Happy Smile Day! Make it a great one!

 

A stroke happened to me...

When you look at me; Would you think that I have a lifelong condition?

When I announce my condition; 9 out of 10 times the response is “NO” and that I look normal. The shock; I suffered a stroke before I was even born. The reality; technology in 1982; did not offer an understanding of when or why and my condition was seen slim to none. Looking at the research/doctor notes/reports there is no reasonable or logical support on “WHY” my stroke happened. My life after stroke is the reason to start a foundation/blog and support system for others.

Statistics vary according to research compiled through associations/organizations/trials. Research and trials of stroke concentrate heavily on adults of stroke and then on children of stroke. In 1995 (when I was 12); stroke research started to focus on childhood. Statistics for the condition have now been around for 18 years. The American Heart Association reports that 29 out of 100,000 children OR 1 in 3,500 children with a live birth will suffer from a stroke (2013), while the National Stroke Association reports that 6 children out of 100,000 will suffer a stroke (2013). This statistic (s) provides support for one of the foundation’s initiatives to advocate for awareness and understanding of stroke.

The Stroke after-math that affects my life is on my “Right Hemisphere” of the brain affecting the left side of my physical body. As a result, I do have left-sided “hemiparesis”, meaning my motor skills are limited to none, a noticeable leg limp, and spasticity that affects my arm/hand/elbow. One of my favorite statements to make is a reference to the Rush Hour Movie, “Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth”. In 2009, I was in the Orange County Go Red for Women Movement celebration and stated in my speech “I sometimes cannot get the words out of mouth”. I got the audience all laughing! This is in relation to my stroke affect of Aphasia and my inability at times to speak what I am thinking. The affects of a stroke are lifelong long-term not temporary. The affects that are above have been at some point, in my life, hard for me to handle. I have learned how to move forward with support and understanding. This is an important initiative to inform others/the community/and create awareness for understanding. I hope that initiative for the foundation will increase awareness of childhood stroke to our community.

When tPA came out; I was 10. I was so excited to see someone found a cure. However, the cure did not pertain to my condition. Still in 2013, the CDC reports that 795,000 individuals suffer from a stroke in the United States per year, and experts still state that 10%-20% (3,000 through 5,000) of the childhood strokes will go undetected. We still have a lot of work in the childhood stroke community. After I got my MBA; I knew I was ready to move forward to support the stroke community with my story, help, advocacy and involvement in life.

I started the foundation and blog because I had experienced a lack of support, resources, and advocacy as a child growing up as a stroke survivor. Today, I still see and have experienced a lack of that support and resourceful information. I want to make the world a better place by using my experience and information to close that lack gap.

 

 

Happy Gandhi Jayanti Day

As many of you are aware; I love positive statements, living life and helping to make things happen for people! Well; Today is an awesome day with World CP Day; it is also Happy Gandhi Jayanti Day!

I believe in Karma as well as my religion and I find that Gandhi's statements also provide that information!

I found these quotes of Gandhi from one of my favorite; Forbes!
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ashoka/2012/10/02/12-great-quotes-from-gandhi-on-his-birthday/

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” 
I am beyond happy and living life to the fullest. I hope that my vision and my life is shown by what can become a reality when I do as a I say!

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
This is true for anyone in any situations. In Today's World it is unfortunate when we lose a close one too soon in life or at the end of their life. It can affect you. For me; with my PSA, I do have a difficult time with losing someone or feeling helpless towards the situation. I do wake up and live life to the fullest and as many are aware; I state "Live Life" al the time. I have learned to live life each day and not take it for granted.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
This quote by Gandhi is exactly what and why the foundation was started. It takes a village to bring awareness and by connecting with others trying to the same empowers the vision to make in-utero stroke awareness a reality! Thanks for helping to find a way to create awareness and understanding!

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
I always tend to lose myself looking at the service I do for others. I generally start to think of their happiness and work off of that. I also feel that this is what a "simple pleasure" in life is. It is when you help others to live life and give them excitement for what they can do with their lives!

“If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”
This is a great quote and the what a survivor like myself will try to do. If you tell me I cannot, I am too slow etc... I will prove it wrong by trying to do it and live my life with happiness. This is also a feeling of how it is at the beginning for me with the foundation and blog. I will make this a reality and provide the awareness and support that is needed for the cause! It is my passion!

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”

I believe that this is the first photo describes the quote the best.  This is my first anniversary of my stroke at 23 that I felt free to talk about my stroke and that it was ok and it was not a mistake to tell people.

Happy World CP Day! October 2

I have already worn green to support the day too! CP and Stroke run hand in hand and I am so happy to honor the day!

I will wear green and post a picture later; I think while Bealla and I go for our 5 mile walk....

Anti-Bullying Story and tactic purpose of the foundation/blog awareness!

 

 

My name is Bridget Winandy. I am a 31 year-old living in San Diego, California, originally from Northbrook, IL (right outside of Chicago). I had a stroke (in-utero) before I was born on September 17, 1982. My stroke was discovered after 6 months of testing at the age of 10 months old. I started physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy ASAP. I have continued all forms of therapy for years.

Today, is the start of Anti-bullying month (October). BULLYING is unfortunately; a big part of my life. My town in Illinois was small enough where everyone knew my story and judged and perceived me in a certain negative way. I have also experienced bullying while living in San Diego. Children that I grew-up teased me and bullied me into silence. In 3^rd Grade, 1993, I was already a team builder and wanted to include everyone in my “BIG” ideas of the world. One of those ideas was to create a skit of a twist of Cinderella. My favorite Disney Princess. I was included for the first part because it was an idea of mine that I brought to the table. Our skit; us third graders were performing for the Kindergartens' and 1^st & 2^nd Grade Classes. We did this during class time and all the students watching the skit appreciated the performance. For anyone who knows my personality; I love acting/singing/dancing. However; one of the girls, to remain nameless to protect her name, pulled me aside at Recess one day to tell me that I was not wanted anymore by anyone to participate in the skit performance. I can still remember her bullying me by taking me aside at Recess and having a great day but it being ruined by her way of approaching and speaking for everyone that I was not wanted.

This was one of the first reasons on why I became silent towards my peers in school. I felt unwanted and that they wanted to take my idea and all my work and run with it afterwards. An idea of a slacker wanting to look like they created the idea but really they did not. To the story; no, I stuck up for myself and said it was my idea and that I was a huge influence to why this skit performance existed. Needless to say; once the skit ended, I was out casted by all those girls. They became a good version of the “Mean Girls”. I rarely to ever spoke to them again. Fortunately; the girl that pulled me aside moved in 5^th Grade. I moved for 9^th Grade.

 

I am very excited to see that now that they have an anti-bullying awareness month to create awareness. Over the years people have made statements to me; “grow some thicker skin” or become “less sensitive”.

I hope that at some point those people understand; I do have incredible thick skin to take on bullies and move forward at some point. My “thick skin” has always been focused on my education and my health. I choose to use my “thick skin” to encourage a “GOOD LIFE” not focus on the bullies that try to bully me into silence.

There is still a lack gap for Stroke and awareness of what percentage of bullying occurs to us survivors due to having a stroke. This is why I started the foundation; to help raise awareness of what a stroke is, so people understand and decrease the bullying percentage of disabilities. I hope awareness of understanding turns into people encouraging us survivors to inspire a dream or live life without fear of bullying tactics.

I worked in fundraising for 7.5 years and actively volunteering for organizations for the past 12 years. Today, I still see and have experienced a lack of support and resourceful information. I want to make the world a better place by using my experience, starting a foundation & blog and information to close that lack gap.

Happy Anti-bullying awareness month!

Let's raise awareness of anti-bullying awareness month!

Happy National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

Let's raise awareness this month for disability employment awareness!