Executive Director recovers from stroke
Executive director reports from hospital room after having a stroke.
For those of you not on Facebook, on Sept. 4, Kate Stark, executive director of the USMCCCA, was admitted into the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Fla., with symptoms of a stroke. She subsequently ended up going to an inpatient Community Living Center at the VA Hospital in Lake City, Fla., for rehabilitation therapy. She was released Sept. 26 with most of her left side mobility restored, though she reluctantly admits she could probably still get her a** kicked in a bar fight. Here is the saga from her Facebook page:
Sept. 11, 2019
So, friends… I had a stroke last Wednesday. I am still in the hospital waiting for space in a physical rehab center because my left side is weak. I am lucky. I can speak and walk but have some issues with my left arm. Being treated VERY well at the Malcolm Randall VA Hospital. Also being looked after by my fabulous family. A very humbling feeling for a crotchety old independent person. All will be well.
Sept.12
Today, I dressed myself. It was hard and my muscles are shaking. I’ve had diabetes 2 for several years, but didn’t worry about controlling my blood sugar much. I was being warned I was at risk. I was all like, “whateveh” and here I am. DOH. I am a reformed person. Death doesn’t scare me, but I don’t want to be a vegetable. I am moving to a rehab facility in Lake City, Fla. tomorrow where I will undergo bootcamp-like therapy. My goal is to be able to flip someone off with both hands. Then I will be truly healed. Thank you for all your support! And if you’re of an age…remember we are not invincible anymore. (probably).
Sept. 19
Progressing nicely, I have 2 sessions of occupational/kinetic therapy daily and physical therapy 3x a week. It’s a workout, but I am improving daily. Hope to be out in another week, but it’s too soon to tell. I can make a fist now, which I couldn’t do when I got here. I appreciate all the help I’m getting and all the good thoughts. Thanks to all.
Kate got a visit from her dog Carter while in the Community Living Center in Lake City, Fla.
Sept. 21
Day 7 in post-stroke rehab. I think I might go home at the end of the week. I am walking, talking and can hold things in my left hand. I can shoot “double birds” (whew) but I still have trouble picking unwanted toppings off my pizza. The work will continue. I am LUCKY and thankful to have such a wonderful family who have taken care of me so well. My brother and niece brought my dog Carter who I haven’t seen in 2 weeks to visit and we had lunch outside. It was bliss.
Sept. 27
Kate has left the building. I repeat, Kate has left the building!
I am leaving rehab today after:
1 ultrasound
2 MRIs
3 CT scans
3 IVs
4 rooms
6 pairs of hospital socks
12 vials of blood
20 hours of therapy
22 days in hospital and rehab
44 bowel movements recorded
66 finger pricks,
88 vital sign checks
198 visits, calls, texts and expressions of love and support from family and friends
212 visits by nurses, doctors, dietitians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, kinetic therapists, social workers, pharmacists, 3 members of the Marine Corps League and 2 chaplains
And daily attempted poisonings by staff (bringing decaf coffee in morning)
Have only met maybe 4 people out of a hundred VA folks who were meh. I am very grateful for the care and support I was given in Gainesville and Lake City. I have about 90% mobility/strength in left arm and can execute a two-bird salute which I will not publish but instead, I’ll go with a more positive peace sign. When I came in, I couldn’t make a fist with this hand. It’s a Lifetime movie miracle.
I will miss my brother, Paul’s jokes. When I tried to reach for something with my left hand, he would make the sound that played when the six million dollar man was in slow motion. It was very funny. He also introduced me as his half sister. A little sick, but that’s how we roll.
On to the next adventure…
Kate is able to make a peace sign with her affected side, three weeks after having a stroke.