My Mother's Day Gift

This Mother's day has quite possibly been the most emotional, eventful, and blessed Mother's Day I have ever had as a mother and a daughter. Monday of this week arrived uneventfully as just another Monday -until mid morning when Mom could'nt remember a simple recipe that she has made a million times. As a cook, that was very odd. She could'nt answer basic questions -the brain and mouth just could'nt work together. An emergency trip to the family doc and then immediate ambulance ride to the hospital confirmed that Mom had had a stroke.

We were blessed to find that her limbs had not been affected, just the part of the brain for organization and memory. After a long week in the hospital, I filled Mom and Dad's freezer with food, got the house cleaned and cozy, and awaited my father bringing her home. She is now home in her own bed, with more meds than I can count, and a hovering family that just wants to wrap her in bubble wrap.

I am incredibly lucky to still have my Mom after the things her body has been thru. I am also lucky enough to call my mother my best friend. I would move mountains for that wonderful woman. After many answered prayers and happy tears, THIS, my friends, is the best Mother's day I will ever have- my Mom is here to celebrate it with me.

You never know when a stroke will affect someone you love. Here are the signs to look for:
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

If you or someone with you has one or more of these signs, don't delay! Immediately call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical services (EMS) number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can be sent for you. Also, check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared. It's very important to take immediate action. If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. tPA is the only FDA-approved medication for the treatment of stroke within three hours of stroke symptom onset.

Life is too precious to take for granted. If you are lucky enough to still have your Mom, give her an extra hug tomorrow. Make that weekly phone call an extra long phone call. If your Mom has passed on, close your eyes and remember all of the wonderful things she's done for you and the timeless love that you will always carry for her.

I wish all Mothers a happy, fulfilled, and healthy Mother's day! Enjoy your day!