On Saturday, May 16, 2015, I am
walking in the Treasure Valley Heart Walk. I am walking because I can.
The fact that I can walk
at all is a miracle considering I had two strokes in January of 2012. I had a torn carotid artery. The
second stroke happened in the hospital, and it was massive.
I lost 20% of my brain. I lost all communication, have aphasia, apraxia, and I could not even remember my own name.
I lost 20% of my brain. I lost all communication, have aphasia, apraxia, and I could not even remember my own name.
Here are some statistics
about strokes in the United States:
·
Stroke kills
almost 130,000 Americans each
year— that’s 1 out of every 20 deaths.
·
On average,
one American dies from stroke every 4
minutes.
·
Every year,
more than 795,000 people in the
United States have a stroke.
·
About 610,000
of these are first or new strokes.
·
About 185,00
strokes—nearly one of four—are
in people who have had a previous stroke.
·
About 87% of all strokes are ischemic
strokes(http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/types_of_stroke.htm), when blood
flow to the brain is blocked. That is what I had.
·
Stroke costs
the United States an estimated $34
billion each year. This total includes the cost of health care services,
medications to treat stroke, and missed days of work.
·
Stroke is a
leading cause of serious long-term disability.
After 18 days in the hospital, I
started intense therapy at Saint
Alphonsus Rehabilitation Services (STARS) including physical therapy, occupational
rehabilitation, speech therapy. I did also did acupuncture, hypnotherapy and other vision therapy for reading and
writing.
In three years, I had over 400 hours
of therapy.
Ultimately, I resigned from my job as
the Executive Director of the Associated General Contractors because I could
not work because of the severity of my strokes.
Nevertheless, I try to continue
helping others. After the stroke, I successfully won reelection for the College
of Western Idaho 10 after the strokes.
 |
| Last year's Heart Walk |
In January of 2013, Governor Otter
appointed me to serve on the Board of Idaho Housing and Finance Association and
the Housing Company. I am also on the Board of the American Heart and Stroke
Association. In December, 2012, I joined Risch-Pisca, Law & Policy, PLLC as
a Legislative Consultant working part time.
My passion is to educate people about
strokes. I talk to students and participate in many stroke support groups.
Life is precious but it is difficult when
you have a stroke. I hate the term “my new normal,” but I am grateful that I can
participate in events like the Heart Walk. Many stroke survivors cannot.
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