June 4, 2021 and June 3, 2025 

On June 4, 2021, Shirley suffered a life-threatening hemorrhagic stroke. The ER neurologist told me that evening that Shirley had a 50% chance of surviving the next 72 hours, and a 25% chance of surviving three months. Over the next six weeks, five neurologists told us not to expect Shirley ever to walk again.

But God!

Four years later, on June 3, 2025, not only is Shirley surviving; by God’s grace, Shirley is thriving.

On June 3, 2025, Shirley walked a mile without her cane!

The picture to the right is right after our walk. It was a warm, sunny Florida day, and we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our mile-long walk…without a cane!

Shirley’s 4-Year “Stroke-Aversary” 

Shirley likes to call June 4 her “Stroke-Aversary.” On June 4 each year, we celebrate life! We celebrate God’s grace in our lives!

And on June 4 each year, Shirley always wants us to do something fun together to celebrate that she is not simply surviving; Shirley is thriving. So, this June 4, 2025, we went to The Ringling Museum in Sarasota. We had been there in May 2021, one week prior to Shirley’s stroke. So it was especially meaningful for us to enjoy that museum together this year. We took the featured picture for this blog post while at the Ringling Museum.

We also enjoyed a wonderful dinner together with our nephew and niece, Ryan and Alex. In fact, we enjoyed our time together so much, that we forgot to take a picture of the four of us. Four years ago, Ryan, who is an EMT firefighter, came out to our home for an entire week, just one week after Shirley came home from acute rehab. What a blessing to have his caregiving expertise that entire week! Thank you, Ryan! And thank you, Alex, for sharing your husband with us for that week.

Shirley’s 4-Year “Stroke-Aversary” Testimony 

Here’s what Shirley wants to share with you today.

From the very first moment of my stroke (while feeling utter surprise that I could not move half of my body), I realized in a new way that we all live in a fallen world and that it sometimes falls on us.  As I considered my new situation over the following days, which impacted my whole family, I did not ask, “Why me?” I thought the reverse, “Why not me?”

I was given the unique opportunity to consider whether what I professed to believe about God was genuine faith during this life-and-death situation. I did ask myself, “Do I really believe that God is Who He says He is?” The song I Believe by Shane & Shane really captures my heart’s cry of dependence upon the Lord. Here’s the chorus:

I believe

You are Who You say You are

You do what You say You’ll do

You’ll come through

You are always able

I believe

You’ve already made a way

I’m running through parted waves

Straight to You

You are always faithful

I have found Him to be faithful to me throughout my recovery journey by providing a loving husband and family who have sacrificially been by my side, along with physicians and therapists to care for me these past four years. The gift of having a church family and friends around the world reach out in prayer on my behalf is so very humbling. I am grateful and blessed.

My soul is refreshed and encouraged by another Shane & Shane song, Psalm 23: Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want
In green pastures, He makes me lie down
He restores my soul and leads me on for His Name
For His great Name

Surely goodness, surely mercy
Right beside me all my days
And I will dwell in Your house forever
And bless Your Holy Name

You prepare a table right before me
In the presence of my enemies
Though the arrow flies and the terror of night
Is at my door, I’ll trust you Lord

Surely goodness, surely mercy
Right beside me all my days
And I will dwell in Your house forever
And bless Your Holy Name

And even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil
And even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
You are on my side, oh-oh-oh
And even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
You are on my side

Surely goodness, surely mercy
Right beside me all my days
And I will dwell in Your house forever
And bless Your Holy Name

Source: Musixmatch, Songwriters: Shane Barnard, Psalm 23 (Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy) lyrics © River Oaks Music Company, Waiting Room Music, True Bliss Music, Songs From Wellhouse 

Stroke-Related Posts: Our Stroke Journey; Our Faith Journey

If you are interested in learning more about what Shirley and I have learned about Christ in our stroke journey, then here are titles and links to all of our previous stroke-related posts.

1. June 18, 2021: Please Pray for Shirley 

2. June 20, 2021: Shirley’s Scriptures 

3. July 1, 2021: “Look Left; Look Up!”

4. July 3, 2021: How Are You Doing Bob?

5. September 29, 2021: The Counselor Sees a Counselor

6. October 1, 2021: A Biblical Counselor Sees a Secular Counselor

7. December 18, 2021: The End of an Era: A New Beginning

8. January 12, 2022: How Do We Know When to Ask Others for Help? What Does the Bible Teach?

9. November 7, 2022: Small World; Big God! 

10. January 15, 2023: 19 Months: A Godsend and a Shirley Update 

11. June 5, 2023: A Shirley Update at Two Years: Walking Hand-in-Hand with Jesus

12. October 10, 2023: Kellemen Family Update: Lord Willing, in 2024, We Hope to Move to Florida

13. April 20, 2024: Moving Sale Rocking Horse Blessing

14. May 7, 2024: A Shirley and Bob Update: “Goodbye Auburn, Washington”

15. June 4, 2024: 3-Year “Stroke-Aversary”: A Celebration of Life!—June 4, 2024

16. June 14, 2024: Jimmy Buffett, “Bubbles Up,” and “Look Up to Jesus!” 

17. December 25, 2024: Merry Christmas 2024 from Bob and Shirley

More than anything, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, summarizes what God has taught us and how Christ has blessed and sustained us. Paul’s words about his physical suffering and Christ’s spiritual blessings speak to us today:

“I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”