Category: Writing

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
7

I’m 7 years old today. Technically not, of course, but my life started over 7 years ago today. It started with learning to breathe on my own, then rolling over. Then sitting up; crawling; motorized wheelchair; sitting unassisted; standing; walking with 3 people helping me, then one. Then a walker. Then a cane. Then nothing.…

ellie

November 2, 2019

ataxia, Memories, Ramblings, The Seventh Year, Updates, Writing

#DespiteDisability, #LifeIsBeautiful, #NeverGiveUp, ABI, ACA, Achilles International, Achilles International Houston, acquired ataxia, acquired brain injury, acquired cerebellar ataxia, anomia, aphasia, asphyxiation, ataxia, Ataxia & Fitness, bipolar, bipolar II disorder, bradycardia, bradycardic, brain injury, brain stem tremor, brain surgery, Brainstem, brainstem tremor, cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular event, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar ataxia brain stem, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, depression, diagnosis, disability, GAD, generalized anxiety disorder, handicap, hardship, HCM, hemiparesis, hemiplegia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, In Memory, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, kinetic tremor, left hemisphere ischemia, life is beautiful, major depressive disorder, MDD, Memorial Hermann Hospital, operation, perspective, pneumonia, Recovery, seizure, social issue, Spinocerebellar Ataxia, stigma, stroke, stroke recovery, TBI, The Stroke Story, TIRR, trauma, Tremor, tremor disorder, visual field cut, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS
Journal entry #6 – neuropathy

Three hours to go before my alarm will shout encouragement at me. I’m exhausted. No matter how exhausted I am, I have to stick with my morning workouts. Hemiparesis and spasticity don’t wait for me to be prepared. They show up, uninvited and unannounced, rudely staying until they decide to leave on a whim. Tiny…

ellie

April 23, 2018

ataxia, Ramblings, Random Posts, The Fourth Year, The Stroke Story, Writing

ABI, acquired ataxia, acquired brain injury, acquired cerebellar ataxia, anomia, aphasia, ataxia, brain injury, brain stem tremor, Brainstem, brainstem stroke, brainstem tremor, cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular event, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar ataxia brain stem, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, depression, diagnosis, disability, hemiparesis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ischemic stroke, kinetic tremor, left hemisphere ischemia, pneumonia
I won’t quit

I stumble across the neverending desert, sand filling my shoes and rubbing skin from my ankles. Sunlight and heat glare and roast my tired body, and I continue to stumble forward, frustrated and angry. I’m just as aware of my unlikely survival as I am of the maggots wriggling while they eating away the pia mater covering…

ellie

December 11, 2017

Random Posts, The Fourth Year, The Stroke Story, Writing

acquired ataxia, acquired brain injury, acquired cerebellar ataxia, anomia, aphasia, asphyxiation, ataxia, bipolar, bipolar disorder, bipolar II disorder, bradycardia, brain injury, brain stem tremor, Brainstem, brainstem stroke, brainstem tremor, cardiovascular event, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar ataxia brain stem, cerebellar stroke, depression, disability, GAD, generalized anxiety disorder, handicap, hemiparesis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, kinetic tremor, left hemisphere ischemia, major depressive disorder, MDD, neuropsychiatrist, neuropsychiatry, perspective, Recovery, seizure, seizures, sexual abuse, stroke, stroke recovery, TBI, The Stroke Story, trauma, tremor disorder, visual field cut, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS
A random little thing

Okay, so, this was originally a comment response to a post on the Young Stroke Survivors Facebook group. But it turned into a really long comment so I decided to turn it into a blog post. Yay. °°° Note that there are many factors in play when it comes to physical and non-physical recovery, such…

ellie

September 18, 2017

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

ABI, Achilles International, Achilles International Houston, acquired ataxia, acquired brain injury, acquired cerebellar ataxia, anomia, aphasia, ataxia, bradycardia, bradycardic, brain injury, brain stem tremor, Brainstem, brainstem stroke, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, depression, disability, handicap, hemiparesis, hemiplegia, Houston Chevron Marathon, Houston Medical Center, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, kinetic tremor, left hemisphere ischemia, LGBTQ, Memorial Hermann, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Memorial Park, miscarriage, Mischer Neuroscience Institute, operation, pneumonia, Recovery, seizure, seizures, social issue, Spinocerebellar Ataxia, stigma, stroke, stroke recovery, TBI, The Stroke Story, TIRR, trauma, Tremor, tremor disorder, visual field cut, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS
Vertigo cont. plus an AFO!

“May I have your date of birth and is the member ID number on the back of your insurance card?” I wanted to cry. My prescription was going to be filled and, soon, the world would stop spinning and I’d be able to close my eyes without feeling this feeling. Vertigo sucks. I read my…

ellie

August 5, 2016

The Second Year, The Stroke Story, Updates, Writing

ABI, acquired brain injury, AFO, Allard, ankle foot orthosis, anomia, aphasia, ataxia, brain injury, brain stem tremor, brain surgery, Brainstem, brainstem stroke, brainstem tremor, cardiovascular event, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, DBS, depression, disability, hemiparesis, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, ischemic stroke, kinetic tremor, left hemisphere ischemia, Memorial Hermann, Peace Cycling Performance, Recovery, Steven Peace, stroke, stroke recovery, The Stroke Story, TIRR, Tremor, tremor disorder, trike, young adult stroke, Young stroke, young stroke survivor, YSS
What’s wrong with her?

I slowly pushed my walker down the sidewalk, each step a careful consideration. My walker was helpful in more ways than I know how to describe. My hips were still incredibly weak and bumped against the sides of the walker with each step; something that had initially irritated me, but I had come to appreciate.…

ellie

April 21, 2016

Memories, The Stroke Story, Writing

ABI, acquired brain injury, ataxia, brain injury, brain stem tremor, Brainstem, brainstem tremor, cardiovascular event, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, hemiplegia, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, left hemisphere ischemia, Recovery, stroke, stroke recovery, The Stroke Story, Tremor, tremor disorder, Young stroke, YSS
“I want to ride my bicycle”

I push and pull on my pedals quickly, but still rarely push past 81rpm. Slow. I shake my head slightly, avoiding wasting breath on a sigh. My goal is >90rpm. But that’s okay. Steven said it will come. Don’t focus on cadence just yet. I’m still learning to ride my upright trike. My speed on…

ellie

March 23, 2016

The Stroke Story, The Third Year, Updates, Writing

ABI, acquired brain injury, ataxia, brain injury, brain stem tremor, Brainstem, brainstem tremor, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar ataxia brain stem, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, DBS, deep brain stimulation, hemiplegia, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, left hemisphere ischemia, Peace Cycling Performance, Recovery, stroke, stroke recovery, The Stroke Story, Tremor, tremor disorder, trike, young adult stroke, Young stroke, YSS
Time to start over, again.

I sigh as my right hip buckles to the left, causing me to tip too far to the right. My right arm flaps for a moment, contrasting my left arm which remains steady as I reach it behind my left buttock to brace for the fall. My left leg shoots too far to the side…

ellie

January 27, 2016

The Third Year, Updates, Writing

ABI, acquired brain injury, anomia, aphasia, ataxia, brain injury, brain stem tremor, Brainstem, brainstem tremor, cardiovascular event, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar ataxia brain stem, cerebellar stroke, Cerebellum, hemiplegia, Intention tremor, ischaemic stroke, left hemisphere ischemia, Memorial Hermann, MRI, Recovery, stroke, stroke recovery, TBI, The Stroke Story, TIRR, tremor disorder, young adult stroke, Young stroke, YSS
A look back

So, I’m going through a pile of cards, papers, and notebooks accumulated during my stay at inpatient and during my time in the Challenge program at TIRR. I came across the very first thing I wrote after the stroke. Pics are below. Made me smile. I’ve come so far. Sometimes I forget. I don’t want…

ellie

January 3, 2016

Memories, Photos, The Stroke Story, The Third Year, Writing

ABI, acquired brain injury, aphasia, ataxia, cerebral palsy, Memorial Hermann, Recovery, stroke, stroke recovery, The Stroke Story, TIRR, young adult stroke, YSS