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.