Being The Best That I Can Be... My New Normal!

Stroke Survivor Gary Gray in the Community

I would like to share with you a series of videos that will help you to learn about Stroke.
You may not be familiar with stroke, what causes it, how it manifests itself, the damage it causes and how someone who has survived a stroke can relearn to do basic skills that were damaged and/or destroyed by the stroke.

 The series will also help you understand how a survivor can rebuild a life. (always different and often better than our pre stroke life)

Video # 1:  Understanding Stroke



Video # 2: Risk Factors Of Stroke




Video # 3: Symptoms Of Stroke





Video # 4: Preventing Stroke







Video # 5: Effects Of Stroke (Stroke Recovery #1







Video # 6: Recovering Mobility After Stroke (Stroke Recovery # 2)





Video # 7: Recovering Emotions After Stroke (Stroke Recovery # 3)







Video # 8: Recovering Cognition After Stroke (Stroke Recovery #4)





Thank you for taking the time to watch these videos so that you can become  better educated and more aware of Stroke.


A survivor has a lot of work to do. By working with a therapist the survivor moves toward the goal of independent living. Independent Living can be broken down into three areas.


1. ADL Activities of Daily Living: Through use of Physio and Occupational therapy a survivor can relearn to carry out the tasks of daily living like housekeeping, food preparation, eating, bathing, dressing, laundry etc.   

2. Socializing and community living: Through use of Physio and Occupational therapies as well as speech a survivor can relearn to carry out the tasks of daily living within the community such as walking, talking, driving, grocery shopping, eating out and spending time with friends.


3. Returning to meaningful productivity within the community: Through use and by expanding the use of skills learned in numbers 1 and 2 a survivor can relearn to become a productive member of the community once again. Whether it be going back to do paid work or doing volunteer work, the survivor can relearn the skills that are needed to become a valued productive  member of their community.


The one option that is NOT an option is staying in bed and/or not leaving the house. Survivors need to get up and get going. Our communities need to support survivors to achieve their goals.


Lets consider survivors that have made the efforts  required and have been given the support required to accomplish their goals. Everyone has been rewarded with success. We are all winners!


First visit "My Life After Stroke"  to read many stories of how survivors have been successful.


Then if you are a Caregiver or family member of a survivor you might like to visit "Strokecaregivers"


In order to really help people everywhere begin to understand STROKE, why it happens, who is at risk, how to get help F.A.S.T., what are the effects and the possibilities we are working on telling "The Stories Of Stroke" 


This will be released at a future date so if this is something that interests you please become a friend, fan or follower to receive further information and releases.


If you liked this post why not share it with your friends. TOGETHER, WE CAN STOP STROKE!


Gary Gray
Stroke Survivor since 2002