I keep thinking this is the time when I should become scared or stressed. Most rehabilitation folks say that six to twelve months after a stroke, the patient plateaus. Last week was 12 months since my diagnosis was definitive. It’s been over fourteen months since my first fungal stroke caused serious problems. I refuse to be scared or stressed. I remain happy. Partly that is easy because I am different. I am not a typical stroke patient. The cause of my strokes is one in a billion. The effects spared me cognitive damage and maybe I get more slack for physical recovery. The reality is I am still getting notably better. This week:

• stood for ten minutes and 30 seconds with only some bracing, some time just my legs
• walked 128 feet, 20 feet with no bracing or support
• still getting better at swallowing
• still having speaking improvements
• got into my (super low) Prius with minimal assistance
• transferred to/from van driver seat with no assistance
• increased amount of time I am “working”
• planning to talk to the disability folks about returning to work part time
• can now do one handed assist on/off toilet, sometimes help with the pants

I had my intake meeting with Texas Workforce Commission. It is a lot of paperwork and super slow, but I hope to get some significant help that will make work easier.

For now at least, I am making progress past the nominal dates. I hope it keeps going.