Category: The Stroke Story

• 14 and 8

  So, I didn’t mention it on the 11th because sometimes you just have to make happy, and this month has been a good month. Valentine’s Day marks 14 years and 3 days since the night I made a decision that resulted in a car wreck, which killed Gracie. I don’t know if her father gets […]

  ellie

  February 14, 2022

  In Memory, Memories, The Ninth Year, Updates

  #LifeIsBeautiful, #NeverGiveUp, anomia, aphasia, depression, disability, handicap, hardship, life is beautiful, major depressive disorder, perspective, pregnancy, rape, Recovery, social issue, stigma, stroke, stroke recovery, trauma, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS

• That moment when…

  That moment when I realized that I’m seven years and seven months past my stroke. Wow. I’ve come so damn far.

  ellie

  May 26, 2021

  The Seventh Year, The Stroke Story

  #DespiteDisability, #LifeIsBeautiful, #NeverGiveUp, ABI, acquired brain injury, stroke, stroke recovery, TBI, The Stroke Story, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS

• 7

  7 years. It feels like it’s been so much longer, but also feels like it was yesterday. I relive that day every year. 10:00. I’m going to Target with Heather and Eric right now. 1:00. We’re stopping at Chipotle. I remember Costco. Being exhausted at Target. I remember getting in my car and driving to […]

  ellie

  November 2, 2020

  The Seventh Year, The Stroke Story

• 1 year

  I left the hospital exactly one year ago today.

  ellie

  August 24, 2020

  Memories, Photos, The Sixth Year

  #DespiteDisability, #LifeIsBeautiful, #NeverGiveUp, ABI, acquired brain injury, anomia, aphasia, bipolar, bipolar disorder, bipolar II disorder, brain injury, Brainstem, brainstem stroke, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, disability, generalized anxiety disorder, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, left hemisphere ischemia, life is beautiful, neuropsychiatrist, neuropsychiatry, perspective, Recovery, seizure, seizures, Suicide, The Stroke Story, TIRR, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS

• That was fast

  I don’t know why I haven’t written in so long. The pandemic has countries in a mess, this election year is… weird, I’m still recovering from last year’s hospital stint, I don’t know how to explain to people what happened, the Astros need to pick it up for the season, and I need to get […]

  ellie

  August 14, 2020

  Random Posts, The Sixth Year, Updates

  #DespiteDisability, #LifeIsBeautiful, #NeverGiveUp, pandemic

• Peanut Butter and Nutella Sandwiches

  Quarantine hasn’t been kind to me. I take that back – I haven’t been kind to myself during quarantine. I’ve walked around the apartment and kept up with calisthenics… sometimes. I’ve gained 8lbs, which is no small amount for someone just under 5’2″. (Heads up, Lucas.) I should have and could have been consistent with […]

  ellie

  May 2, 2020

  Ramblings, Random Posts, The Sixth Year, Updates

  #DespiteDisability, #LifeIsBeautiful, #NeverGiveUp, Coronavirus, COVID-19, H-Town, Houston, pandemic, quarantine, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor

• Missing out but it’s fine

  Today my Wednesday art class had a video chat lunch together, and I had been looking forward to it since Rafferty first mentioned it a week ago. But I must have needed a rest day today. I woke up late, again, and got ready. I washed my face and threw on the tiny bit of […]

  ellie

  April 23, 2020

  Ramblings, Random Posts, The Sixth Year, The Stroke Story, Updates

  #DespiteDisability, #LifeIsBeautiful, #NeverGiveUp, ABI, acquired brain injury, anomia, aphasia, bipolar, bipolar disorder, bipolar II disorder, brain injury, brainstem stroke, depression, diagnosis, disability, generalized anxiety disorder, handicap, hardship, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, life is beautiful, major depressive disorder, MDD, perspective, social issue, stigma, stroke, stroke recovery, TBI, The Stroke Story, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS

• Posting two days in a row?!

  I know, right? Who am I? Sleep was fitful last night. I’ve been sleeping through the night lately, but man, the dreams are odd. I’m thankful for the sleep, though. I still have strange nightmares and strange dreams but every now and then I’ll have one that’s so bizarre that I can’t help but hope […]

  ellie

  April 14, 2020

  Ramblings, Random Posts, The Sixth Year, The Stroke Story, Updates, Writing

  #DespiteDisability, #LifeIsBeautiful, #NeverGiveUp, ABI, acquired brain injury, anomia, aphasia, bipolar, bipolar disorder, bipolar II disorder, brain injury, brainstem stroke, disability, life is beautiful, quarantine, Recovery, stroke, stroke recovery, The Stroke Story, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS

• To live now

  In Harris County, where I live, we’ve had thousands of COVID-19 cases. We’ve been under quarantine in Houston for weeks now, with the end of quarantine in either the near or distant future. I had surgery to replace my DBS battery last month, on a Thursday or Friday. By the time the weekend was over, […]

  ellie

  April 13, 2020

  Ramblings, Random Posts, The Sixth Year, The Stroke Story, Updates

  #DespiteDisability, #LifeIsBeautiful, #NeverGiveUp, Coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic, quarantine, stroke, stroke recovery, The Stroke Story, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS

• Why I haven’t been posting

  Shit happens. I’m in an “up cycle” right now. That’s why I have the energy and motivation to post. Bipolar disorder is far more than just mood swings. So, here what is happening this week: I’ll have phenol injections. Ow. I had a seizure during the last phenol session. This should be fun! Then I’ll […]

  ellie

  March 10, 2020

  ataxia, The Sixth Year, Updates

  #DespiteDisability, #LifeIsBeautiful, #NeverGiveUp, ABI, ACA, acquired ataxia, acquired brain injury, acquired cerebellar ataxia, ataxia, bipolar, bipolar disorder, bipolar II disorder, brain injury, brain stem tremor, Brainstem, brainstem stroke, cardiovascular event, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar ataxia brain stem, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, DBS, deep brain stimulation, diagnosis, disability, Dr. Albert Fenoy, Dr. Mya Scheiss, handicap, hemiparesis, ICD, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, kinetic tremor, left hemisphere ischemia, Medtronic DBS, Memorial Hermann, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Mischer Neuroscience Institute, operation, Recovery, seizure, seizures, stroke, stroke recovery, surgery, The Stroke Story, Tremor, tremor disorder, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS