Gimpy

I wish English had a better word than "weakness" to describe the movement on my affected side. If it was just weakness, I would have been done with the recovery process a long time ago. Like many stroke survivors, I have a constellation of problems, in varying degrees: weakness, spasticity, lack of sensation, confusion of sensation, lack of proprioception, neglect, pain, etc.

Every so often, I use the word "hemiparesis." But it means the almost same thing as weakness. And it has too many syllables.

Another fellow stroke survivor and blogger, Lori, uses the word "gimpy." The word is growing on me. I think it has just the right amount of vagueness to describe the general weirdness with my right side.

So here's a video, filmed on 4/29/2012, of me doing one of my daily tasks--putting away utensils--with my gimpy hand:

So Long, Brace

I’m done with the brace. For now, at least.

This was my second brace, and my second try of getting off of a brace. So who knows, I might need a third round at some point. 

My gait is still uneven, and I still use a cane. And much to my disappointment (and my daughter's), I'm still wearing the same stupid Velcro sneakers.

For now.

Published

I wrote a personal essay for the American Speech and Language Association's newspaper, The Leader. It's my first publication since the stroke.

Here it is:  You Can't Just Wear Socks!

Thank you, Rick and Jena, for your expertise but especially your kindness.