What do I need to know?
Dear Spouse and Caregiver,
I have been the spouse of a stroke survivor for about two years. On the day that Rick had a stroke, I could not see past the crisis. I was angry, sad and frightened. My world was falling apart and I had no idea what to do. As a nurse, I knew all the medical aspects and that really helped to navigate the medical care and decisions that need to be made but it did not prepare me for the emotional aspect of being the spouse. I could not go home at the end of my shift as I had as a nurse, this crisis followed me everywhere.
Every experience is different but what I learned and experienced, I feel will help you and your friends and family better navigate the journey. During the first phase of Rick’s care being in the hospital and not knowing from day to day the outcome was very difficult. Waiting on the doctor’s every word for some positive news is exhausting. They always asked “Do you have any questions?” As a nurse, I knew what to ask but I saw many family members at a loss and would just thank the team for what they received.
What should I ask the MD?
· What type of stroke has your loved one had?
· What is the extent of damage?
· What part of the brain was impacted? What does that mean?
· What is the plan of care?
What milestones are we looking for?
What can I expect in the first 24 hours and 48 hours?
Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. Every 4 minutes, someone dies of a stroke. Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke and 795,000 caregivers are born.
When Rick experienced his stroke, so did I.
Although your life has come to a halt and you are living moment by moment, the world continues, your bills need to be paid, decisions made, and the feeling of being alone without your loved one being able to participate is heart breaking.
The caregiver is the neglected/forgotten stepchild in our society when a spouse suffers a health crisis, and he/she needs information, support, and resources to heal from the event so that the couple can establish a fulfilling, even joyful new normal.
Welcome
Welcome to my journey and I am excited that you will be joining me. My plan is to post every week with a new topic. I would love to hear your concerns and questions that I can help to address in this blog. Sign up for my newsletter so I can be a support that has been right there in the front lines with you.
With love from spouse to spouse,