Redsteno

Life (and Love) After Stroke: Mike's Story

nonfiction

  • Moment-um

    “Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments.” – Rose Kennedy From the day we are born to the day we die, it’s the moments in between that make up life. But what is a moment, really? Perhaps, the best comparison would be saying it’s like taking that screenshot of something we need to Read more

  • It’s been a very busy couple of months for me. I will finally close on my house next week. It’s been an exhausting and frustrating process, to say the least. But it feels very fitting to close out the year and, thus, that chapter of my life by closing on my house. For the last Read more

  • This Version of Us

    I realize I haven’t been on here in a minute. Life has been crazier than usual. The part of my brain that houses the writer in me has been closed for business lately. But… I read recently that you don’t really know a person until life tests them. And that really resonated with me. It Read more

  • When Faith Screams

    “Our faith is a living thing precisely because it walks hand in hand with doubt. If there was only certainty and if there was no doubt, there would be no mystery and, therefore, no need for faith.” – Conclave I love a good mystery. Don’t we all? I think it’s fair to say that the Read more

  • Life Is A B**ch

    Last I remember, I was happily swimming in the ocean water. There was a light breeze in the air and multi-colored kites were flying high in the sky above. I could see my carefully picked-out spot on the beach where my umbrella and warm blanket awaited my return. I was unusually aware of the sun’s Read more

  • The Same, But Different

    I remember when I first realized Mike was still Mike, cognitively speaking, that is. It was two days after the stroke. The amazing nurse I’ve talked about, Christine, was asking him the usual set of questions that were necessary to assess the extent of any brain injury. At this point, we were still in the Read more

  • Our Last First Date

    Mike and I had a wonderful weekend. Last Friday was his birthday and I threw him a party. All of his friends came out to see him and the weather was perfect. He was touched by the thoughtful celebration and it was nice for him to see friends he hasn’t seen in a while. Sunday Read more

  • It Must Be Serendipity

    Serendipity: the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. *** After I got the call that Mike was at Albany Med and I needed to get down there right away, I quickly left work. My office mate at the time, and good friend, Sarah, was in court so I Read more

  • Day 70 – Update

    “Life is like a kaleidoscope of seasons, each one a unique and beautiful experience.” My Aunt Blanche passed away this morning. She was 90. She had a peaceful departure, I’m told, and I thank God for that. She was blessed with a long life but it wasn’t an easy life. When I think back to Read more

  • NINE WEEKS LATER

    June 13, 2025 – Friday, the 13th Luck is the number one superpower. *** Mike and I met on Match.com. We chatted via text for the first week and then decided to meet in person. We both were immediately intrigued with the other, not only because of our mutual love of all things horror but Read more