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Stroke
Survivor of the Month
 Lawrence Brown Houston, TX Life chronicles many varied experiences, yet some have a special place in the forefront of your memory. Friday, June 27, 1997, at 3:00 a.m. denotes one of those experiences. Lawrence says: "No feeling on my left side and being connected to intravenous lines are the memories of my ambulance ride to the hospital. Many times Angels come in different forms. It is truly our belief that one was awaiting our arrival to assist with my admittance procedures in the emergency room. Our guardian angel was a young lady that recalled meeting my wife when she was a little girl. Her words, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything”, was God’s way of assuring us that He was in charge and that He was surrounding us with His love and strength to endure the days ahead. I heard the suggestion of a possible stroke as two doctors discussed my treatment options and ordered a brain scan to determine the extent of damage. My prayer was to ask God for my life and I made a promise not to worry about anything anymore. All of a sudden, the familiar phrase “don’t sweat the small stuff” had valid meaning. My wife and family were there and very supportive. The next few days were filled with many tests. The days, weeks and months in the hospital were consumed with therapy to teach me to walk, swallow and function. My complete faith in God, full focus, devotion and support from my wife and the thought of going home kept me going. The miraculous homecoming day arrived. Being home was a relief for me. I was enrolled in a three times a week six-week program. A muscular botox specialist approached us about a study. I was very eager and optimistic about the study, which entailed injecting botox into the muscle to relax the spasticity. I decided to take the treatment. After several treatments, I accepted the challenge of enrolling in a twelve-week intensive therapy program. My wife and I drove every Monday through Friday, 8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m. to the hospital. I experienced slight movement in the thumb of my left hand for the first time. This was the beginning of my ability to grip and hold. My message is that every relearned task is graphic no matter how small. It serves as a tremendous dose of encouragement. All tasks are challenging because it forces one to find a new way to accomplish your goal, focusing not at what you have lost but what God has given you to work with.  |
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