Debra_ID

First, I'm so glad to hear the book helped. That truly warms my heart knowing I can make other people's lives better.

Sources of inspiration: my family first and foremost. I'm so thankful for all of them. They have really risen to the occasion. My husband has been so supportive and thoughtful. And my kids have really come together. And my mom is a total rock. And I've really leaned on some of my close friends.

Letting go: It's been super hard. And sometimes I still can't. My kids and husband were out skiing today, and I would have given my pinky to be out there with them. But I try to focus on staying positive and small wins. And on doing things that bring me joy and meaning. But it's often easier said than done.

That's a tough one. My experience, and those of most stroke survivors I have talked to, is that our memories from the actual stroke are super hazy. My brain was not working well enough for me to be that aware of exactly what was going wrong. I had a severe headache, my leg was acting weird, and my husband noticed that my speech was slurring, and that's how he realized I was having a stroke.

Now, numbers are particularly difficult for me because they are abstract.

At first a 10!!! My speech was extremely limited, and I couldn't get anything across. Now, more like a 5. I can usually get my point across in broken sentences. And you can say a lot without saying a lot.

But it is still incredibly frustrating and quite debilitating in a lot of ways. I wish I could speak fluently. It’s SO important. Not being able to speak fluently impacts every aspect of my life. I lost my tenure. I can’t interact with my family in the same way. If I could change one thing, it would definitely be that.

Definitely! But progress is super slow. It's been 9 years, but I'm still improving. And that hope is essential to staying positive and happy.

There is a myth that all of the recovery happens in the first 12 months. I want to change that narrative. Stroke survivors can keep improving as long as they work toward it.

First, sorry to hear about the stroke, but congratulations on what sounds like a largely successful recovery!

I definitely miss my old forms of exercise like running and skiing. But I've been able to find other ways to get the blood pumping -- though slightly tamer ways. I can still swim on my own, I love a good long walk while I listen to a podcast, and I stationary bike. And when we can, my husband and I will go for a tandem bike ride.

I'm definitely like you in that I need exercise to stay sane. These forms aren't perfect, but they get the job done.