This day last year is a day I won’t forget…..

I was at home playing and talking with my son in his room. My husband was on his way home from work. I stood up when I suddenly started to feel odd. I sat back down on the side of his bed and started to breathe very fast and started to sweat. I started to get dizzy. I told my little to call his dad and give me the phone.

He told me he was close by but that I should make my way to the hospital if I could. I said yes so I did. When I arrived, as every hospital does, they send every patient to triage. I was getting worse and my husband was there waiting for me. My blood pressure was through the roof and I was disoriented and everything looked blurry. I felt like I was going to faint. Instead of sending me back to the waiting room, they were rushing me to a room.

I was asked if I had family outside and I said yes and they asked me for their names, and that’s when it happened…I had no idea what they were. I forgot who I was. Then suddenly my room was “code grey.” Stroke alert. Half of my face was drooping so I was rushed off to CT scan to get my brain checked out. My name? My birthdate? What year is it? Where are you? I didn’t know those answers.

Most of this was cloudy, I just went off of what my husband told me, they gave me medicine and made me grin every few minutes. Doctors never left. My BP was incredibly high and my nurse never left my side. I remained at code grey for a while until 3 doctors agreed I was stable enough to take me off of it. The nurse kept making me smile and so I did. She kept checking to see when I was out of that stroke state to see if I needed more meds. So there I was….at 34 years old, I had my first small stroke. Me, an otherwise healthy runner.

So you see, the saying is true. Life CAN change in the matter of seconds. And if you follow my instagram you’ve seen what recently happened you’ll understand why you’ve GOT to keep reaching for that dream! My life is full of difficulties because of my health, but I life my life as best I can. I set my goals and always do what it takes to reach them. My days aren’t always rainbows, but I find my way through the clouds and the rain and always find my way back to the sunshine. Being able to accept life as perfectly imperfect is easy. because nothing and no one perfect.

Make your life worth it and give it a meaning. Make it fun and make it memorable. Stop and enjoy it! Laugh as much as you can and find the positive in every situation. Life is a gift and is not to be taken for granted. Don’t waste it. Find what truly makes you happy and chase it. Set a goal and don’t give up until you reach it. Give your life a meaning and a reason. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but learn to see beyond the imperfections and find the happiness. And whatever you do, never, ever, ever, giver up. =)

-gelcys