what i lost. but the great news is that I have made a remarkable and miraculous recovery! When I was in the hospital, I wasn’t sure if I would ever be able to ride my bike again, but I have been riding my bike since March. I remember those first rides in March were only about 5 miles long or less, and I was terrified! While I’m not up to my distance I was before, I am happy to announce that I have ridden up to almost 80 miles on a bike ride this past summer and I’m going to ride 100 miles in April with my bike team and I plan to race again in July! I am also going to my race team camp this weekend!
While I still struggle with a few lingering effects of the stroke, I am working to overcome those. I may be down, but I’m not out!
I often ask and am angered as to why this happened to me, especially after being healthy for a long time – a healthy weight,healthy cholesterol, healthy blood pressure , healthy eating and healthy life style. So why did this happen????It happened because it’s God’s will. And he has a plan for me and for all of us. And what that plan is, I don’t know yet, but I can tell you that I see life and people differently now. My heart feels like it is bigger and is more compassionate! I have also realized that I have countless friends, as many of them visited me in the hospital. I mean I had no idea so many people cared about me! I am truly fortunate. I have the kind of friends who will give me a hug when I need it and a kick in the pants to encourage me to keep moving forward.
So today is a HUGE celebration of me getting what many people do not get – A SECOND CHANCE!
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