Guest story – I find my inspiration in myself
The day started off with my usual Aerobics class which I conduct in my house, and cooking and another set of Rope jumping for 30 minutes for my self, accompanied with some weight training and stretches. Husband says lets go pick up the curtains for our bedroom, (we have just moved into our new house) and we leave, finish shopping , have lunch in the house and after clearing up, I lie down to rest, for it is the month of February, very hot.
I doze off, and get up to the body clock which is nudging me to get up and get some work done, but I am too drowsy, I blame it on heat and go back to sleep, only to hear somebody asking me to make tea, which I ignore.
Daughter and son are back from college and school : they are hungry, but they don’t have the heart to disturb sleeping mom, and they quietly shut the bedroom door and leave.
I am vaguely aware of all that is happening around me, with my body clock constantly nudging me to wake up and get moving : I am awake, I take a sip from the plastic water bottle , only to drop the bottle, I panic.
In a dream like state, I roll off the bed and try to get hold of the bottle that has rolled under the bed, and last thing I know, is trying to hold the bottle which I am not able to. I wonder what is wrong with my hand why isn’t it moving I keep trying, trying…..
Next I am being shaken by husband, I am awake, I can see vomit by my side, my husband is talking to me but I am not able to speak… my voice is gone!
Husband drags me slowly to the bathroom and changes my dress, and somehow brings me back to lie on the bed.
Doctor comes and declares I have to be admitted in the hospital for, he drops a bomb : I have stroke!!
Tests are done, nothing wrong with me drastically, but still I can neither speak nor move my entire right side of my body: I lay there limp and dazed at the diagnosis.
I am told I had somehow developed some clot in my leg which had traveled to my brain and had come back to lodge itself in left side of my throat : that is why I couldn’t speak or move my right side.
The good news : no surgery required , only medicines to dissolve my clot, and of course lots of physiotherapy.
The cause for this stroke without the obvious symptoms was of course, vague : it could be genetic or stress.
After being released from the hospital, I was terrified to see that my ability to walk, talk, eat everything had totally changed. The things one took for granted was no longer easy to do : for I had to relearn everything : I almost became a child taking its first step.
How was I going to conduct my aerobics class, was the only thing that bothered me. People kept telling me to be happy I was alive, but to me it was worse than death itself.
Whenever I went to the Doctor I kept asking him to tell me the truth: would I be able to conduct my classes?
For which he said it was in my hands : for exercise was the only way i could get back my movements fast. Stop wallowing in self pity and get to some serious work, for the more I delayed the more my progress would slow down, I would have to get back to doing everything as before within ! year.
That was enough, to push me to hard work with physiotherapist, he gave me simple exercise which I had to do like write, turn pages, cut with scisrrors, pick up beads and put them back into the cup, thread a needle and so on.
All the things that I thought I can easily do were now beyond my means, plus I also had to learn to walk, talk, eat all over again, which were all very frustrating and depressing : I never forgot my goal, to be able to conduct my aerobics class, that kept me from breaking down and giving up.
In a day I used to work hard at least 2- 3 hours in mastering all the difficult, yet simple things, till I got them right.
Thus In 8 months I was perfectly alright (98% according to the doctor).I could start my classes again, and everything I was doing before the stroke pretty well. No one can even believe I ever had a stroke.
It is more than 10 years now, I must say it was my determination and my will power that kept me from sinking, drowning my self in self pity and despair.
If I can do it I am sure any one can do it too.
Rama Ananth.
I am 51 years, married fort the last 29 years, with a daughter (29 years) and a son (25years). I have been into fitness for more than 16 years. I am also a Reiki Master. My passion is practicing and teaching Reiki and Aerobics. Writing, acting, and traveling are my other interests.
Click here for more guest stories.
Something in the beginning made me think your story is fiction. Only towards the end I realized you’re actually telling about your personal ordeal you had to go through… Must have been really, really hard to stay so totally focused on your dream to get back to where you were prior to stroke. Frankly speaking – I don’t think anyone can do what you achieved, it does require the kind of strength to persevere no matter what happens that only a few have!
Thank you Robby, yes it did take a lot effort, and the mental and physical determination to be where I am now. I could have easily given up, and ended up person who had to depend on others.
Hi Rama:)
This is an amazing thought coming from a person bubbling with creativity.All great people did find inspiration in themselves although they had innumerable advisers to tell them that they are wrong.
All great painters, great writers, great leaders of the world found inspiration in themselves which motivated others and attracted the public like bees are attracted to honey.
This is an inspirational post worth pondering over.
Best wishes:)
Joseph
Shows your self confidence. Very motivating.
a big wowwww for your determination and will power..indeed motivating buddy..cheers:)
Truly inspirational Rama, thanks for sharing this. I wonder if you had an opportunity to mentor anyone who went thro a similar episode, it could be most helpful.
Krishna
WoW!!!!
You are an Amazing Person!!!! The way your post started, I was under the impression that this was a story. I was horrified to know that you have shared your personal experience with us. Thanks a lot for sharing this.. This is truly inspirational
nice lovely family.
very nice writing.
Oh! really amazing and wonderful. A cat has nine lives. You may now cherish it as a revisit to toddler’s stage 10 years ago!
very motivating story !!!
Very touchy!!!! Knowing you for long enough, did always make me feel u were special, with amazing will power, strong attitude towards life and above all, a true person. Thanks for being with me Mami, always….
Such a inspirational one. The tough times you had to go through and the will power you had. Bravo !
Wishing you well in the years to come.
Really impressive and so motivating!!
I am amazed. You are a true inspiration. Very motivating indeed.
Rama,
I read and read Rama. My God i never knew.
U went trough the same nightmare as my brother in law.5 years ago.
Rama the fysio is hard and with moments wet eyes and rebellious behaviour.
A guardian angel was with u Rama,and ur husband and kids.
Hard for them to see their loved one suffer and cant help.
My bro in law has still communication problems .Hard for my sis and himself.
They cant conversate with each other.
Im happy for u and ur family Rama.
Tx for sharing and ur words go deep inside me.
MJ
Ur life story is one that needs to be published in medical magazines…Im not joking Rama abslty not
abt such serious things. I think a lot of ppl might get extra courage to fight.
MJ
Will power is the key.
Wow!
I am sure now your story is an inspiration to many…
Keep it going!
~ NRIGirl
Yes, an inspirational story for sure! I also got a blood clot although in my shoulder, near my neck, not as serious as a leg thrombosis. I am on coumadine (Rat Poison!) It is all part of the collateral damage of chemo-therapy used to destroy my cancer! Your story is wonderful encouragement for me and I, too, will push forward to be able todo the things I want to do. Thanks so much!
Rama!!!
I don’t know if it is Providence that I read this piece!!! My father-in-law is down with a stroke on his Right side and people at home do not see him up and well again… I have forwarded this to my husband to bolster his strength that his dad will get better- if only he had a goal and the will to reach for it… Thank you so much for writing this!!!!
Priya
You had a strong goal to motivate you and keep you focused.With your determination and grit you overcame the disability that would defeat weakminded people.There is a great lesson for all in this post.The narration is crisp and arresting.
Thanks for sharing this with me. This is exactly what I needed to read. I guess it’s time I took control of my life again.
Leave your response!
Sign up for Short Story Book Newsletter
Our Latest Tweets
Categories
Peep in the past
Recognitions !!
Calendar
Blogroll
Tags
Current Story Rating
Latest Short Stories
Recent Stories
Most Commented
Recent Comments
Most Viewed
Short Story Lovers
Visitors: 99663 Since: June 21, 2003