When you or someone you love suffers a stroke, the journey toward recovery can feel overwhelming. Stroke survivor and advocate Jeri Ward offers this advice to stroke patients and those who care for them. Practice self-care First, caregivers should “make sure that they take care of themselves, because a stroke is really frustrating for everyone involved,” Jeri says. “It is very hard—no two days look the same. It feels like there’s a new issue every day. Crucial to a stroke survivor’s success is a caregiver being fully whole and healthy.” Ask for and accept help “Navigating healthcare when you don’t know anything about healthcare involves a lot of learning,” Jeri says. “Make sure to lean in to friends and family, because it takes a village to help a stroke survivor.” She recommends joining a stroke survivor caregiver group, which not only offers a safe place to vent fears and frustrations but also an opportunity to hear and learn about what works for other survivors. “Sharing things like that is one of the most important things,” she says. Celebrate small victories “I remember the first time that I could chew and swallow on my own,” Jeri says. “And when I could brush my teeth on my own again for the first time, that was a really big deal as well. Appreciate and celebrate the small things—the small things are big things when you’re a stroke survivor.” Connect with other survivors “In some way, try to reach out to other stroke survivors— whether they are ahead of you in their journey or behind you—because we learn a lot from each other,” Jeri says. “We also feel less alone.” Seek supportive technology Jeri recommends two technological aids that she continues to use in recovery. • Sensory processing headphones allow the wearer to focus on someone talking to them by screening out background noise in crowds or other noisy environments. ketteringhealth.org 15 YOU’RE NOT ALONE Visit ketteringhealth.org/stroke to learn more about our stroke care, treatments, services, and support group. Caring for yourself or a loved one after a stroke • Flux is a computer and phone app that changes the color, texture, and tone of screens so that visual processing is easier for survivors who get headaches triggered by light. Make the most of your therapy “Really invest and integrate yourself into therapy as much as possible,” Jeri says. “Because when you’re looking at neuroplasticity in the brain—which is the rejuvenation of all your neurons in your neuro pathways to get you learning— you have to do things to regenerate those pathways.” Jeri Ward’s new voice has some of her husband Dean’s English accent—a testament to his help in her recovery.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzIxMDA=