by Beatrix Kiddo

Created on: June 09, 2009   Last Updated: June 19, 2009

It comes unannounced and mostly unexpected, the stroke. Living with a stroke survivor can test a family on many levels. From not knowing what tomorrow brings to making sense of their day can become overbearing for a stroke survivor and the family.

Strokes can result in many levels of confusion for both stroke survivor and their family. To sort out the confusion a family should know how much true damage has been done to the survivor. It helps with understanding what proper direction to take in how to care for the surviving stroke victim. Some strokes result in less damage, others can measure massive heights in damage. At this point a patient comes to mind. Here are some great suggestions I have learned in the last twenty-nine years.

Experience unlocks doors of uncertainty, as this case is most unusual for the stroke survivor, my father, and our family. He suffered an aneurysm leading him to countless strokes during an operation. He was never the same again.

For children a stroke survivor's condition is hard to grasp, especially when the child lives with the stroke survivor.

One day I seen my father, a strong upper management employee with five children and a stay home wife. The next, a disabled father with five children and a full-time working wife. I was only 12 at that time. The next twenty-nine years would bring lessons that could not be taught by book alone.

Acclimating the rest of the family, are you in this for life?

For children that remain to help, life would offer knowledge if taught by others well. One of the lessons I can pass would be the most important. A child needs to understand why the stroke survivor is different from what the child is accustomed to. Stroke survivors may be effected for the rest of their lives so it is only smart to prepare to go the distance.

For a stroke survivor that experiences changes in behavior or motor skills, life is challenging on levels that others may be blind to. Deep within a stroke survivor consists the reality, confusion can exist. However, the family which has to adapt should not allow the stroke survivor to feel less of themselves or their efforts.

Learn to Have Patience:

Degrading the good efforts of a stroke survivor by a remark out of frustration still works as a weakness against his success. It took us three years before our father could remember us, know his name, eat, walk, talk and write again. It took longer whenever frustration would enter.

Learn to Give Unselfishly:

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