I met Lauren at a stroke survivor support group over zoom last year and although we both had a stroke, our stories are much different.
If you’re not aware of what a stroke is, you can read more about it here!
Here is Lauren’s story…
Hi Lauren, could you tell me your stroke story?
“I had my stroke at 31 years old. Prior to my stroke I was very active in life between going out with friends, CrossFit, hiking and traveling for work and pleasure. While on a work trip in Vegas (Lauren lives in Conneticut), which I extended to stay with one of my best friends from college, I experienced my stroke.
On my last day in Vegas, as I was going to bed, I felt nauseous and immediately rushed to the bathroom. While in the bathroom, my right side of my body went completely numb to the point where I couldn’t move anything on that side of my body. It was then that I started to worry but had no clue what was going on. I started yelling (in reality probably more talking since that’s all I was capable of) for my friend Tenny in the next room. Thankfully she had not yet fallen asleep and came into the bathroom to find me on the floor unable to pick myself up.
I am beyond blessed for the next series of events that occurred.
It was then, while in the bathroom, that my friends knew there was something very serious happening to me. Tenny, Julie and Michael took immediate action to get me to the hospital. Since I couldn’t walk, Michael carried me down the stairs into Tenny’s car where she then drove in a very speedy fashion to get me to the nearest hospital which thankfully was only 5 minutes away. Once we arrived at the hospital, Tenny was able to get help and brought out a wheelchair for staff to bring me inside. Being put in the wheelchair is my last memory of that night.
The next time I woke up, I had Julie and Tenny holding my legs down since I had to stay lying still on my back following my surgeries. Let’s just say at that point in time, I was not the easiest of patients. I was still not aware of any of the events that took place over the past 24 hours.
It wasn’t until 2 days following my stroke I was coherent enough to fully understand what had happened to me. I discovered I experienced two strokes, one when I was at originally taken to the hospital and the second following my first surgery of my original stroke.”
Lauren’s surgeries consisted of removing a blood clots.
“My strokes have left me with continuous tingling on my right side. I have lost some vision due to my strokes but am so thankful for all the strength and mobility I still have.
Since my strokes, which occurred on April 30th, 2023 I have returned to full activity. I returned to work within one month and to my normal activity within 2 months. I still have no concrete answers as to why the strokes happened in the first place but have the mindset that I can’t worry as to why this happened. I can only move forward and take the necessary steps to hopefully avoid this from ever happening again. I truly believe I was in the right place at the right time and I am so thankful that my friends were there to support me. I don’t know if I would be where I am today without them.”
Since not knowing how your strokes happened, what steps do you take to not let fear get in the way of life?
“I have always had the mindset that whatever is going to happen is going to happen. I would have loved for this experience to not be part of my life story but it is and it happened the best way it could have. I go to my doctor appointments, take my medications and started therapy following the strokes to help with emotional toll that having strokes and no answers bring. I have not been one to live in fear and I’m determined to not start now.”
What kind of physical therapy have you had to do?
“Following my stroke I went to Occupational Therapy for my vision and tingling. I graduated OT within a month due to the progress I was making. Now I am so happy and thankful to share I am back to my physical routine that I had prior to the strokes.”
What’s the best thing that’s happened for you since your stroke?
“I have become even closer with my friends and family. I always knew I was blessed with the people I surrounded myself with prior to the strokes but following the strokes it was overwhelming of how much love and support I received from my family and friends.”
What do your friends and family think about what happened? Are they helping you in any way?
“They have been absolute rockstars. I wouldn’t be where I am without them and don’t know if I would be still living if it wasn’t for Julie, Tenny and Michael.
My siblings and closed friends opened up their homes to me, stayed with me as I transitioned back to my routine, drove me to appointments and overall supported me in every way possible on my road to recovery.”
I am so so happy you have such an amazing support system behind you Lauren. 🙂
Do you have any advice for people who have also suffered from a stroke?
“It gets better with time. Stay positive and never stop asking questions. The positivity part is for sure easier said than done but it gets better. In the beginning, the waves of sadness, anxiety and constant questions crept in as to why this happened. It also was a struggle for me to lose my independence. To help cope, I journaled almost everyday following my strokes and wrote down all my accomplishments for that day, no matter how small, to help me celebrate my recovery milestones.”
Lauren is able to do everything she could do before her stroke. Us survivors need to stick together and I’m so grateful that you’re still here today and that I get to share your story. 🙂
If you have a story to share, do it here!
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