Stroke Symptoms and Survivor's Needs

The website at americanstroke.org you will find symptoms that someone is having a stroke and how to recognize a stroke.

If you click on the "Survivors" tab on the left of the website and choose "Bill of Rights" there is a page full of insightful information titled "What I Needed Most from My Family, Friends, and Myself".

One of the ten "Rights" states "I needed you to love me - not for the person I was before but for who I might become". Number ten on the list is "I needed you to come close and not be afraid of me."

As a caregiver I've been in situations where I've noticed symptoms that could be a stroke, and it's important to get emergency room help as soon as possible. You can call 911 for an ambulance.

The Stroke Survivor's Bill of Rights says "come close and not be afraid of me" and sometimes others are indeed afraid to be around someone who has had a stroke. Some people feel nervous when they are around a person who is ill. Recovering from a stroke can take time, and the survivor needs others for social contact and support.

There is a lot of research about the isolation that people feel when they are ill, and this can add to the suffering. They need to know they are still lovable, still important, although they might be feeling frail and vulnerable.