Support Groups for any age and the value of them!

As a survivor to any condition; support is a way you move forward. As for me with being a stroke survivor; it is the stroke survivor or heart condition survivors that have become my support group.

As of Today, I have now been and participated in several support groups. It takes awhile to test out which support group works the best for you. A support group is very important. It is important to have a group of other individuals going through what you go through to ask questions and get a response on different options. This is how we are all growing with understanding opportunities and going out to live life to the fullest.

My first support group; the first time I was able to freely speak of my condition was at the age of 22 going on 23. This was 7 1/2 years ago. I fully support connecting with others that understand you and help you find options of opportunities to live life to the fullest. I will never be able to thank all the people that were apart of my first support group, "Training to End Stroke" in the Orange County of California with that division of the American Heart Association & American Stroke Association. Yes, I did drive up there every week which was 74 miles and a 1 hour and 17 minute drive each way. Was it worth it? Yes, I have moved forward and live life a lot more and clearly with no problem informing others on an open basis about my stroke condition.

One of the biggest support groups is providing support to others who are going through the same thing. I have started this blog to provide my life information for others to move forward. I have also started a foundation. I have moved passed always looking at what I need or have gone through to provide that information to the newly diagnosed or entering a new phase I have already completed.

Advice;
 Facebook has many support groups for several different types of strokes. I would suggest being a member of one of those groups. This has an opportunity to reach many people within a short amount of time and maybe several options or ways that others have handled your question. I wish that when I was younger, my parents had a support group. We did not. Many people did not accept or have knowledge that strokes happened to children or even yet; in a womb before birth. Therefore; options were not there in the 1980's or the 1990's. I am happy to see this know. I would also suggest finding a place for you to physically go to a support group. This may help as well. You could even create playgroups, outings out within the city, volunteer projects or coffee meet ups around that.

Library Books and summer reading clubs

I have gone to the library for most of my life. As a kid; I biked and rollerbladed to the library. My parents also took us.  However; it was fun as I was getting older to be old enough to go to the library on my own.

I had a very hard time reading leisure books with a hardback as a kid. Audiobooks were not of the norm as they are in today's world.

I also participated in the summer book club at the library. I enjoyed being a member. However; I did not read as fast as my friends, sisters or relatives. It would upset me. It was ok though. I was excited to participate and be like a normal child.  In the book summer club; I always got awards and had a great time. The most important thing; I did it.

Advice;
Go for it and find your way to be a member of the summer book club at your library. If audiobooks are best for you and they are available use them. Audio reading to me is the same as a hardback. Go and enjoy reading to learn!

Audiobooks reading

I read the best with audio listening. This is the best way my attention and memory spam work together. This helps me retain the information I need.
Advice; I read school books with hardbacks. I read my personal read books with audio books. I check out the audiobooks from the library or put them on hold. I enjoy going to the library to-date.

Monkey Bars on the playground

On one of the stroke support groups; I responded from my past of how I was or not able to do the monkey bars as a kid on the playground. Was it fun being a one hand kid while others did not need to worry about whether they could feel both sides and use their strength. I always had an issue understanding why I was mad fun of. My parents raised me to be the same as my sisters with no excuses so I questioned why kids I grew up with at school could not do the same. As a child you cannot fully understand this concept. It hurts though.

I had some good friends. Interestly; I am still friends with them to date. Those friends were patient and understood I needed time to do what they could do so easily. They supported my need for extra time. I would go with them to the playground after school, the weekends, summers and at recess-mostly not because this is were the mean kids were, and to practice so I could do what all the other kids did. I lived close enough by bicycle/rollerblade to go to my elementary school to practice what I need. I eventually learned how to do this by the 3^rd or 4^th Grade! It was a thrilling moment in time.  I was doing what all the other kids were doing and not slowing down any of the others. It was a good feeling.

Advice; 

This is a good example that you need to have friends that support you as you are and that they understand things take awhile. The mean kids will still be there but do not let them get to you. I would go do what I did; go to the playground on off hours or seasons to practice and take all the time you need to ensure you have the time to do what is needed for you to be doing it. The most important thing is that you are doing it and seeing anything is possible. 

This is also for me; a good example of where my practice skills started and understanding myself on the time that I need to accomplish certain things. I have a high amount of determination to ensure that I am making a great life for myself. I do not look at something as though I cannot do it.  I look at what I need to do to ensure that I can do that.

Getting places on time while enduring stressors

Stress is a hard thing for anyone. I think this is why at points I would like Bealla to be my service dog. If you add a stroke; the stress increases and you need to be aware of what your capabilities for getting places on time are to be. I have to almost plan the day before to ensure that the next day I am in a good standing with myself to get where I need to get. It is the hardest thing. I actually; made in 2009, a new years resolution to get places on time. It was because I was late all the time. It was sometimes not a fashionably late. This stresses me out even more if I am running late.

Advice; now a days; I am still late from time to time. It is hard but you move forward and understand.  I would plan out the next day at the end of the night before going to sleep to ensure that part of your day will not add to you being late at any point. I also lay out my purse and all items to leave the house in an order to ensure that I do not need to get that ready to go. 

I also rely on my family and friends to understand that I have made a significant improvement in the way that I prepare for each day to get places on time and live life to the fullest.  Most importantly; call if you are going to be a little late or text. The quality of not being stressed has reduced too. This has made it better for when I arrive to the location. I think using my examples will help to create your own examples to live your life to the fullest with less stress.

Going to Disneyland and being asked if I need assistance

I attended Disneyland awhile back. I love going to Disneyland. I am not to sure if someone else is not the same but you can be a big kid when you go to Disneyland. It is the best feeling. You see adults taking their kids on rides and literally running to the gate of the ride.

When I went last time; I yes, got a season So Cal Pass. I am so excited to go all the time as it is only a one hour and 30 minutes away from my home.

I am on networks for stroke survivors. I was shocked to see  as a stroke survivor you can use the disabled assistance program. I think it got me very excited. I have been an amusement park lover for 30 years. I love it. In all my times attending; I have never used this program.

When I went awhile back; I was shocked to see a park attendent ask me if I needed assistance. I was a little shocked at first. I also think that I do not view myself as a person with a disability it is apart of who I am not who I am. I do things as all my family and friends do and do it with them. However; coming home and going onto the stroke survivor groups I belong to; I realized stroke survivors are using the program.

Was I mad? No; a little caught off guard but no not mad. I think I was happy that they had asked me before I would of asked them. It shows that the staff that Disney has supports the Disabled that need the program to enjoy the park. Live Life and go get excited to be at the happiest place on earth!

I think the best advice with this is be happy to know that the Disneyland staff is proactive towards making every person who enters the park the happiest day they have on earth! I am excited to know that I can get a pass; if needed at Disney. 

Chandler or Calendar (write-in)

I use a weekly chandler that is still paperback for each week of the year. This is what helps keep me on track of all life's endeavors. I tend to update the week on Sunday night to ensure that Monday my chandler has the correct week. I take this small; have a notebook size chandler everywhere with me. I like the paperback still to ensure crossing things off and keeping it handy without needing to operate under battery. It is also easier for me to write on paperback than on the computer for short to the point details. I am faster and more organized that way.

Advice; I would find the best approach to keeping yourself organized (i.e. for me it was a chandler). I would then ensure that you stick to a pattern or routine on how you update and keep it consistent by bringing it with you and updating anything you need to in the chandler. Even if you do not mark some things; try to do it all but it will no matter what help you. This has helped me over the years and wish success to all, like myself!

Daydreaming vs thinking

I am an extrovert to many people's opinions, but to myself I am also a strong introvert. 

I have been stated to be a daydreamer. However; know looking back on things and understanding clearly; it was me thinking before I spoke and trying to figure out the words that I needed to say before I got them out of my mouth. This is what I have done for all my life. It is nothing new.

 It is hard for me to speak at times and sometimes I need to think. I do not look at people and look off in another direction to ensure concentration as well. Therefore; based on my observation over the years; I believe that I am not a daydreamer but a high introvert ensuring that I know what I need to say before stating it. It is already at points hard enough for me to speak that I need to ensure that I will not be laughed or made fun of.  For example; in the 7th Grade some asked if I even knew how to speak. This is an example of how quiet I would be at points because I needed to think of the words to get out of my mouth to ensure I was stating what I needed to state.

Advice; It is ok to have this.  I do. I think this is best too as you want to ensure what you do state or say is what you mean and I find nothing wrong in being who you are. This ensures that the introvert you are as a result of the stroke, like mine is the thought process you need to go through in order to get the words out of the mouth to state your opinion or feeling. Take your time and have the patience with yourself first and foremost to understand that things like this take time to process and it is ok. It is who you are! It is who I am too!

Stroke Survivors getting service dogs!

I have known for a long time that I needed a service dog for stress and anxiety as well as detecting another stroke. In the past month; articles have started to appear that stroke survivors are now eligible for service dogs along with other conditions because service dogs detect a stroke about to happen. I am so thrilled to see that the opportunity has come for stroke survivors to have the best friend help us on our journey of life!

I am excited and identifying if I can put Bealla through some type of service dog training to take her every where I go!

Since February 7, 2010; the day I got Bealla, has reduced my stress and anxiety by her presence or rubbing or touching her. It is the best thing to have her know that I need her and she helps calm me down.

I am so thankful for service dogs and the companion of my dog, Bealla!

Marks one year of my blogging for in-utero stroke!

Today, has been exactly one year since I started to inform the world of my 29 year now 30 years of stroke advice and information. I hope that those that need this information will benefit and use it as needed! Live Life and get so excited to live it! FTS!

Today-Heart newborn testing passed!

Today was an exciting for heart! Today, a bill was passed to ensure that newborns are tested for heart conditions! I am so thrilled! I am now hoping with the link or heart and stroke that stroke newborns in-utero will be looked at for a screen opportunity. The world is changing and it is great to see these newborn testing occur! It is such an awesome feeling to know that we have come far for the opportunity of testing in infant stroke!

Waiting in long lines; Amusement parks, fairs, race tracks, airport security lines.

Here is me and a friend waiting in line at the Alice in Wonderland Ride that overlooks the Tea Cup Rides at Disneyland. What an awesome photo with the tea lights in the background. We had a great day! Can you tell; the smiles we have are big for Disneyland excitement!

I have learned over the years of being a fan of parks and fairs to go during the off season or the off day or times to enjoy and see as much as possible. Therefore; I do avoid the mean and upset people. When you are spending that type of cash you do not want to be apart of someone's unhappy day. I also tend to experience non long lines and the great karma or parking and lines of food or rides. I am always ahead of the big long lines that occur. This greatly helps with anything that I need to experience with long lines or a feeling of claustrophobia (the 8 MRI's in one year still affect this at times).


Advice;
Get Excited, Life Live and Enjoy your day out and about with family and friends!
I try to keep only one item in my left hand (affected hand) and keep my right hand open. I try to put the souvenir cup in my bag if it is finished or share it with my family or friends; whomever I am with. I also try to use the ground or the rallying's in line to help me open and close my backpack or put my backpack while eating or drinking.
Pack food and eat in line
Pack your drinks or hold your drink and drink it
Use your phones to catch up on items; i.e. emails, texts, voicemails, phone calls or showing the people you are in line with something on the phones.
Save big topic conversations for the lines
All the above; These items help the wait time become a little to none of being too long. This also provides