September 9-15: Invisible Diease Awareness Week

Invisible Disabilities like mine are not VISIBLE to the normal person.  If someone is informing you that they have an invisible not VISBLE condition; please understand that they are informing you for a reason. It takes a lot of courage to inform others of a non-normal life; such as living with an in-utero stroke.

If someone tells you the condition; i.e. I had a stroke and you may not see it; please respect that and do not turn around and act like you did not hear the statement.

Path Link to understand what; invisible disabilities are;
http://invisibleillnessweek.com/

Today is International Chocolate Day!

For Heart Healthy; eat Dark Chocolate to participate!

News from the Brain Injury Association of MA!; 0-14 Ages; 500,000 are admitted to the ER with TBI!

 TBI=Traumatic Brain Injury

"Like" Bealla's Photo with the link below for the Dog Heart Walk Contest for San Diego's American Heart Association Division

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.506963459389027.1073741849.181927575225952&type=1

Bealla is in a competition to get the most Facebook "Likes" by September 20th to the link above for the photo below. This is her at the 2010 Heart Walk in San Diego to support the American Heart Association.

 

I have been walking with the San Diego Heart Walk 5K for the past 7 years and this year will be my 8th! I cannot believe I have been an active volunteer for 9 years throughout Southern California. What volunteering does to you can never be replaced; it provides a humble voice in the mind of happiness..

Strike out Stroke in Chicago, IL! White Sox vs Indians! Sunday, September 15, 2013!

My favorite team in baseball is hosting Strike Out Stroke in Chicago, IL to be held on Sunday, September 15, 2013 at 1pm against the Cleveland Indians at Us Cellular Field.  If you are back home in Chicago and you are a White Sox Fan!!



Web Link:
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/cws/ticketing/groups/gsg/gsg.jsp?loc=strikeoutstroke

Support Groups: Stroke and the benefit they provide

A support group has become a rewarding aspect for my life and the need to move forward with my life in many forms since 2005. It was then; that I discovered the need once I started to receive it that I would be ok in life. I was 22 going on 23; therefore most of my life I have not had the support from others besides close friends and family that did not think children, outside of the norm, could have a stroke. It was not acceptable and still our communities do not know how to full accept a survivor of a condition outside the norm of the stereotype. However; now in life; I have found others and networks through associations, organizations, networks, and internet sources of support groups that help me understand that I am doing great and I should not change who I am. It is almost 30-31 years later; that I can recognize this and hope to be a change in this world by making a difference.

In stating that; I encourage all survivors or caregivers to find the network of support with others going through the same thing that will help you and the group in your circle to live life to the fullest. It amazes me but I learn more and more about what I used to do thinking I was not supposed to; by community standards to do something but it really was an affect of my stroke. A newly discovered item that aligns with PSA is the emotional lability . I learned this from a internet support group I belong too. What amazes me is that I have never heard of this but it is something that I wish I had known about. I have a slight case of this.

Dogs and the therapy of creating a non-stress enviornment

Here is a picture of me, my Mom and my Cousin's dog at a lake on a boat we visited. As you can tell; my face lights up having a dog around.

I have grown up around boats all my life because two of my uncles and my grandparents own/have owned them. I love going out on Lake on a boar. Sometimes; it is great to have a dog with me; as I realized that my stress and anxiety is not when I am on the water. It is a peaceful location. Therefore; my cousin's dog on the boat was just great comfort to have along because I love dogs.