“Mom, I think you’re having a stroke,” I calmly said to my mother. I kept my voice soft and even. My thoughts were not so calm; I was afraid. I pushed a little harder on the gas pedal to try to make better time in getting to the hospital. Why is there always so much traffic when you are facing a possible calamity? My mother’s conversation was like being trapped in a circle. She kept coming back to the same point she was trying to make, and then would re-circle again repeating herself. I knew she was frightened with her memory loss as she kept saying her address and phone number aloud. However, it was her address from an apartment she had lived in years ago. I reassured her again that everything would be okay, and that we would be at the hospital soon. My beautiful, strong, and intelligent mother of seventy-seven years age, nodded, and repeated, “I don’t understand what is happening to me!”
When we arrived at the hospital, I jumped out and ran around the car to help her out. She moved so slowly. So fragile now. A dandelion in the wind. God, don’t let her float away. After several hours of examination and a cat scan, it was confirmed, that, yes, she had had a stroke. The doctor told me that she would recover, that it had affected her short-term memory, but that she would be alright. He said it was a blessing that I had gotten her to the hospital as quickly as I had.
There are many others that are not so lucky. Some do not have a family to rush to their side, or often it is because the signs of a stroke go undetected, ignored, and untreated. Every minute counts after a stroke. My mother was fortunate. The doctor informed me to keep a close eye on her and that strokes were cumulative. Every stroke adds up, and they can all appear differently according to what area of the brain is affected. It could be speech, memory loss, difficulty with numbers, or paralysis. It is important to be aware and observant of the signs of a stroke. The lack of awareness can cause disaster or death.
Neurologists say that if they can get to a victim within three hours of the stroke, they can totally reverse the effects of a stroke. Doctors say a bystander can recognize the symptoms of a stroke. The three signs are S.T.R. which are:
S–Ask the individual to smile
T–Ask the person to talk and speak a simple coherent sentence
R–Ask him/her to raise both arms.
If they have trouble performing any of these requests, call 9-1-1. Another sign of stroke is the tongue. Ask the individual to stick out their tongue, if it is crooked, going from one side to the other, it is an indication of a stroke.
Today, my mother is a little stronger. She gains a little strength every day. No longer as fragile as a dandelion blowing in the wind, but she still needs tending and a watchful eye, so that she will have many more days in the sun.
Sharon Robinson
Tags: Sharon Robinson
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