A poem from the forum: Celebrating Successes

All too often we as humans concentrate on what we can’t do and don’t congratulate ourselves enough for what we have achieved so I thought I’d start a post where we can share our successes however big or small. Here are a couple of mine to start.

My stroke left me with some cognitive issues which I was working on with an OT. Sadly the OT has left the NHS now & I am left to continue on my own.

So I didn’t lose the good work we’d done I decided to write a poem about my stroke.

This was not only to help my cognitive issues but also so I could express how I felt to my loved ones who perhaps were struggling to understand some of the hidden effects. Hope you don’t mind me sharing it here:

Life changed for you too that day

Last day of November
A day I’ll remember

It started as usual & off to work I went
Feeling sick & dizzy oh what an event
My eyes joined in; flashing lines I saw
So Homeward bound; I felt quite raw

Next day came & work I tried
2 hours later I can’t do this I cried
My balance was off my vision a blur
the dizziness causing a right old whir

Next my arm joined in the party
It gave up working quick smarty
To A&E I went, oh what fun
The message I got was about to stun

Stroke they said, but how can that be
I’m only 49 you see
In an instant my life it did change
Oh boy this felt awfully strange

Left sided weakness, balance, dizziness too
Vision & taste buds gone haywire, boo hoo
Concentration, Attention, Emotions, Fatigue all gone askew
All of these now got to learn them anew

So begins the journey of recovery
Who knew it would be so full of discovery
Therapy starts each day when I wake
Getting my life back is all that’s at stake

The process of brain remapping begins
No wonder my head constantly spins
Tears of frustration, joy or for no reason at all
Just go with the flow & let them all fall

Trips & stumbles happen a lot
All because of that small clot
Take it steady I’m told, patience you need
Else fatigue will hinder & slow your recovery speed

3 months in & the stairs I could climb
Oh my that felt so sublime
Walking is slower but progress is made
If only my leg would lift without aid

6 months in & progress slows
Each small achievement & my joy shows
It’s clear that life as I knew it has gone
And recovery could well continue lifelong

Some days I feel like a useless lump
And all the effort makes me a grump
Other days I feel I’m doing great
Although it’s been a long old wait

Some effects are obvious & plain to see
Some effects are hidden & difficult for even me
The good, the bad, The highs & the lows,
Where it’ll end nobody knows

The journey continues and onwards I plough
Not doubting I’ll get there one day somehow
So, to those around me a massive THANK YOU I say
Because I know life changed for you too that day

Other successes

I have also been using jigsaws as a way of helping my cognitive issues and also my affected left hand. Here is my recent jigsaw, which took 3 months to complete. Previous one took 6 months. Success I’d say.

I look forward to reading about your successes.

If you'd like to share your successes with the forum community, you can find Mrs5K's original topic here.

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