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Stroke
Survivor of the Month- 2007
 Lynn Johnson Washington, DC Lynn has risen from extremely negative circumstances like a phoenix from the ashes. She has survived many things but here she shares her stroke story, giving us all a sense of hope and something we can build on. Now she practices as a a certified Life Coach with an impressive list of clients. Learn how she turned her tragedy into a tremendous life. Lynn says: "When I was 22 years old, I led a reasonable life. I had a good corporate job with IBM. I had great friends, and I was on my way up financially. I was chosen for lead vocals in a new band in Minneapolis that was scheduled to open at the legendary First Avenue Club. One day, a friend of mine and I were driving along a Minnesota highway when all of the sudden the traffic slowed to a creep. My friend suddenly slowed down to about 15 miles per hour. But the woman behind us was applying make up and her car slammed into the back of my friend's car. An officer later told us that the other car hit us at the impact of about 90 miles per hour. The impact of the crash forced my head into the dashboard, and then slammed me backwards. My head thrashed back and forth. I lost consciousness for a minute; my body was thrown feet away. One week later, I suffered a major stroke when my brain began to swell. Within 24 hours, I lost use of my entire right side and within 48 hours I could not read, write, walk or talk. I lost my singing voice forever. One night, the doctor came into my room and told my mother that I probably would not make it through the night. I remembered watching my friends and other loved ones file into my room one by one. Some tried to speak and others simply cried. All the while, I was thinking, "I am not ready to go. There is so much more to do. There is so much more to see." I wanted to enjoy the warmth of the sun on my face in a convertible. I wanted to feel the rain on a hot summer day. I wanted to reach out and tell someone that they are important and that they can make it through whatever they are going through. In order to survive, I needed to let go of any sadness, pain or negative energy that would not allow me to fully recover. And so, right there I accepted in my heart that I must get up. I must get up from that hospital bed. I had to walk and talk, read and write again. And I did. I fought the paralysis on the right side of my body one joint at a time. I fought every step of the way until I no longer spoke with a slur or walked with a limp. I fought with every bit of strength that I never knew I had because I cherished myself enough to know that I had more living to do. I regained the use of my body. I relearned my ability to read and write.  |
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