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Reinventing My World: Life After Stroke by Joslien Wannechko is a personal memoir about one woman’s extraordinary will to not only survive after a stroke, but to thrive.
March 2nd, 2020 started like any other. Little did I know the events that started that day would bring about a drastic change to my life. I was sitting in my favorite spot, a leather recliner with my feet elevated and my laptop on my knees. As I sat there playing solitaire, I became aware of my tongue feeling funny . It was not numb, just fuzzy. As a first aid instructor for the past 30 years, I was well aware of the signs and symptoms associated with a stroke. Immediately I rose and ran to the bathroom to look at myself in the mirror. The face that stared back at me appeared normal, no hint of a droop on either side. Since I had run to the bathroom, obviously there was no problem with coordination. My balance was not affected. Just to confirm, I held out both arms in front of me. Both of them remained steady. Breathing a sigh of relief, I returned to my comfortable chair.
At approximately 2 a.m. I awoke. I was still very aware of the fuzzy tongue. Again, I went to the bathroom to check out my face. Just as before, there was no telltale droop and no arm drift. Still feeling uneasy I woke my husband Alvin and told him I felt I needed to go to the hospital. Should we call an ambulance or can I drive you? he questioned.
This was the start of a 7 month journey from near death to overcoming obstacles the medical profession did not believe I was capable of. Three months were spent with my body trying to heal in order to live, the other four were spent in rehab. My next year and a half culminated in walking with a cane and driving very short distances. Determination and persistence were key elements.
