11/08/2021
Never too old and never too severe…
"I had a severe ischemic stroke in 2014 when I was 71. It didn’t occur to me that I wouldn’t recover because I had read quite a bit about neuroplasticity and the TPA shot, so I assumed that for me, a stroke could cease to be something I had to worry about.
It had been in the back of my mind since my father, his sister and both their parents had had strokes - all in varying severity. But I ate very healthy, didn’t smoke, wasn’t on anything with clot inducing side effects, I exercised and took long walks every day in the woods.
And then it happened.
Just as we were about to sit down to my favorite dinner, in front of the fire with a good move, it struck. I left for the hospital on the evening of October 27, and didn’t return home until December 31st.
I woke up in the hospital to find my right side was completely paralyzed. Still, I thought if I was willing to put in the work, force my brain to forge new pathways with countless repetitions, I would recover.
Even though I tried every kind of rehab promise, including a stem cell trial, nothing made a big difference.
Then my 20 year old grandson came for a Covid lockdown visit and started working with me on my rehab. We were looking for new and exciting things to try, so I ordered the MusicGlove and FitMi and he held my fingers in position while I struggled to close the gap.
At first it was an exercise in frustration, but eventually I began moving them a little.
I also use the FitMi and I even see a slight improvement with that…reaching down with my right leg without it wobbling all over the place.
Jack (grandson) stands behind me for support. I can stand alone, but not walk alone. I can walk with a brace, a cane and a body guard and I often think of the physiatrist, who used to be at the acute rehab, who told me that I wouldn’t get out of the wheelchair.
I’m very glad I gave the MusicGlove and FitMi a chance, because it’s challenging as well as entertaining and every bit of movement you can force out of your body puts you that much closer to where you want to be."
— Margy's FitMi review Zao Inc