Survivors
Ken Carter
Ken Carter had a stroke on July 4, 1991 which left his right side paralyzed. He had played in Jazz bands up until this time so was devastated that his music days appeared to be over.
In July of 1992 a music friend gave him an adapted saxophone to play with his left hand and it is one of the only ones in the world.
Ken practiced 8 hours a day. The Hartford Courant did a feature article about him 1993 and then he became “famous”!
He played for many groups in the local area and our support group and has been a member since 1994.
In 1995 he was asked to be a “Stroke Spokes Person” for the American Stroke Association in Dallas. He spent many years traveling and playing at meetings through out the country and giving inspiration to stroke survivors.
He played at many medical meetings and amazed the doctors with his ability to live a full and happy life after a devastating stroke.
He continues to volunteer and encourage stroke survivors that life continues after a stroke although it may be different than the life they had planned.
Eileen: Determination Creates Inspiration
Just a few years after earning her BA in political science, Eileen was only 54 years old when she suffered a severe stroke. That was 30 years ago last November.
Unable to speak at first, she relearned our names by studying pieces of paper we had posted in her hospital room. Every word she speaks today is new. To say that Eileen’s stroke was devastating for her and the family, is truly understated, which makes it miraculous that the youthful beauty who was knocked down in the prime of her life, greets me every morning with a huge smile and a great attitude and who remains, at 84, optimistic about her future.
But the journey wasn’t always easy. Life after stroke took many unexpected turns, and she survived major operations and disappointments, endured losses and broken hearts, and discovered opportunities to shine in spite of the limitations of her newly fashioned mind and body.
One of the original members of the Wethersfield Stroke Club, Eileen challenged herself to relearn everyday tasks, like making her double bed by rolling from corner to corner until complete, getting up the courage to ride a horse in a therapeutic riding program, and rethinking how to productively and happily fill her days in spite of a hand that no longer works, speech that is limited, and legs that barely support her. Through it all, with the support of her family, friends, and her fellow stroke survivors, Eileen remains beautiful and youthful and hopeful, and an inspiration to those lucky enough to spend time with her. Like me, her proud daughter, and cheerleader.
Barbara, April 2010
Getting Better at Going Places
In November 2004, my husband Ronald had a massive stroke at the age of 49. The only symptom he had was that he lost vision for just a few seconds. He went directly to the emergency room (ER) where he had the stroke right in front of the doctors. Talk about being in the right place at the right time.
It is so critical to go directly to the ER and not to your doctor's office. Timing and treatment are critical to survival. In Ronnie's case, the stroke was so massive that the next day he had to have half his skull removed due to the swelling in his brain.
The stroke left Ronnie paralyzed on the left side. He spent four months in the hospital, and finally had his skull replaced in March 2005 – pretty amazing! A few months later he celebrated his 50th birthday. He has learned how to walk again with a special leg brace and cane.
Every Saturday night for the past several months, I encourage Ronnie and my dad, Tony Fago, who had a mild stroke two weeks before Ronnie, to get dressed up and go out to a local diner.
Afterwards we go to the local Wal-Mart so dad and Ronnie can ride the electric carts and practice their driving skills. It is quite a sight to see the two of them racing down the aisles. I usually find them in the candy aisle. So far, we have no traffic violations!
We also belong to a local stroke support group. Our leader, Joan Haines, encourages all the members to get out and socialize. I'm glad we tried it because my family gets better and better at going places.
Deb Antonowich, Caregiver