David Fitzgerald

Well I don't have to tell anyone - that I have had a stroke. It's definitely an eye opening experience. I was one of those unstoppable forty four year olds. Worked hard - running the food service at a local ski area, worked out every other day riding a bike and lifting weights. I was setting up for an outside blue grass festival, when I felt dizzy and had trouble walking and picking things up. I told my wife at that time, "something is not right, take me to the hospital."

We arrived there, they did the usual cat scans, blood pressure test, and told me I was fine and sent me home. Two days later I woke up in the morning, went to get out of bed and fell flat on my face. Went back to the hospital and they told me I was fine and sent me home again. I could not walk but according to them I was fine.

I went to another hospital where they determined what had happened. I was put in therapy right away, water at first then dry ground for a total of fourteen weeks. My walking got better but my sensation and vision slowly has gotten worse. That was three years ago. It's like the left side of my body doesn't even exist. The only thing I can do is keep working at it. I'm not able to drive or work, I live by myself - that took some getting use to. It could always be worse we just have to keep trying; life goes on.

Thanks to David for sending in his profile. Anyone else who would like to share their story can send it along with a photograph (if you're not shy!)

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