Steve Anderson
My experience started on the day that the flooding of a Cornish town was headline news. I woke up and thought the world had gone mad, I could see the coverage on a TV set that seemed miles away. I could see and hear it but did not understand. I am an avid motorcyclist and have been all of my life and so am no stranger to hospitals but normally know how I arrived.
This time was really strange I felt like my mind and body were separate. I did the normal checks of two legs and two arms all seemed in place so tried to sit up for a better look and promptly fell on my side. I think I passed out for a while I awoke again and a doctor asked me if I knew where I was.
I spent from July 17th 2004 to November 1st in hospital I had had two strokes One on either side of my brain I was told that I was unlikely to have survived a third. I now suffer seizures I am colour blind and generally have poor sight, suffer short term memory loss and struggle to find my way to the local shops and back (can't think why my driving licence has been taken away.
I am grateful to have had the support of friends and family on the road to recovery and owe a lot to the professionals who have played a major part. It is coming up to the first anniversary and I miss my old life but have come to terms (if you ever fully come to terms) with my new abilities. I am 46 years young and act my shoe size (some things are the same). I am going to finish up because I am getting tired. I would like to finish with a few aims:
To walk /done
To use PC / done
To shower and shave /done
To shop/done
To see in colour/not yet
To drive/not yet
To go on holiday/not yet
But mainly to enjoy my life.
Thanks to you for reading this I hope it makes some sort of sense.
Update, July 17th, 2006
I have not returned to payed employment or driving and i do not feel the need to push so hard at this stage in my recovery to do so.I have so many things to keep me busy that i am taking things more slowly and enjoying the time i have whith my family and friends.The photo is of our local hospital radio outside broadcast unit and my family. I am the one with the bottle and its only water HONEST.
Keep smiling and be happy in whatever you do
Steve Anderson
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