Adam: my comeback

Sunday July 19 Sunday Vibes Rehab Sunday!  Pretty sure that’s the name of the pool party at the Hard Rock in Vegas.  Well not that!  This one was a little more low-key.  Enjoyed a delicious coffee from my new coffee machine, and then I was off to rehab with Heather.  She slipped a ‘shoe slide’ on my left shoe, and then we worked on walking without a cane.  Focus more on the mechanics of the legs and hips, and not worrying about my left foot drop. It felt really great to be moving around with nothing at all to support me. Slidin’ like I’m glidin’ Zombie Walk😆 I was feeling pretty good after, as you can see below… 🔫 GUN SHOW! 🔫 My darling Jillian came over for legit visiting hours (no disguise required).  We got outside for some fresh air on the balcony, I freshened up with a shower (heaven), and then we enjoyed a delicious home cooked dinner! STEAK All in all, a Sunday to be extremely grateful for!   ❤️💪

Saturday July 18 This is worth a second post today. With the kids up north this weekend at a friends cottage with auntie Anneke, Jillian finally had a chance to catch her breath.She has been going nonstop since everything happened just over a week ago. Between her work, home with the kids and dog, and trying to be here with me… she’s barely had a chance to sit and think about how things have changed.  She got some things done around the house today and then came up to see me around 4 o’clock. She had asked what I needed the most and what I was craving for dinner.  A coffee machine 😳🥱 was at the top of my need list.  As for cravings for dinner… I suggested “killer piece of cheese, some delicious protein, and a glass of wine” Ask and you shall receive... In cognito   Nespresso Pre dinner cheese plate and a movie. (And YES....that is wine in the styrofoam cups) Dinner date at my pad

Saturday July 18 When I moved into rehab a couple days ago I was sized and fitted for a new wheelchair.  This will be my ride… Temporarily.  They put a left arm trough on it for me to be able to rest my weakened arm.   It was covered with vinyl so needless to say it wasn’t super comfortable.  Jillian traced an outline on some paper, took it home, and then her and Olivia whipped up this beauty cover for me.  🙂  #NovaScotiaTartan

Friday July 17th Today was a busy one...getting down to business with the therapy team.  First up was Perceptual Assessment and Cognitive Assessmment, with Rammjot.  30/30 (💯) on my Cognitive Assessment, thank you very much!  Into the gym with Melissa to see where I’m at physically (lets assume NOT 💯).   I got this Progressing to the QUAD CANE! Dinner tonight was a lovely 2oz. chicken thigh, corn nibblets, and mashed potatoes.  Paired with a lovely Cranberry Cocktail.  How’s your Friday night? Hospital Food Notes of Aluminum Foil & plastic. Fruit forward.

Thursday July 16th Woke up to broken reading glasses.😕 This morning, I was moved from the acute neuro wing to the rehab wing.  This is going to be the start of something big.  Jillian was there to help me settle into my new room....#361, 4th floor, North block if anyone can get past Covid Security.  Introductions followed to my physiotherapist Melissa, my occupational therapist Rammjot , my therapy assistant Brenda, my social worker Daniela and my nurse Sandra.  This will be the team that I work with over the next weeks and months rehabbing physically and emotionally.  Had a meeting with cardiology and neurology to discuss a game plan going forward.  #ItTakesAVillage.   

Wednesday July 15th Today was a GOOD DAY!  I feel like I made some real progress today using my walker.  It takes a whole crew for me to go for a walk....I have two spotters and a film crew!  No one else on the ward walks around with someone filming them on their iPhone, but then again I’m the youngest person by quite a bit! Young Buck coming thru! Jillian surprised me with picnic dinner. She wheeled me outside, and we set up in the food court courtyard!   Homemade Bacon Corn chowder & KeyLimePie...Yummm! And then to top it off Anneke showed up once again with the kids. Perfect end to a great day.  Family is the best kind of therapy #happiness #Siblings Tukker *Bacon Corn chowder & key lime pie courtesy of the Hibbert Family .

Tuesday July 14th The doctors wanted to investigate something further that they had seen on a test on Monday.  I was off to have a transoesophageal echo cardio gram.  After this, the cardiologist was able to confirm that I have something called a PFO (patent foramen ovale).   This is something that is in about 1/4 of all people. It’s usually only discovered when extensive testing occurs. It may or may not be a contributing factor to my stroke.  I had more blood taken for extensive testing.I am also wearing a Holter monitor for 14 days to monitor my heart. It is a portable device for cardiac monitoring. And this is the struggle i face with my left arm.  Simple movements have become very difficult for me.  I have to connect the wires from my brain to my muscles all over again.  The struggle is real. Cloth exercise

Monday July 13th The Healing Begins!   My first full day at Oakville hospital was a busy one.  I had a follow up CT, chest x-ray, bubble echo cardiogram, and leg Doppler.   It was also my first day working with the physiotherapist and an occupational therapist. They assessed my weaknesses, and then started to develop a plan to strengthen me. The highlight for me was getting out for a walk in the hallway with the assist of a walker. Learning to walk all over again As if it can get any better than that!!!!  WELL IT DID!  Jillian snuck me out of the hospital in a wheelchair and we called Anneke and she rushed up to see us with the kids. It was my first time seeing the kids since I’d been whisked away in front of them on a stretcher into an ambulance. It felt so good to hug them. And they made me some beautiful get well card that’s it in my window now.

Sunday, July 12th After being delayed through the night by bad weather, I was finally able to be flown to Oakville on Sunday morning.  I spent the rest of Sunday getting settled in at Oakville hospital where I’m going to be spending the next little while.  

Saturday July 11th Day 2 post stroke.  Things improved Saturday as I started to gain more movement in my left leg and foot. My speech would also continue to improve.  Dad, Anneke and the kids were on their way back to Oakville in the RV.  Jillian came to see me in the morning and managed to sneak me out of the hospital in a wheelchair for some much needed fresh air and sunshine. We called mom and she came over to join us for a visit at the hospital.  Jillian and Mom were on the way back to Oakville in the afternoon, with the planning that I was going to be flown back to Oakville in an air ambulance that evening.   I would be lost without Jillian by my side.

Let’s go back to last Thursday July 9th, 2020 This was my view at about 3 o’clock in the afternoon.  We were enjoying another beautiful day on the shores of Lake Superior at Agawa campground in Lake Superior  provincial park. I felt a funny twinge in my left hand that lasted only a second or two. ‘That was weird’, I thought.  I felt it again an hour later.  It was then that I decided to tell Jillian about the odd sensation I was feeling in my left hand.  We kept an eye on it and before long things seem to be getting worse rapidly. As we sat down to dinner at our campsite we decided it was time to make a run for the hospital. We scrambled to pack up the campsite, albeit mostly the kids and Jillian, as quickly as possible.   We were on the road soon enough heading south on the TransCanada highway towards the closest hospital, which was in Sault Ste. Marie, 2 hours away! An ambulance would meet us halfway there and take me the rest of the way.  I was rush...

Starting the blog! Ive often thought about starting a blog ......but what should I write about?   If you’re reading this, you know that last Thursday I suffered a stroke....things were going to be different for a while. The outpouring of support has been overwhelming.  People have been sending us messages and emails expressing their concern and support during this difficult time.   We are trying our best to keep everyone updated on my progress...and that’s when it dawned on us ....Blog about my recovery!  Seems like the easiest way to keep those that are interested, updated on my recovery. It will also be good for me to see my progress and how far I’ve come.  It will also give me something to do when I’m not busy rehabbing. So… Follow along if you’re interested. And please keep the messages of encouragement coming...they will be the fuel to my comeback! -Adam