It was Thursday last week when my husband received a text message from my father-in-law’s neighbor. The neighbor said FIL is feeling dizzy and can’t stand by himself. So hubby went straight to FIL’s house and have him checked by his doctor and confined in the hospital for two days. According to the doctor, FIL had a Cerebellar stroke due to his high blood pressure and high sugar level.
*The cerebellum is located in the lower part of the brain, towards the back. It plays a role in body movement, eye movement, and balance. A cerebellar stroke occurs when the brain’s blood supply to the cerebellum is interrupted. Without oxygen and nutrients from blood, the brain tissue quickly dies. This results in the loss of certain functions and difficulty in walking because of problem with balance. The patient also experiences tremors and abnormal reflexes.
I remember the first time I met FIL. I wasn’t sure how to act around but when he smiled and shook my hand, I felt that he is a loving father. FIL is a joker and I am glad that hubby got the humor and everything else from him except for FIL’s being McGyver. Yes, FIL can fix everything from broken appliances to dripping roof. But now that he is having tremors, it would be hard for him to even shoot nuts in the bolts.
I don’t have any problem with my father-in-law. He is caring, compassionate and easy to be with. Now that he is down with stroke, it is my and hubby’s turn to repay his kindness by giving him the day-to-day attention that he needs…feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming. etc.
A person who had stroke suffers from many disabilities. This will change not only the life of the patient but the life of the whole family as well. The patient is going to have special needs not to mention the extra expenses that go along with it. But it is not the end of the world yet. There is life after stroke. Aside from the full medical attention, give the patient extra care and try to understand him/her the best way you can. Most of all…treat the person with the same dignity and respect you would want to be given to you.
*Source: www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org