It’s cold

I don’t know if you’ve noticed but it’s actually freezing..
My leg goes stiff
My wrist bends to the extent of it curling round and my fingers curl inwards

But it’s all good because I start to wear my wrist splint when I’m out and about.
WALKING!
*over excited brain..*

I’ve learnt to hold my head high and walk as if I don’t care what people think, I do still care but obviously I need to be confident otherwise people know I’m vulnerable and will take advantage..

It’s been four years after all.

The cold weather makes my joints go stiff and tight, the tone hurts and people notice I’m in a lot of pain.. something I can’t stop..

My beautiful brain.

My stroke of understanding my brain

yes  I know it took four years
And trust me it will take longer, it still grows and I’ll always get stronger. Every; minute, second, hour.. you get the just
 *rolling eye emoji*

My brain injury makes me who I am today.

I carry my seizure diary around with me everyday. It’s basically my best friend. Besides my university friends, who have helped me gain confidence..

I’ve learnt how to understand my brain, I do still have small myoclonic seizures but just not as much, tiredness, stress and other things..

My brain still gets tired. Just not as much, take it easy..

I have the famous
‘Keep calm and carry on’ poster above my makeup table to relax me every morning.

Learn to understand your brain..

My beautiful brain

‘If the shoe fits’

Well nope it didn’t..

But I’ve got ugg boots since my stroke, so all is well in the shoe department
and buying a pair of shoes on my own is probably the worse idea because my mum has always said I never pick the right size and they never actually fit me..

I sat in this really uncomfortable plastic chair in newlook. Rolled up my leggings, easily sliding my right foot into these black chelsea boots, the left foot (because of my splint) wasn’t going in..
I knew it wasn’t. Therefore I didn’t force it,  i just giggled and looked around at these girls hobbling in heels walking around to the mirror, hand on hip checking themselves out.
Boyfriends sitting on the empty stools wishing they were somewhere else.
Then me, happy to be who I am, proud that I’m no longer buying uncomfortable shoes wasting my money. and stronger than I was before.


My beautiful brain..

Me and my brain injury..

It’s something no one can see
But it affects me more than my physical disability, and that’s the worst part about my whole ‘scenario’
People just stare at me with a blank look when I’m confused or say I’m really tired when I’m sitting down and they aren’t tired but have been doing the same thing..

“Why are you always tired?!”
*its my brain injury..*

I wouldn’t change it
Because it defines who I am and whats happened

My memory is still slow because I can’t remember certain memories.
Which I guess you could say is a good thing..

I feel as though my brain injury takes over my body sometimes, and also feel as though people need their brain injury to be shown.

Those without brain injuries need knowledge of how it affects us who have one.

My beautiful brain.
And my brain injury

Moving on..

There comes a time where you move on from a life of dread and hate
A life that you once thought you needed and were so dependent on..

The life I had before..

‘I used to do that,’
Bla bla..

This is me.

Yesterday I lay in an MRI scanner, terrified because it does bring back memories which obviously I do get, and always will; Distant, bad and ones I wish to forget.

‘That’s not me’

‘How are you feeling Elizabeth?’

‘URGH, I’m so bored..’
I lay there with a huge plastic head thing still as anything, facing some huge magnet scanning through my skull, amazing technology but they need music..

I’m greatful for the mirror that face me, as I started pulling faces at myself..

*20 minutes done..*

The ‘stroke life’

And the beautiful brain.

Walking

I always update my walking blog posts because well, I can walk!

Thing is;
When it’s cold my leg goes stiff making the swing come back, causing people to stare..

After a stroke, I don’t know if this is just me as I never did it before..

I watch others walk, curious of their ‘gateway’
The patterns in their leg movement, how they control their knee and hips..
That’s how you’re taught to walk after a stroke
‘NOSE OVER TOES! BEND STRAIGHTEN’ RIGHT STOP!’
*dreaded sigh from a young girl who’s so fed up of being told when and how to walk..*

My balance is genuinely terrible but I do and always have worn stupid shoes.
I celebrated buying my first pair of ugg boots after my stroke because after a stroke you need this awful splint if like me you have drop foot.

Yes four years on it’s still here..
I had a dream it’d gone, but it hasn’t.

I quite like wearing it, it makes people aware of my disability and shows I do struggle so
 ‘DONT PUSH ME!’

but walking is good..

University..

I haven’t written a blog post for ages.
So I could focus on my goal (university) which is going SO well it’s almost as if I’m going to wake up and it will all be a dream..

I completed a project  about neuroplasticity, I taught myself how to stand up from the floor. I created; a mock up of; an app, a book, a website and two posters that you will be able to view on the website I’ll post below.

For the project I received 63% which is the equivalent to a B, yes I know ‘Elizabeth actually got a B?!?!’
I cried... the brain filter is still improving, so the crying was hard to stop.

I’m writing (with a lot of support from my mum) my dissertation on public health campaigns and how they can shock the viewer in the 21st century.
 for my dissertation journal (basically a sketchbook) I received 64% which I was also shocked with..
now to finish the actual dissertation!

I graduate on the 26th of June..

So here is to the next few months and my graduation.
My goal after my stroke (NEARLY FOUR YEARS AGO!)

The link to my minor project website;
Where brain injury survivors reading this can learn to stand in photographic stages
 (photographs taken by Liam) there is no text due to some survivors struggling to read, you can go backwards and forwards through each stage if you forget the stages..


https://eashmore4.wixsite.com/learn/home

Including my posters :)
‘DO and TRY’ designed and made by me.