latest update

I scarcely know where to begin. Back in March of this year (09), I had what is technically called a brain infarction, commonly called "stroke". It was a blood clot lodged in the right rear hemisphere of my brain. It caused quite a lot of trauma, some of which I am still contending with today. For nearly 3 months afterward, my right eye was damaged in the stroke (not sure if it was nerve or muscle damage) and would not track evenly with the other eye, making me see double, and I was unable to read because of the involuntary movements. It caused wide spread loss of sensation on my skin, primarily the loss of sense of hot and cold on about 90 percent of my skin. The muscles on my right side were all affected: My throat was numb for days, and couldn't swallow; My right arm and leg are severely weakened even now; My intestines, and bladder are damaged as well. It has been less than 6 months now, and everyone says I am recovering at a rapid rate, but it seems hopelessly slow progress. Since the change in diagnosis, the doctors have finally taken me off seizure medication, and in turn my blood pressure returned to normal, so I am now off those drugs as well. This has not in any way changed things with the Social Security Administration, I still have until December, or January before my hearing to determine my eligibility. The last 2 months I have been spending a lot of time with my children as they were out of school for summer vacation. At this point, I still have to use a walker to get around. My bladder is unpredictable at night, an unable to empty it during the day. In order to have a bowel movement, I have to take a laxative. But, the "seizure" symptoms have finally stopped.

I am not sure where to go from this point. My mother has written letters to our congressmen and women about my situation, and to my knowledge, no responses. I have still not been successful in finding any financial help and this blog doesn't seem to be doing anything but giving me a place to vent my frustrations. So, in summary, I am doing GREAT! And you?