About Me

A FULL LIFE AFTER STROKE is a resource site for all those whose lives have been touched by stroke. 

11 years ago, my grandmother Anne suffered a massive ischemic stroke.  I was six years old at the time and she was 72.  She was still working as an art teacher, was raising a guide dog puppy for the blind, and was in excellent health.  In fact, she had just walked 40 miles during the AVON Breast Cancer Walk.   She was alone in her home when she had her stroke and could not get off the floor to call for help.  Because she did not receive medical attention for six hours, it was not possible to administer clot buster tPA.  Doctors were unable to remove the clot during surgery and as a result, she was left with major impairments.  Immediately following the stroke, she lost most movement of her left side, had difficulty swallowing and seeing and could no longer read. She spent months in the hospital ICU and rehabilitation centers and then lived with my family for another year while she continued her recovery.

We worked together with my first grade site word flash cards and early reader books and both of us were reading by the time she moved out. Her hard work paid off and she was able to move back to her own home, where she lives with her sister and full time caregivers.  Over these 10 plus years my family and I have learned many things about stroke and the long unpredictable road to stroke recovery.  Many of these things are simple and may seem inconsequential, but they can make big differences in a stroke survivor's life.  

The most important thing we learned and that I hope to share with others is that YOU CAN LIVE A FULL LIFE AFTER STROKE!

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~ Samantha P