To My Kids

     Hi kids! I have missed you. I have made a connection between you and me!

     Do your teachers and parents want to tell you to get your homework done?  I have to do my homework, too.  I got sick and I could not read or talk.  I started all over again. It began with the alphabet. I started with words with one syllable.  I had to sound them out in my brain, then say them aloud. Then I began to read two-syllable words. I had to think of the first syllable in my brain, and then the second part.  When I finally thought of the whole word...I could say it. Then I had to read lists of small words. I hope soon that I can read the list faster and faster. It takes a lot of practice. This week I have begun reading three and four syllable words. I use the strategy I learned with the small words whenever I figure out the large words, and soon I will read lists of longer words.

     Do you remember when I flashed word, phrase, and sentence cards to you? Do you know how you figure out an unknown word? Do you read the words around your word to see the meaning of the sentence? Do you figure out your word after finding a picture on your page? Do you have to go back to the beginning of a sentence to repeat? Most times I can understand the sentence when I correct a word and the meaning is clear.  Do you practice these strategies? Do you remember when we figured out things together? I do, and you are helping me as I reconnect the letters, sounds, words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, pages, chapters, and books!

     Do you have to eat good foods?  Do you have to rest? Do you have to listen to your teacher, your family members, and your doctors? So do I! I have to shut off my brain for a short time so I can resume my chores. Like you, I do my homework, reading, and practice. Like you, I eat fruit and vegetables, protein, and a lot of other good foods. Sometimes I like to eat a treat every day. I like cookies. I was the original Cookie Monster even before there was a Cookie Monster! Now I have to limit the cookies. I can eat a serving of two or three cookies in one day. Now that I eat less cookies, I appreciate them so much more!

     Do you enjoy your art, health and physical education, music, library, and computer classes? When I became sick, I began to use all the tools that your teachers use to help you learn. First, your art teacher helps you to draw. I could not read, but I drew pictures when I had to communicate. Second, your health and physical education teachers help train your brain and body.  I can walk without a cane or walker, and I can't wait until I can walk outside. I have a balanced diet. I can rest so that my brain can get stronger and it gets better every day. Third, your music teacher helps you with rhythm as you sing. I now have to learn the beat of reading so I can be a strong, fluent reader. Next, your librarian and your reading teachers help you select a book just for you. I have to select just-right books for me too. It is changing all the time, and my just-right books are getting challenging. You have to practice reading every day and now I do too. Lastly, your computer teacher helps you organize instructions and teaches you to search information. I can download free word games that help me build words quickly. I can read the news, email, and find stuff to learn now. I can find and read tongue twisters again and again. I will now say them faster and faster as the pronunciation improves.

     Do your parents and school adults help guide when you have be safe?  I have to be safe too. I have to be with someone if I am home. I can be home alone for short times, but I have to sit in the chair. A couple of days ago, my daughter stayed with me. She let me stay home when she went on an errand. When she was walking out, and I stood at the door, she said, "STAY IN THE CHAIR 'TILL I GET BACK" Have you ever listened to your heroes when they talk? Me too! I'm thankful to have folks to help me and keep me safe when I am sick. I hope you will help someone someday soon!

     I hope to see you again soon. Keep learning! I love my students...

     ~    Mr. B.

      

Painting Every Stroke To The Letter

Hello, friends! I had a stroke. I am here, and the stroke is gone. The A-B-C's are a challenge, so I listed the alphabet. Then, I thought of some factoids. It was hard.  I meshed the factoids and the alphabet, and there is now a piece of writing. Before the stroke, I could write a blog in minutes or a couple hours. Now it can be a week. Slowly it is coming back. It is disjointed, but I am thrilled to be back...

A    The ANGELS who tended to me saved me in the first hours.  The long-term substitute helped with safety, kindness, and prompt response.  The school nurse and the school counselor assisted with the urgency and care. The superintendent who drove my wife and the elementary principal who followed her car to the hospital were the saviors and guides. 

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B    The BIRTHDAY seasons  are not very nice. February 5th was last year's gift of ice and snow and cold and power outages and school closings.  It did not make my birthday festive. I thought this year would be the gift of my life....a stroke of genius....NOT!!  JUST a stroke.....

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C CARDS, prayers, notes, posts, intentions, and thoughts got me through this month.  I chose a card that made me laugh...a fictional card...a VERY exaggerating and HUMOROUS card.  Laughter is the best medicine! 

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D The DATE was January 30th, 1999.  'Mom' was my mother-in-law, Mary, and she suffered a stroke on that date.  Invalided, paralyzed, and weak, she passed away nine years later minus a day.  Fast forward January 30th, 2015.  I suffered a stroke on this date in this year.  Mom, who I had called 'Mother-in-law', guided the miracles on that day, and stood with my Mom, Dad, and sister Janet, and the others.  It was a day of clockwork and progress.

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E  I was EATING my first hospital meal on my first overnight visit...and the second, the third, the fourth, and the fifth.  It was like an all-inclusive hotel.

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F  The FULL CIRCLE of  people, yes everyone, was a force. Meals, snow removal, healthy snacks, puzzles, rides, borrowed children's books, prayers, visits, phone calls, and all...I am blessed.

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G GRADE three children had a 'drill'.  Not a fire drill or a weather drill, but a real emergency.  The teacher was with me, and she could not get to the phone.  A child ran to get help.  The class was quiet, scared, and behaved.  They were growing up...

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H The first HELICOPTER ride was an adventure.  I did not want to ride a roller coaster.  I did not want to ride in a  car.  Now I saw the sky in my helicopter's bed.  I could have bought a little helicopter for that price.  A first.....

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I  I was perfectly healthy and the Friday dance was in my brain and no one saw.  It was perfectly...then in a second, I was a victim of stroke.  A first!

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J JEFFERSON Hospital was the place to monitor my body and brain.  My wife was directed to Lancaster Hospital, but the ambulance directed me to Brandywine Hospital.  In the end, I was airlifted to Jefferson Hospital.  I have not talked of three hospitals in the same paragraph.  A first!

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K I KNOW that I do not understand 'apraxia' and 'aphasia' .  I know that my brain says there is some damage.  This is why language and different words don't come out and words don't make sense.  It is getting better every day.

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L The LETTER 'L' was the most difficult to understanding.  My sister Lisa, my coworker Lisanne, three friends with the surname Lynch...the letter L was dropped from the alphabet. 

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M A MEMORY is something I cherish. My memory was broken.  Names and words escaped.  My wife's name disappeared, and she was 'my girl'.  I remembered my youngest children, Karen and Brian, and my niece Cara right away.  In time I called my wife Jacqueline, and finally Jackie.  It took days to recall the other children and grandchildren and sisters.  I could write names but could not say them.

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N The NURSES are the geniuses, the caretakers, and the time givers. They are the NURSES! They are my professionals, my friends, and my rock.

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O ODOR was the word of the day...and the second, the third, the fourth, and the fifth. Five days, no shower or bath. I was finally home.  I came into the door and marched upstairs and killed the whiskers and odor.   

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P PHYSICAL therapy was the only session of that kind.  I was strong and determined.  I was walking and climbing steps, and I was balanced.   

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Q QUIET, no noise, focus...There is no pain.  There is no adverse reaction to light.  The noise, the confusion, and the television ads and programs hurt.  Music and dialogue together hurts my brain.  The focus is serene.

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R READING Logs came to me.  My therapist helps with reading, writing, speech, communication, and more.  I have to read ten minutes a day and my coworkers want to help supply the books and a reading log.  A coworker penned a kid's book and I have my own copy.  On February 7th, I read the cover and the first page in 15 minutes.  On February 19th, I read the whole book in 17 minutes.  Fluency is going to be a challenge, but I am reading....slowly but surely!

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S The STROKE was bad.  A CT Scan, a TPA drug, and speed were necessary.  No previous strokes. and three and half hours passed...I was recovering. 

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T All the TUBES were there.  The IVs were there, a TEE study was there.  The procedure was fast.  The tube was in my throat.  The heart was clear.  I don't like tubes.   

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U URINE...Please forgive me.  A first!  I was lying in a bed for two days.  I was using a bathroom for years and years, but the shame went out the window. I'll just say this...when the MRI procedure was done, I begged and pleaded and finally was allowed to use the palace.    

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V It takes a VILLAGE  to raise a child. I know that. My colleagues are the backbone of our village, our child is the subject.  Now, I am the subject.  My village is a mammoth backbone of persons:  my important persons, and their friends, and more of theirs. It is my personal village.  You are my mine.....
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W WRITING was nil in the first weeks. I have slowly but surely begun to develop some skills. It is hard. It is slow. It is sad.  It will be better.

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X X-RAYS...No.  MRI...Yes.  An hour.  I was in the machine that wasn't moving.  I had earphones that muffled the noise.  There was no trouble with the brain. 

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Y YOU were scared.  I was scared too.  You were comforting.  I was comforted.   You were generous.  I was needy.  You are loved.  I am blessed.

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Z ZZZZZZZZZZ!  "Tired and weary," I say. They say, "Rest." Good night all...