I had a stroke in November and the hardest part was dealing with my friends who expectd me to be normal. I was let go from hospital and they thought that since I was out I was ok. They didn't get that I could not speak right, slurred everything couldnt' walk and couldn't understand anything they wer saying becuz my hearing was bad to begin with but when my brain stopped working I couldn't "figure out" what they were saying like I used to. They thought since I LOOKED like me that I was still me. The trick is to sit them down and tell them, "You have no idea what I'm going through. Let me share." Tell them what is happeing. If you have to, print stuff off the internet so they can read it for themselves. I had to. It really helped because they couldnt undrstand me.

I lost a great deal of my "friends" but the ones that stay by are the only ones you need. They are the most important. I was given a dog by my husband and have been putting my life back together with Shadows help. A therapy animal might help you too. If you can't handle a dog, get somethng you can. I wuldn't be as well off as I am if Shadow hadn't needed me. Unconditional love is wunderful.