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Pam J / Articles

THankyou all. returning from a stroke
This thank you has been a long time coming, but it comes straight from my heart.

As most of you know I had a huge Brain Bleed/Stroke on Friday the 7th of September this year.

On that evening my world changed beyond description. I was one of the lucky ones as Jay, my husband, came into my work room and knew the signs of a stroke. (I will come back to this later.) He called 911 and an ambulance came fast. It's a ride I do not remember! But it would be another 5 weeks before I came home again.

It took me to our regional hospital who ran a fast CAT scan and said that I had a huge brain bleed, but they could not properly help me and I needed to be taken to the OU (Oklahoma University) Medical Centre in OKC as they had STROKE specialty help. More sirens and lights ride and the Centre started work on me fast. CAT scan and up to the operating rooms. This meant scalp incisions (lost all my long red hair! IT Ws SHAVED OFF) that beat any Halloween make-up! I also had a hole drilled in my skull to release the pressure of the bleeding caused be an AVM.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arteriovenous_malformation Jay was with me all he could be. I was unconscious and very unresponsive. He had to witness me put on a ventilator and given transfusions and being cut up.

I was taken to ICU and was there two weeks. I finally regained consciousness. The Brain Surgeon was confident that I would make a full recovery after many tests because of Jay's rapid action.

I was finally taken off the ventilator and the other tubes were removed in the following days, including a feeding tube and I was transferred to a "step down" room for the next week.

It was decided I was to be then transferred to a Rehab facility. I was there for two weeks and was given intensive PT and weened off puréed food and thickened liquids after being given many swallow tests.

I was finally allowed to come home on the 11th of NOVEtMBER.

All this time Jay was not only driving to OKC daily but coping with our three dogs and many cats and the intense stress of the situation that was unfolding daily.

I have a box full of cards here and am humbled beyond words. I never realised just how many lives I had touched over the years.

Thank you ALL! A special thanks to Peggy C. and my close pals Marty and Chris - they acted as relays for information and helped Jay so very much.

My Dogs and Cats are my medicine now.

However, the Brain Surgeon has a treatment plan for me. It is going to be targeted radiation to slowly destroy the AVM. This treatment will start early next year. It should mean that the stroke will not happen again. This has been a life changing happening for me and Jay.
Time is needed to heal.

I now need to THANK ALL who sent cards and prayers and love and care. You ALL lifted me up and were a huge part of a support system. Those who spoke to me over the phone in my room know exactly how fightened and scared I was. Thank you ALL

for holding me in your hearts.

I was so very lucky and I still have some healing to do. I have some sight and focus problems (not good for a photographer

https://tactustherapy.com/what-is-left-neglect/

but I will, given time and patience, HEAL and RECOVER. I know you will all understand that as much as I want to come back, I just cannot do it instantly. I use a walker frame for now to steady me as well.

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO AT LEAST ONE PERSON A WEEK. YOU CAN SAVE LIVES AND DAMAGED QUALITY OF LIFE WITH THIS. Use FAST to remember the warning signs of a stroke. The letter F stands for face FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A stands for arms ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S stands for speech SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T stands for time TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately. Call 9-1-1 immediately if you observe any of these symptoms. Note the time of the first symptom. This information is important and can affect treatment decisions. Recognizing Stroke Act FAST www.stroke.org/understand-stroke/recognizing-stroke/act-fast

44 comments

StoneRoad2013 said:

Pam, so very, very pleased that you are recovering.
You, Jay and the tribe of many paws have had a difficult journey.
Sending more healing thoughts, many huggsssss and licks from my tribe of many paws.

FAST is taught to first aiders in the UK, just substitute 999 ...
(I've just had a refresher course !)
5 years ago

Pam J replied to StoneRoad2013:

SARA ......great !!!!\

it SAVES RUINED LIVES

HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
5 years ago ( translate )

Jenny McIntyre said:

Oh Pam it is so good to hear from you. Yes we have all been worried but your friends so kindly kept us up to date with your progress - Jay is an amazing man to go through it all and still come up smiling. As you know I had a brain haemorrhage 12 years ago and a stroke a couple of years later. All I can say to you, is that we are the very lucky ones. Okay you need steadying with a walker like I do, but you sound like Pam, so your essence is still there. I too had problems with my eyesight - my retina in my left eye is pleated, so things look weird to me - but my right eye is fine and with digital cameras - they help a lot. Please don't despair if you don't get better as quick as you would like, because "slowly slowly catchee monkee" as they say. Some days will be fantastic, then others won't - all part and parcel sweetie. We are so lucky to have survived at all, problems like this don't have many survivors. We're made of strong stuff. Just keep doing your PT and I am so happy to hear you are back home. Take care and lots of hugs xx
5 years ago

Pam J replied to Jenny McIntyre:

JENNY.... I KNOW SO WELL HOW LUCKY I AM. I NURSED A NON SURVUVOR 3 YEARS AGO HERE..

I AM A FIGHTER .... WE ARE ARENT WE !!!!!

YES,,,, GOOD DAYS AND BAD DAYS,,,, BUT DAYS I MIGHT NEVER HAVE HAD. I AM SO GRAREFUL .

I AM EAGER TO GET ON TO THE TREATMENT !

JAY IS A VERY SPECIAL PERSON.

HUGSSSSSSSS AND LOVE
5 years ago

RHH said:

Wonderful to hear from you, Pam. I remember all the encouragement you gave me a year and a half ago and I'm going to quote your own words: "SO glad to see you back [Pam] !
Don't hurry the healing.. let it take the time it needs.
Just happy you are getting WELL.
Hugssssssssssss"
5 years ago

Pam J replied to RHH:

RON ...... I JUST WANTED TO GET HOME. THAT MAKES ALL ELSE DO ABLE

LOVE AND HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

PAM
5 years ago

Pam J replied to :

SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS... IT JUST MAKES READING A LITTLE EASIER !
5 years ago

Amelia said:

Good morning, Pam. Having read all the news since September, it's so good to hear from you in person, and to know that you are on the road to recovery. This sounds as if it will be arduous, but I know that you will have the strength to travel the road with Jay's help. There will be days when you may feel terrible, I know that feeling; but on the good days hope for the future is a bright light at the end of the tunnel.
Thinking of you often.

Big hugs, Amelia
5 years ago

Mickey fez said:

WELCOME BACK
5 years ago

Stormlizard said:

Wellcome back Pam.J, now you must contiue to heal at your own pace, recovering from such an incident takes time.

Perhaps the Team (I M A) could put this as a main feature on the sign in page.

I will keep sending the positive energy your way.

Kind regards, John.
5 years ago

@ngélique ❤️ said:

my best thoughts for you dear Pam! we think highly of you and your complete healing! I embrace you very much with all my friendship! have a nice week end
5 years ago

Rob Fletcher said:

So good to hear from you. My thoughts will be with you as you recover, and I know you will - you have shown us that fighting spirit. I miss your little comments and likes for my photographs - always a pleasure to see the "Pam J" turn up. Thinking of you …

Rob.
5 years ago

Dave Hilditch said:

So happy to see you back with us, Pam. With Jay by your side I'm sure that you'll make a full recovery. Very best wishes to you both.
5 years ago

M♥rJ Photogr♥phy !!… said:

HELLO PAM,
SO GLAD YOU ARE ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY, I HAVE EVERY EMPATHY OF WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH + JAY, & . HAVING BEEN IN THE CARING PROFESSION FOR OVER 40YRS. I HAVE DEALT WITH A LOT OF STROKE VICTIMS EVEN IN MY OWN FAMILY.
I WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST & BEING HOME IS A GOOD TONIC, SURROUND BY ALL YOUR ANIMALS & THEY ALL MUST BE EQUALLY PLEASED YOU ARE HOME.
A DAY NEVER WENT PAST WITHOUT MY THOUGHTS OF YOU & LOOKING FOR NEWS.
SO I WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST & SENDING CYBER HUGGGGGGGGGGGGGS TO YOU ...XX
TAKE YOUR TIME WITH GETTING BACK TO iPERNIY WE ALL UNDERSTAND & WE WILL STILL BE HERE !!
5 years ago

Christiane ♥.•*¨`*•✿ said:

THANK YOU for explaining us everything, Pam. I had SO MANY questions for you ... but you replied everything here ツ.
As I wrote today in your guestbook, we are all waiting for you. Patiently. We all know that you will be back here as soon as possible, and that is the most important.
Please, do take good care of yourself, "work" well and recover quickly. We do not move from here and you'll find us all when coming back ツ.
Big hugs and lots of love.
5 years ago
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