Going to be 10 year ago, February 14, 2017, I had a stroke and aphasia.
It is an emotional, challenges, hard hurdles to over come but I see the light forward and to focus to pull me through. I am telling you a glimpse of my story.
A couple of days ago, my whole life was different. It was all a dream but… it was a nightmare. I got up at 3am and went to the guest bathroom. I fell down to the ground and I hit my head. I was paralyzed with my right arm and I cannot speak or hear those words. My husband and the three ambulance lift me up and quickly went to the ambulance at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Denver. I was in-and-out of consciousness and I was headed down on a dark place. I was transferred for a flight-for-life and went to the helicopter at Swedish Medical Center. My brain was swelling. The doctors had to do a surgery on my skull, a craniotomy. I have a scar to remained all the way to my head down to my ear. At Craig Hospital, I was doing intensive speech and I am getting my strength back. I have “Aphasia”, a loss of ability to understand or express language cause by brain damage. In the hospital, I spoke about three or four words to connect for the meaning. I stumbled and it is not clicking. It was completely exhausted and draining. After that, I came back home in Denver. I've been doing training to get my speech back. I’ve spent many dragging days, months, and year to get there. The progress is returning and I have a lot to work ahead. Through it all, my hard work, dedication and tremendous support at St. Joseph Hospital, Swedish Hospital, Craig Hospital, University of Colorado at CU Boulder and private practice. With a long road of recovering, I survived and keep on going!
I had my 3 goals to get my life back for my stroke: car, work and volunteer. In 2019, I got my car and my freedom was lifted! I was working with a fashion representative for 2 1/2 years but I am looking for a new adventure to wait and something good to inspire people to help advocate! The 3 goal, I was in college and post-college, I was helping different organizations but by closest to my heart is American Heart Association!
The Heart Walk is a time of celebrating, joy and inspiration. Together, turning bystanders into lifesavers, honoring survivors, raising lifesaving funds - and having fun along the way. We have a strong support system with my family, my close and farther away for friends, loved ones and acquaintances to help me carry on with my own life.
Thank you, thank you for all you do!
Sincerely and truly,
Nicole Yehl