“And what is your biggest achievement”

“What grade did you get?”
We all waited anxiously for weeks to find out our grades..
secretly we knew we’d passed.

I was going to get my mum to check mine to avoid any disappointment
BUT!
67% in black & white (B)
My highest ever grade, meaning I’ll graduate I think with a
2:1

So watch this space for my graduation photos ;)

My beautiful brain
Nervous to graduate..

So, will your hand come back?

Something I get asked ALL the time by people I meet first time
And it’s actually quite an uncomfortable question because honestly I don’t know

How awkward..
As a stroke survivor we don’t know ‘what’s going to come back’
The hand is usually the slowest..

I mean just think about ALL the; ligaments, tendons and everything else in the fingers..
after all I do have 5!

I wasn’t thrombolysed so the blood clot is still there.

My beautiful brain
Avoiding the awkward hand question.

The swing.

Again a massive confidence knock back
BUT
Remember
*people are just curious*
And I need to stop assuming what others think when they stare..

This is something that’s taken years!

The swing means my left leg,
When I walk my gateway isn’t ‘perfect’
No one is perfect.

I find that my swing can get worse when I’m really tired, which can cause my walking to become a bit strange
*Liz, you’re unique!*

My beautiful brain
Bring unique.

Fatigue.

After a stroke you get ‘fatigued’

My brain is still recovering and being tired for me is an extreme thing.
Fatigue is completely different to just ‘being tired’

“Liz remember the bad days”

There’s days where I’m so fatigued I literally want to just sleep..

Others may assume I’m lazy.

Today I completed 9-1 at pilgrims hospice, I am exhausted!
No doubt tomorrow I’ll be in bed.


My beautiful brain
Battling fatigue.

Avoiding the lift..

That’s a bloody workout on its own

The lady looked at me really confused..

I laughed.

I was taught this thinking process that’s 

To not assume you know what others are thinking

So far it’s working..

*its 10am the days just begun*

I’ll give it a week ;)

We’ve all taken a cheeky lift ride, lazy tired or just can’t be bothered of the long flight of steps.. 

I, try to avoid the lift when I’m at the gym 

*Lizzie you need a full workout!*

It’s going well so far..

Again, it’s 10am.

My beautiful brain

Avoiding the lift..

After University..

I suppose you’re all thinking
“So what is she going to do now?”

I still have a disability so I have to put myself first in terms of fatigue and coping if I had a job..

I’m volunteering again at pilgrims hospice because it’s something that will
‘Give me motivation’
And also build on my CV because at this point in time my greatest achievement will be
‘BA Honours’ and completing university,
I mean I can’t exactly put
‘Learnt to walk after a major stroke’ hire me please.
Alongside a lot of retail experience..

You can view my portfolio online to see all my hard work through the years..

My beautiful brain
Adapting to change.


https://eashmore.myportfolio.com/work

The Film..

And I suppose I never knew I’d be where I am today, never knew I’d be at university and definitely never thought I’d of even passed year two.

“Come watch my film!!”
I stepped back and took a deep breath.

Shit this is it. This is me.
No lies, no one telling me what to say or how to say it..

People who supported me and have been there.

All in one film.
On one screen
As a final project.
 On display for the public to see & tutors to assess.

My beautiful brain.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3mL758qh0dE

Enjoy..

The last hand in.

There comes a time in everyone’s life where you do something for the last time,
I guess for ‘us’ it was handing in a project at university.

As we anxiously waited so long to hand in this project that has caused us; pain, stress and heartache for some.
We weren’t as happy as we thought.

“I thought I’d be happier than this” - Meg
“Now we have to wait until our final grade..” - Annabell

We just sat there and waited for the tutor to locate where our projects would be displayed.

Mine? In a room..

My life ‘story’ for everyone to see, my own version of what actually happened to me.

My beautiful brain
Signing a form
For the last hand in.

My way or the high way..

Ok so I thought of calling this ‘learning to adapt’.

Because painting my nails and doing my makeup were goals in hospital..

I place the nail brush head in my mouth (the end without the varnish) and paint my right hand slowly,
“That’s cool!” Replies Liam
*oh I know* ;) I taught myself..
“Mum I painted my nails look.. did get a bit high off the fumes though”

Being a young stroke survivor has its challenges and goals that not many will understand

But you learn and adapt.
Which some may disagree with and I will agree to disagree with you.


My beautiful brain
With lilac nails :)

My stroke of strength

These blog posts are titled like this due to trying to create a positive outlook on my recovery - for myself and others to realise.
You can recover!

I have started using different arm strengthening machines in the gym as my shoulder is still quite weak -
Arm cycle
*come on left arm, push it, pull it! Bloody hell!*
Hand looses grip..
Rowing machine
Now I’m not saying I’m a pro but I’m quite fast..

I can straighten and lift weights too!

My beautiful brain
Gaining strength in my arm.

*next goal, a punch bag!*

My stroke of confidence.

Confidence -
“The telling of private or secret matters with mutual trust.”

I was never taught how to be confident in hospital, or independent..
but it’s the main thing that people have suggested I ‘regain’ to be me.

What is confidence?

I guess it’s different for everyone especially people who haven’t had a stroke, but I know what my confidence is..

Walking into a room of paramedics and telling ‘my story’
Walking into a gym with others and using machines and accepting that I’m not capable of doing certain things they can.
Accepting that I have a physical disability and holding my head high
Achieving my goals and finishing university

Funnily enough walking in general is confidence to me.

What’s yours?

My beautiful brain
Being confident.