My stroke of motivation.

It takes me so long to actually motivate myself and I know it's due to the brain injury..

Recently I've started back at the gym, gaining confidence & strength in my left arm and knee.

Motivation is a struggle since my stroke with the fact that sometimes I'll 'over do it'

Not stopping and realising my body needs to rest.

My beautiful brain
Motivating myself.

Don't expect much help..

After my stroke when returning home it was adapting my mum's house
A neuropsychologist who basically put me down
6 weeks of physio & occupational therapy..

When it all came to a stop I was left feeling broken, depressed and unable to accept the change my body had gone through..

My recovery has been difficult but I realised recovery is mostly done on your own.
Learning to walk how I wanted to walk
Showering in a way I wanted to wash
Setting goals I knew were achievable and possible.

Joining a gym and being the person I wanted to be.

And realising family is a main factor of how far you have come

Recovery is a life long process & a brain injury is for life something they don't tell you.

But they don't teach you that you need to put in perspective - what's real life & how important recovery is. - there is no such thing as 'recovering 100%'

My beautiful brain
Being honest & smashing recovery.

My stroke of confidence..

"I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but it will be worth it" - my mum

"Liz, in 6 months time you'll be even better" - Nan.

Something I was never taught in hospital was how to be confident.
 Being wheeled around, sat in bed or hidden behind a curtain tied to machines.

Standard procedure but bloody horrific!

I've found that gaining confidence has made my brain heal quicker.

"Liz please stop holding you're arm be proud of who you are and what you have been through" - Liam

It is difficult but be strong & hold your head high. You can do this!

My beautiful brain
Smashing the confidence knock my stroke caused..

My stroke of positivity..

it’s not all bad, I mean..

- “You’re coping well considering you’ve got these problems”
- “Will your hand come back?"
- "You can't even tell"
- "You look really well!"

You get used to these comments after you realise life isn't really that bad
despite the bad days.

people only say stupid things because they think it's
'a nice thing to say'

Life can be tough but you learn to deal with it.

*shut up brain, I'm alive and walking*

Positivity is difficult to have,
I'm not saying i'm all smiley and never cry

But..

My beautiful brain
seeing a positive in everyday
No one is perfect.

Listen to your body..

I mean my brain isn’t exactly perfect, still beautiful & unique.

I have bad days & good days
*Lizzie you’re too tired DONT get out of bed and stay in for the day*

My body can become exhausted and drained..

I’d never let anyone down but I’ve learnt to listen to my body..

From experience & the bad days..

I suppose you wonder,
 “what the f*ck is a bad day, you’re just being lazy”

My knee aches, I feel sick, I’m exhausted or yes I’ll admit genuinely can’t be bothered to go out..

If I could give you/anyone advice it’d be..

“Listen to your body, your brain will try to force you”
But don’t overdo it.. you don’t want too many bad days.

My beautiful brain
Clearly having a good day :)
Yay.

Toddler stage.

I’d be lying if I said you ‘don’t go through the milestones in life’ once you suffer a brain injury.

I find myself asking questions, Day In day out.

“So what’s that?”
“These houses are the coolest! I love houses built in the 50’s”
“What was this like years ago?”

Literally like a child, I could binge on documentaries all day..

Finding out anything & everything (sometimes forgetting)

The toddler stage is a positive stage, learning, gaining motivation & wanting to
DO EVERYTHING!
But then not doing it..


My beautiful brain
Curious and learning

Ask questions and enjoy the toddler stage because you’re only going to get older.

Work..

”So what will you do now?”..

The majority of not all people don’t realise my; fatigue, stamina & memory is still affected therefore I need to build these up!

I am ‘working’ in pilgrims hospice charity shop as my experience before stroke was retail..
Fenwicks
Monsoon/ accessorize
Next
Nasons’s
Edinburgh woollen mill

I’m working on the tills and Wednesdays doing window displays..
Mainly to get experience with design and social skills

vintage tea party

 Football theme

“Hi how are you?!”
I respond finally..

My knee aches when I stand for to long and I still struggle with bad days..

But!

My beautiful brain
Gaining experience:)

Ps - look how many bloody jobs I had pre stroke!

Injecting..

Recently I’ve changed my medication
 (chemotherapy) due to personal reasons but also because hydroxycarbamide is quite strong &
MY BLOOD PLATELETS ARE PERFECT!!

I now take interferon which means injecting myself, don’t get me wrong I was begging Liam to do it but he chose to make me do it independently..
“You need to be strong about it”

I’m used to it now but won’t be a nurse anytime soon!

I wanted to let you keep up with my recovery, this involves medication changes

My beautiful brain
Coping with interferon
:)

Farewell

You enter a building to stay or to continue to return, entering UCA today and collecting my major project with Annabel wasn’t quite like the other times..

“This is the last time we’re going to be here”

I wandered to the toilets and gazed up at the grey walls that’d kept me safe since 2013.
The times I had new artistic ideas & couldn’t wait to start my sketchbook.
The nerves running through my body as I was about to have a tutorial
“Will my tutor like my idea?!”


This was different, we prepared to leave by carrying all our degree show work and left..
Students saying bye as they left with their artwork, all positive because they’d achieved something.
Now they have to carry the; books, final pieces & paperwork.
Mine? A poster rolled up with images of my brain scan, a thing that bought me here.


My beautiful brain
Leaving UCA..