Then one day all of a sudden after years of relentless attempting, I was able to do some things that I couldn't do very well before today.

Let me explain and please, I am not trying to brag about my accomplishments rather my intent is to impress upon you that you can

and will improve after a stroke especially if you are diligent and persistent in your rehab.

By rehab, I am talking about doing things that you once did over and over. My actual "paid therapy" was over and done a few short

months after my stroke.

 As Peter Levine in his book "Stronger After Stroke" says, "Real therapy begins when the paid therapy  ends."

During the past few days I have been able to a of a sudden do things that I have been trying to do for a long time.

Actually three instances stick out clearly in my mind. The first, a few days ago as I was performing my daily routine of walking on

boulders, I found myself in a precarious spot between boulders where I was forced to shuffle my left (affected foot) in such a manner

to avoid falling. In years past even before my stroke such a move would have surely caused an ankle sprain. I know that for a fact,

recalling myearly basketball playing days. Fond memories return of me defying gravity into the air a good one to two inches above

earth only to fall in a heap with a badly sprained ankle. Not to go to the race card but since my youth I was afflicted with a

severe case of WMD aka White Man's disease. I simply never had the ability to jump very high and on those rare occasions

when I cleared two inches, it all to often ended in disaster to my ankles.

This maneuver I performed startled and amazed me with a warm sense of accomplishment. Could it be that my left ankle which

would roll automatically after my stroke was now actually stronger than it was before? I have honestly been relentless the past

three years practicing walking, running and climbing in extreme conditions.

Now I believe I finally witnessed the fruits of my labor.


Just this morning while returning from my workout area where my boulders are located, I drove the two and a half mile circular

road using my left hand only. I have practiced using my left hand in small spurts off and on over the years but never exclusively

like I did today.

Lastly, when I returned home I skimmed our pool of leaves and debris while using my left hand equally where in the past I would

have done so mostly with my right.



Again, I am not writing this in an ego gratifying way rather to reaffirm that with persistent practice, patience and prayer, we can

expect improvement. I am far from where I intend to be in my recovery, in fact I am convinced that it is a life time journey.

 You can and will improve with consistent effort. Never,ever give up.

Bob Miller
Strokes Suck
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