Every Day Is a Gift
Five years ago today on June 4, 2021, my brain tried to kill me with a hemorrhagic brain bleed stroke, but the Lord chose not to take me to heaven that day. I came to quickly realize the truth of Psalm 31:15:
“My times are in your hands…” (Psalm 31:15).
The ER doctors thought I might not even survive the next 72 hours, but now I am still alive five years later by God’s grace and answered prayers on my behalf. I call each June 4th my “strokeaversary.”
Every day is a gift.
A Celebration of Life
Today is a day of celebration and thankfulness to God for being alive.
Bob and I celebrated with a special breakfast to begin our special day.
We did some fun shopping together for momentoes to help us remember this day as we go forward.
Of course, another added adventure to end our celebration had to include some chocolate ice cream!
“This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
My Gratitude List
I so appreciate the prayers on my behalf by family and friends and those I have never even met. My gratitude list is ever-growing. It must be a mile long by now.
My greatest blessing is my wonderful husband, Bob, who is the best caregiver possible every single day. We experienced a sweet moment in the stroke ward when we renewed our wedding vows together as my therapists cried along with us.
From the very beginning, Bob tirelessly engaged the hospital administration regarding my care to make sure I went to acute rehab for intense stroke recovery therapy. Every day since then (1,825 days) we continue to walk together hand-in-hand, trusting the Lord to care for us.
Our daughter, Marie, took FMLA to help care for me when I came home. Bob and I will be forever grateful to Marie for her loving, sacrificial care and encouragement.
Other family members helped in so many ways—including our nephew, and two sisters-in-law—who each spent a week with us when I was able to return home after acute rehab.
So many friends from our church and neighborhood helped in so many tangible ways to aid my recovery—not only that first year, but every year since.
Our move from the Seattle area to the Florida Gulf Coast has greatly impacted my recovery. Doing daily exercises in our lanai pool is a special blessing.
“Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him” (Psalm 28:6-7).
“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds” (Psalm 36:5).
Please Pray
When you think of me, my continuing prayer request is that my brain would reconnect with my left arm and hand (“neuroplasticity”). I am so thankful that I am able to walk with a cane (five neurologists warned us that I would never walk again), but I do not have the use of my left hand yet.
“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many” (2 Corinthians 1:8-11).
I remember vividly that Friday night five years ago when I received a late night call from Chris Vernon relating what she knew about Shirley’s life threatening medical emergency and the following days, weeks and months of prayer and updates from your family and our friends. Trusting the Great Physician and with your persistent spirit, and the faith and prayers of family, friends and even strangers, not only did you survive but you and your family are a testament of the faithfulness, grace and love of God.
Happy 5th Strokeaversary!
With love and prayers for you always,
Darlene
Darlene, You have been a faithful friend indeed since we met when I was just 13 years old. Your friendship is a gift from our Heavenly Father that I treasure. Thank you for all your prayers for me. Love you to pieces!
Shirley,
I am truly happy that you r still here to celebrate life with your family. You r, without a doubt, the sweetest soul i ever met. I wish u continued good health, the love of Bob, your friends & family & all God’s blessings. I am happy our paths have crossed & i hope our friendship will continue to grow. God is good.
Joan
Joan, Thank you for your encouraging words! I view your friendship as a gift from our Heavenly Father.
Celebrating with you and Bob!! So grateful to the Lord for His care over you.
Barb, I appreciate you and Lloyd as your friendship is a gift from the Lord.
Father I’m in agreement with Shirley that you will complete the healing in her brain and allow the connection to her left arm & hand to be miraculously restored!! In Jesus mighty name!
Debbie, Thank you for your prayer on my behalf. I am grateful for all my Heavenly Father has done in my healing so far by giving me the ability to walk and to smile.
You two have been an example of how faith works for believers!! My grandmother taught by example also ….no better way! You and my grandmother have been an unbelievable blessing to my entire family! I fell in the shower two years ago… I thought I was dead! But I didn’t go to the hospital for several months, and when I did….you guessed it….i had a brain bleed. Well, my stupidity was rewarded anyway… the Lord healed it!! Blessed be the Lord!! Al and I both have lengthy prayers for friends and family, and you are on the list every night. Wee are soooo blessed!! We love you.
Love, Al and Dianne 🙏🤗🥰
Al and Dianne, I appreciate your friendship and your prayers. It is so kind of you both to bring our needs before the Lord daily. What an example of faithfulness! All of us have been generously blessed. Please keep on praying for my arm and hand as I begin OT with a new provider this week. Love ya, Shirley
You are a living, breathing miracle, Shirley! Always have been, always will be. God bless you! -Mike (aka RPM’s webmaster)
Mike, I am thankful for your friendship and kind words. It is by the Lord’s grace that I am still here and have come so far in my recovery. He continues to bless us, and I look forward to further recovery if that is His plan for me.
So happy for the 2 of you and as you said the Lord was not done with you yet! I know this has made a impact on many people and the Lord has used it to continue to bring awareness to Him. I am happy you are here and whole!
June, thank you for rejoicing with us! I am so thankful for all the prayers and knowledgeable physicians and therapists the Lord has brought into my life through this difficult and unexpected journey. I pray that the Lord would shine through me in the days ahead for as long as He has me here.
I am cherishing the times we had together. I will send u some pics when I return to Wa. for u and Bob to do to encourage your L arm and hand. May your new OT also help your progress. U r determined and have and Live great belief so u will continue improving. Am so glad our paths crossed! Judy
Judy, you have been and continue to be a blessing to me! No one can replace you, but I will persevere diligently with my new OT to see what the Lord will bring about regarding my arm and hand. May you continue to bring hope and healing to all your clients as you have done for me.