In 2015, I had a total mastectomy because I had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The Lord told me it wouldn’t be unto death, so I knew I would be ok. But I never expected to have a stroke while I was recovering. My son, Michael-Aaron Poindexter, is on the board of the American Heart Association, and he noticed that I wasn’t myself when he visited me after surgery.
I kept falling asleep during conversations, and Michael insisted that I be testedW for stroke. He was right. That was in April. For months, I didn’t speak. I could answer simple questions but that was all. I was thinking, and formulating speech in my mind, but couldn’t say anything was especially worried because I couldn’t recall Scriptures that I once knew like the back of my hand. . At home alone, I cried out to the Lord to restore my speech.
I knew I needed to return to church. Even though I had a wound vac for a complication that developed in one of my breasts, I went back. It was a very difficult time for me. I had to push myself to go back to work.
Today, I feel well and I am sharing my story as the Stroke Ambassador to the Capital Region Heart Walk and Run for a few reasons.
I want to raise awareness, especially among Black women, who are at a higher risk of stroke. We face a higher level of racism, sexism and discrimination than white women or even Black men. I would like for more women of color to be involved in research trials, and to receive the same kind of care and attention to our health as others in our society. I also would like there to be more transparency in families. If my son hadn’t recognized what had happened, I wouldn’t be here today in the great condition I’m in. It’s important to let family members in on our stories, to be more transparent with them, it very well may save your life.
