Keith’s Blog: I'm Getting Better!

Dear SCM Friends, It’s been a month since my stroke, and I wanted to touch base. I continue to make progress by visiting my therapist. A full recovery seems likely, but there are still months of hard work ahead. Doctors have found no underlying cause for my stroke. My blood pressure was 120/80 and I ran 3 miles the day before. Genetics? Bad luck? No one knows. I was alone in my condo when it happened, and I could easily have died. I didn’t know what was happening to me, but my only thought was I had to get help. The […]

Dear SCM Friends,

It’s been a month since my stroke, and I wanted to touch base. I continue to make progress by visiting my therapist. A full recovery seems likely, but there are still months of hard work ahead.

Doctors have found no underlying cause for my stroke. My blood pressure was 120/80 and I ran 3 miles the day before. Genetics? Bad luck?

No one knows.

I was alone in my condo when it happened, and I could easily have died.

I didn’t know what was happening to me, but my only thought was I had to get help. The EMTs had me at the hospital within 30 minutes.

There is no damage to my cognitive and speech functions. I have no aphasia or nerve damage to my face.

I truly dodged a bullet.

My right side is unaffected. My left side is weak — but it is steadily regaining strength. I can type with two hands and play the piano a little.

I walked 50 feet with a cane and an assistant yesterday.

Doctors and therapists predict my leg will come back.

I’ve been going to rehab every day and hope for progress. Neural fatigue is a large factor —my brain is so busy rewiring itself that I tire easily.

I transferred Monday to a skilled nursing facility for three weeks. When those three weeks are over, my rehab team will decide whether I can go home with or without live-in assistance for the next phase.

I’m so appreciative of all the support I’ve received from the car gang. It’s made a huge difference.

I’ve accepted this as just another chapter in my life, with a new set of challenges to meet.

I didn’t choose this, but it happened. So I go forward. I’ve got two great kids to raise and many winding roads to travel. You know me — I will never give up.

I’ve cancelled all my travel for the next year to focus on healing.

SCM is running like a precise clock. I have a great team in place and they continue to move full-speed ahead.

Since my episode they have pumped out three issues and a supplement — and hosted two seminars in Scottsdale. This week we’re holding our annual reception at Rétromobile in Paris.

The best way to communicate with me at this time is through my page on Facebook. I guarantee I’ll read all your posts.

I look forward to seeing you on the road.

Thanks for your friendship.

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21 responses to “Keith’s Blog: I’m Getting Better!”

Richard Garre