A member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, our hockey team, recently had a stroke. This news just came out yesterday and a few people felt the need to tell me about it. I debated doing a blog post about it because I’m already annoyed. From everything I’ve read, it sounds like he had a little itty bitty baby stroke. He is going to be glorified as some kind of hero if he ever returns to the NHL after suffering a stroke. Anyone that can return to a professional sport, like Teddy Bruschi, after having a stroke, did NOT have a major stroke. If his recovery is anything even remotely close to the norm after having a stroke, he will never play hockey again. If this is the case, Kris Letang, come join us won’t you? We’d love to have you.
Categories: Recovery, Stroke stuff
Ah, ah ,ah- that’s bitterness, honey. Yes, while I agree with you on this. I think of the actress Patricia Neal who returned to acting after her stroke. I’m amazed she wasn’t black-balled from ever acting again because she had definite facial droop and speech problems.
I think of the Congressman who returned to the capital after his stroke.
These are major feats. As far as sports figures, they can afford the best, private therapists and trainers from the onset unlike you, or I, most people. And again it all depends on the severity, type, and where the stroke occurred.
Haven’t you heard that intense rehab during the first 30-60 days has the best possible outcome? I’m sure you have. You’ve even written about it. It comes down to two thing-money and access to people who know what to do.
Call it bitterness but regardless, it sounds like he had a very small event.
When I read about it, it was more like a TIA.
Jo,
I agree…I was lucky enough to have top notch rehab right away and for the first month. Then a few months of crap and then awesome rehab a second time lasting almost through the first year. I think my excellent rehab was a big part of my recovery. It didn’t come cheap….we spent almost all our savings, but I feel it was money well spent. Thank god I was always the type to save for a rainy day…I had no idea a hurricane was in the forecast!
Elizabeth,
The hurricane hit with my stroke. We were doing quite well in spite of paying out well over 1 million dollars in my husband’s care. But then I was still working too. Now I’ve seen my “hurricane” money swindle down to single digits with no additional sources coming in.
But I’m glad I saved for the hurricane although it hasn’t netted me the results I expected.
I sure thought it sounded like a TIA???
He was cleared to go on a vacation with his family during the NHL’s break for the Olympics after having a stroke in late January. That guy DID NOT have a big thing happen to his brain.
This is where the stupidity of stroke measurement comes in. Currently there is no objective measurement using MRI and PET scans to even base any kind of comparison. Ah Amy, goading me into one of my rants again. Arghh!!!
Time to harness tiny Buddha….no comparison, no judgement, and what was the third one? Damn this brain damage, I can’t even remember the crap that’s supposed to help me! Ugh!!
If what I think is going to happen happens, I will judge.
dean, it has nothing to do with “professional” sports. If a survivor can play hockey with his/her 5-year-old on a back-yard rink, that was a small stroke. As we all know, it’s not a competition, though. as a matter of fact, if it WERE a competition, our recoveries would be better than anyone else’s, and WE would be playing professional hockey, because we are a competitive bunch.
Elizabeth, the third is to see clearly. I put my money on that one being the biggest challenge for everyone.
But Tedy was my hero long before I had a stroke. Can I adore him even though I had a “bigger” stroke than he did?
Yes, that’s allowed. I spelled his name wrong huh?
Everyone does, except his #1 fan (which could be either his wife or me)
A symptom of people who have had a small stroke is that they play hockey. A symptom of people who have had a larger stroke is that they watch hockey.
But what about those that don’t care about any professional sport?
A trick question. No one like that exists.
I exist. Or maybe I don’t exist. I don’t know anymore. All I do know is that sport in general bores the hell out of me. Does that make me non-existent or merely un-American?
I admire athletic ability, and have none, so I live vicariously through the individuals. I watched the Olympic biathlon yesterday, and the women’s figure-skating short program; although I am anti-gun, I still admired the fact these biathletes could ski hard, shoot accurately and then ski a 5-mile sprint. and I used to figure skate poorly. fundamentally, I’m envious of all of them.Plus, Tom knew the history of the biathlon sport – during WWII, Finnish soldiers would dress in white, ski to enemy lines and shoot Russins. skiing snipers.
That’s interesting! I was wondering why the hell skiing and shooting a gun were combined!
Has anyone heard from Julia lately? She used to post al lot.
Jim, yes, via email.
Hi Jim. I’m okay. I’ll be in touch. I’ve just been very busy killing chickens lately.
I was making a funny like maybe you didn’t exist. Like my older brothers used to do me.
I didn’t think Russia allowed biathletes into the country. Anyway, the problem with the biathlon event is the skiers are going too slow. Now, shooting at targets while doing snowboard tricks, now that would be a real American sport.
jim, Too funny!! where you been?
Working, doing our taxes. Dull, grown-up stuff.
Eww. I hope I never get grown up.