Bart Cox - stroke rehabilitation

Friends, I’d like to share with you, my 2nd Stroke Anniversary. It has been a low key day no big party or celebration just a quiet day of reflection.

5th July 2019 i woke up and my life was completely turned upside down after a clot shot up into my brain unanounced. That day was very cold, grey and dreary and i couldnt get the fire going i tried several times but i’d forgot about what matches are! Lucky i guess? but miserably cold. Neither could i cry for help, though i had 2 phones on me, as the clot had blocked a lot of the signals to my brain and i no longer knew what a phone was! Over the next 12 hours or so it was only going to get worse as parts of my brain started to die. Luckily Willy swung by and found me and got me to the hospital where Izzy and friends helped me get back on my feet over the next two years. I have some of my best memories from these times and i smile when i remember the love i felt towards every single one of you who sent me messages, came to visit or cooked for us or helped with my therapy and so much more. I love you! Today, 5th July 2021, was a stunner, and that is how i am feeling in general, I can’t believe it! I truly never lost my faith but i’m not afraid to say that i have been seriously challenged over the last 2 years. There were times, I kid you not, that i thought that it would’ve been kinder if the stroke just took me on that day. Other times, i thought to myself “well that’s me now, this is my life, what do i do now, what are my options? This society is not built for somebody like me 😞 it was horrible to feel that you don’t belong no matter how hard you try. Therefore, It is the most incredible privilege to feel the way i do on my 2nd anniversary, i know that the outcome was not preordained so have to pinch myself every day. I am so so grateful for how i am feeling now. I have been feeling good for almost 2 months, not fully healed but feeling good and sometimes that is more than you can dare to feel when you are severely struggling with debilitating injury! I still have chronic pain from neuropathic pain and cognition issues but it’s now manageable most of the time. I am not just living i am thriving with enough energy to get through the week and a new job at Wellington City Council that i am truly enjoying so very much.

Nga mihi ki a koutou you’re all truly loved i hope you had a choice day xo.

Pō mārie you beautiful people!

Caption: The three musketeers Mum, Izzy and I having a relax in our favourite position the three of us on the bed with the ipad watching Ru Paul season 13 lol all the jobs done!

Reposted from a Facebook post by Bart on 5 July 2021: https://www.facebook.com/bart.cox.75/posts/10157903491296034