JENNY’S NEWS

I’M A LITTLE LATE, BUT ON EASTER,THIS WAS ON MY CHURCH’S WEBSITE:

I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THE LORD’S MERCY BECUZ HE HAS SEEN FIT 2 RESTORE THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY BODY AS MUCH AS HE HAS. THIS HAS ALLOWED ME 2 PARTICIPATE IN RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES, & FOR YEARS NOW, I HAVE BEEN ABLE 2 REACH MY MOUTH, & GIVE MYSELF THE BREAD IN THE LDS SACRAMENT (COMMUNION?).

2 WEEKS AGO I TRIED 2 ALSO GIVE MYSELF THE WATER, & I MADE A MESS! (MY PBA HAD ME LAUGHING LOUDLY, WHEN I SHOULD BE QUIET–BUT IT’S AMAZING HOW MUCH WATER IS IN THESE THIMBLE-SIZE CUPS, & I HAD WATER EVERYWHERE! IT WAS FUNNY, & I CAN’T GIGGLE!) LAST WEEK I DID IT, & AGAIN I DID IT THIS WEEK! IT SEEMED SO APPROPRIATE 2 REMEMBER CHRIST IN THAT WAY ON EASTER DAY!

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“THAT WHICH DOESN’T KILL US, MAKES US STRONGER.”
—STEEL MAGNOLIAS

TODAY IS MY STROKE-AVERSARY–8 YEARS AGO I HAD A MASSIVE STROKE W/SEVERE DAMAGE 2 MY BRAINSTEM. I BELIEVE DOCTORS ARE TRAINED TO POSE U W/A “WORST-CASE SENARIO,” & MY FAMILY WAS TOLD THAT I HAD 24 HRS. TO LIVE, & IF I LIVED, I WOULDN’T MOVE, JUST BLINK.

HOW WRONG THE DOCTORS WERE! THEY COULDN’T HAVE FANTHOMED WHAT THE FUTURE HELD FOR ME, BUT MY FAMILY HAD 2 SERIOUSLY CONSIDER IF THEY COULD DEAL WITH THE WORST POSSIBLE OUTCOME & THE PICTURE THAT THE DOCTOR’S PAINTED FOR ME. & WHILE I AM IN A WHEELCHAIR W/DOUBLE VISION, AN INABILITY 2 TALK OR MOVE MY LEFT SIDE, THERE ARE ALSO MANY THINGS I HAVE REGAINED, THAT SUPPOSEDLY I WOULD NEVER DO AGAIN.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LAST 8 POST-STROKE YEARS

1. I’M ALIVE, AFTER A NEARLY FATAL STROKE IN MARCH 2004.

2. IN SEPT. 2004 & IN OCT. 2008, THE LDS PROPHET, PRESIDENT MONSON WROTE TO ME.

3. BY DEC,2004, I HAD GOTTEN RID OF MY TRACHE, FEEDING TUBE, & CATHETER.

4. IN NOV. 2005, I MADE AN APPLE, ICE CREAM, & PUMPKIN PIE FROM SCRATH!

5. IN MAY 2007, I MET THE HOPEFUL PRESIDENTIAL CANIDATE, MITT ROMNEY.

6. IN OCT. 2007, I “SPOKE” OUT AT AN INTERNATIONAL DOCTOR CONFERENCE IN CLEVELAND, OH.

7. IN THE WINTER OF 2007, I WAS PUBLISHED IN THE ENSIGN, A CHURCH MAGAZINE.

8. IN SEPT. 2008, I WAS PUBLISHED IN A DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK MAGAZINE BY SIMPLE SCRAPBOOKS.

9. IN DEC. 2008 & IN DEC. 2010, I PERFORMED IN A CHURCH PLAY, AS THE ANGEL WHO ANNOUNCES CHRIST’S BIRTH.

10. IN NOV. 2009, I WAS ASKED TO MONTHLY TEACH THE 12-18 YEAR OLD GIRLS AT CHURCH, & IN JUNE 2010, I SPOKE TO THE 12-18 YEAR OLD GIRLS AT THE LDS CHURCH GIRLS’ CAMP.

11. IN DEC. 2010, AT DISNEY WORLD, RIDING THE AEROSMITH ROCKIN’ ROLLERCOASTER.

12. IN DEC. 2010, AT DISNEY WORLD, RIDING THE TOWER OF TERROR.

13. STARTING IN JAN. 2011, I STARTED SPEAKING MORE INTELLIGIBLE SENTENCES! I CAN NOW SAY MOST OF THE ALPHABET, MANY WORDS, & SEVERAL PHRASES.

14. IN FEB. 2011, WHILE CASUALLY READING AN EMAIL FROM MY YAHOO STROKE GROUP, I FIND THAT I WAS PUBLISHED IN A BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL! ( I WAS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW ATTITUDE CAN AFFECT US, & THAT THERE IS LIFE AFTER STROKE)

15. IN AUG. 2011, I WENT IN THE OCEAN ON A FAMILY VACATION TO DESTIN, FLORIDA.

16. IN OCT. 2011, I WAS WRITTEN ABOUT IN AN OBSERVATION BY A MAN I GREATLY ADMIRE. (http://www.observationsbyjack.blogspot.com/)

17. IN 2011, I HAVE STARTED FEEDING MYSELF MOST MEALS (I CAN MAKE A MESS, BUT I DO IT!) I PREFER MY FINGERS, BUT I CAN USE UTENSILS, CHEW & BITE SOME FOODS THAT I FEED MYSELF!

18. SOMEWHERE IN THERE, I STARTED SMILING WITH THE MUSCLES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY MOUTH!

“THE ONLY THING IMPOSSIBLE, IS IMPOSSIBILTY. “ –PHINEUS & FERB

NOW, A MINUTE TO BRAG ON MY FAMILY:

I RECENTLY READ A BOOK WHERE A MOM WAS ON BEDREST FOR 2 MONTHS. SHE WROTE:

“When I was 1st put on bed rest, I used the intercom button on our phone to beep them if I needed something. Each time I did it, someone would come running: “Are you okay?” “Do you need anything?” Two weeks later, I would beep, and if there was no response, I’d beep again. Still, nobody would show up. Then I’d beep continuously. No matter how many times I beeped, nobody would come and check on me! NOBODY! They got tired of helping me with all the little things I could no longer do.” –Brenda Warner, One Call Away

I COULD TOTALLY RELATE TO THIS! I USE A WIRELESS DOORBELL & THE # OF RINGS CALLS CERTAIN PEOPLE:

1 RING IS THE KIDS,

2 RINGS IS MK, &

3 RINGS IS FOR MY “HELPER”/PERSONAL ASISSTANT)/CAREGIVER. (BTW, THIS WEEK ALSO MARKS THE END OF A CAREGIVER, WHO HAS HELPED ME SINCE I MOVED HERE IN 2005, FROM INDIANA (REALLY, SHE WAS A PERSONAL ASISSTANT, WITH SOME CAREGIVER DUTIES ON 2 DAYS OF THE WEEK…BECUZ MK REALLY IS MY CAREGIVER).

ANYWAY, AT 1ST, IF I RANG, PEOPLE CAME HURRIDLY 2 MY SIDE, & MY FRIENDS COMMENTED HOW THEY NEEDED 1 OF THOSE! BUT NOW, IF I RING FOR MY KIDS, I TOO CAN HAVE DAYS WHERE I CONSTANTLY RING B4 I GET AN ANSWER…BUT THEY DO COME! & 8 YEARS IS A LOT LONGER THAN 2 WEEKS!

BUT KUDOS TO MY HUSBAND MK…HE ALWAYS COMES, & IF I HAVE TOO WAIT, HE TELLS ME. MORE THAN ONCE, I HAVE GOTTEN NO ANSWER FROM THE KIDS, SO I’VE RUNG 4 MK, OR I JUST GET SUPER DETERMINED 2 FIND A WAY 2 DO IT MYSELF, IF IT’S NOT SOMETHING HEAVY OR BREAKABLE.

SO THE BIGGEST HIGHLIGHT & BLESSING HAS BEEN HAVING A SUPPORTIVE FAMILY. I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’D DO W/O THEM!

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Isn’t it incredible what 26 little letters in our alphabet can do?” –Jack Rushton

I HAVE A NEW APPRECIATION 4 THE ALPHABET! MY WORLD CHANGED WHEN I STARTED 2 BLINK SPELL IN THE HOSPITAL, & AGAIN WHEN I STARTED 2 FINGERSPELL, & HAS CONTINUED CHANGING AS I HAVE RE-LEARNED HOW 2 WRITE, & AS I RE-LEARN HOW 2 SAY EVERY LETTER IN THE ALPHABET.

I AM SO EXCITED! 4 SOME REASON, IF I’M COMPLETELY FLAT IN BED, I CAN SAY LETTERS THAT I CAN’T SAY WHILE I SIT (LIKE “S,” “K,” “F,” “G” & MORE). IN ORDER 2 PRACTICE THESE LETTERS, I RECLINE MY BACK, BUT SINCE I’M NOT PERFECTLY FLAT, I HAVE 2 PLUG MY NOSE…WHICH SEEMS RIDICULOUS, SINCE I’M NOT PLUGGING MY NOSE EVERY TIME I TALK! HOWEVER, RECENTLY, I WAS ABLE 2 RECLINE, & SAY LETTERS “S” & “F” W/O PLUGGING MY NOSE! I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT PRACTICE & AN INCREASE IN MY BREATH SUPPORT IS MAKING IT HAPPEN, & THE OTHER LETTERS WILL COME IN TIME.

IT HAS ALWAYS FRUSTRATED ME THAT I CAN’T SAY MY SON’S NAME, THOUGH. LAYING DOWN, I CAN SAY “SOPHIA” WITH AN “S,” “MARK” WITH A “K,” & OCASSIONALLY I CAN SAY THE “J” IN “JENNY” & “JESSICA.” BUT I CAN’T SAY “Z.” “Z” & “K” ARE SO HARD TO SAY IN A SITTING POSITION, SO HIS NAME IS THE “A” SOUND. LOL I HATE HOW IT SOUNDS. BUT I SWEAR GOD INSPIRED US 2 NAME HIM ZACHARY…WHY ELSE WOULD I TRY SO HARD 2 LEARN HOW 2 SAY THE LETTER “Z”?!?

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, I WAS LAYING IN BED & I SAID “ZACH (ZAK)”!

I AM OVERDUE 2 WRITE. THINGS HAVE BEEN SO BUSY, BUT I NEEDED 2 TAKE A MOMENT 2 SHARE THIS! I USUALLY CHEER MYSELF ON, BY THINKING, “I DID IT!”, BUT THIS TIME I WANTED 2 SHARE!

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IMAGERY IS MY MOST EFFECTIVE TOOL. I ENVISION SCRAPBOOK PAGES IN MY MIND, WRITE EMAILS & JOURNAL ENTERIES (THOUGH SOME ARE NEVER WRITTEN), TRY TO RECALL THINGS I HAVE MADE (LIKE THE POWERPOINT FOR A CHURCH YOUNG WOMAN LESSON, SO I CAN PONDER/MEMORIZE).

I ALSO DO A LOT OF PRAYING & PONDERING. & I LOVE THERAPIES THAT I CAN DO ALONE, LIKE TRACKING W/MY EYES, EXERCISES TO STRENGTHEN MY ARM, VOCALIZING, & IF I CAN ACCESS IT, PRACTICING MY WRITING ON MY BOOGIE BOARD FROM BROOKSTONE!

BUT I’M OFTEN SO BUSY MOST DAYS THAT I DON’T HAVE TIME TO BE BORED! IT TOOK ME ALMOST 8 YEARS POST-STROKE B4 I FELT BORED, & WHEN I FELT BOREDOM, IT WAS NOT BECUZ OF MY SITUATION, OR THAT I LACKED THINGS 2 DO, BUT BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT I WAS SUPPOSED 2 DO! THE BOREDOM I FELT COULD HAVE HAPPENED 2 ANY1!

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A FEW YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS TAUGHT POWERPOINT, I REMARKED HOW MUCH IT WAS LIKE DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING, & I CAUGHT ON ABNORMALLY FAST.

A WHILE AGO, MY 9 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, SOPHIA, STARTED MAKING TONS OF POWER POINTS, THAT REMINDED ME OF DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK. I ASKED IF SHE WANTED 2 LEARN 2 DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK (A FEW YEARS AGO, I TAUGHT HER TRADITIONAL SCRAPBOOKING), & SHE WANTED 2 LEARN. FOR 2 DAYS, I TRIED 2 TEACH HER IN ADOBE PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS, BUT IT WAS SUPER TOUGH!

2 DAYS LATER THOUGH, SCRAPGIRLS INTRODUCED THEIR SCRAPBOOK PGS. IN POWERPOINT! I HAVE SHOWN SOPHIA, AND SHE IS A NATURAL! THE TIMING & THE PROGRAM THAT WAS USED COULDN’T HAVE BEEN MORE PERFECT!

HERE ARE THE .JPEGS OF HER 1ST DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK PAGES:
( the journalling says:
TOP, LEFT– PAGE 1
“While I waited for my ears to be pierced
I tried not to scream. I felt scared and
Worried. My teeth chattered and I
Couldn’t feel my arms.”
TOP, RIGHT–PAGE 2
“The ear piercers actually used a tool that
Looked like a Styrofoam stapler! (Which
made me even more scared!)”
BOTTOM, LEFT–PAGE 3
“Ok, if anyone asks, the reason I
Am closing my eyes is that my
Sister told me to (Sisters!)
Because it would “hurt less.””
“October 2008″
BOTTOM, RIGHT–PAGE 4
“After all, it turned out great and it did not hurt at all.”
“Now I can wear the most beautiful earrings in my ears!”)

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