bindwaves intro music
Hi, I'm Carrie, a stroke survivor. I'm a member of BIND.
And I'm Kezia stroke, survivor and member of BIND as well. Today, we are welcoming Steve. He's a BIND member, but also very important to know he's a great. Bears fan. Bears. We got to do that all the time. Um, he has a, he actually has a story written on BIND second book, which has "Brain Back to Life :Cerebro la Vida". uh, and he actually is going to be here to share his story to even more, um, do some more outreach and celebrate that the experience.
The, like the huge, um, Struggles, but also the accomplishments of his recovery. So thank you so much, Steve, for being here with us and taking this opportunity to speak with us.
Thank you for having me.
Absolutely.
Yes. Thank you. So, um, I know that we know a little bit about you as a member of BIND, but will you share a little bit about you. Uh, to our listeners.
Okay. Um, where do I start?
The cool things about you.
Um, among other things. I was tired with my hobbies. Um, a lot of people do not know I am a huge comicbook fan and nerd and collect a lot of different things. mainly hot wheels. And other model cars. And I am. Into. For your video games. It's when people do not do. Video games. yeah. yeah. It's keeps me it keeps my mind going. as well, so. Yes. And my last. it keeps me be on my toes, so to speak. And I am. Like to cook. That's. back in the day. I used to be in the kitchen. With my grandmother.
And she. So many things, i didn't know about. when it comes to cooking. Like for instance. I ain't no use measurements.. I do. What they say. Your ancestors come down and tell you you as the mouse team. Yeah. You know, overseasoning. Meals. But then. I think that the key. Cooking. It's the seasoning. You can not go wrong. But you can. B. Well as Monday. Bye. by overseasoning. with salt. So I don't cook. With any salt. So that. Brings out the flavor. And the. other things I am good at. I think.
Yeah. Oh me being there for my daughter. And my wife. Are they a big part of my recovery. And they were. They were here with me. And I think. Well, as you know, when I came to BIND, I was totally non-verbal. Eh, well on time. For me to. Get to the point. I can be comfortable. Talking to people. And, uh, Oh, I'm stumbling over my words. But for the most part. They're past. Am I going. Forward at this point.
Yeah, I'll look. Getting out of here on our podcast.
Yes.
Yeah. And sometimes for people it's very difficult to be speaking. And right now you're doing something super amazing. And I really hope that everyone is listening to you and actually understanding. Um, this big step to be speaking to. Bunch of people, not just BIND members, not just, you know, people that like understand you because we've all been through something. Very difficult, but to a wider crowd. Right. And I think that's awesome. So honestly, thank you so much for taking that.
Taking that risk and talking to us. Yeah, absolutely.
Yeah. But tell us a little bit about. What kind of brain injury you had? Well for our listeners so that they understand.
Well, I am. a, four stroke survivor. Okay. I have. had. four strokes. One, the first one is the worst one. We're not massive, but in the hospital, I felt I was sleeping. For me, my sleeping cause. He's you know, Is very traumatic, to through something like that.. So I was more scared. than Anything. and I didn't know I didn't know what to do. I ain't even know what to do and no body. could tell me. how to react to it. Uh, I have a team. Uh, nurses and not just. One in particular.
Uh, uh, Today is my. Hematologist. Uh, the other favorites. He's he? I would say he saved my life. More time than not. I can. I can. Talk to him. With no problem. Cause. He. putting me at ease. They're going through this changes. Um, Uh, once. I this. Uh, I would say. I am. Thankful for the patches. Well, my recovery. And, uh, I don't know.
So stay with talking about that. When was your first stroke? Do you know what year or how long ago that was?
It was. Um, it was 2011 yeah, it was. Transforming score. So to speak. For them. Chicago to Texas I don't know. Well, I don't want to say. Since I crossed over the border. To me. But it's still. Like yesterday. Yes. Was. I re I remember. we were leaving Chicago. because it was snowing and, at in same time. He was. I was. Um, my job. Oh telling me they were. relocating me. To Texas. So there was no. Hi. Um, that was not a hard decision to make. So, yeah. it's free. So the three.
So. It worked out. Her fear was. a new Oh, beginning. And Ms. Uh, the, um, With less, most months. in Chicago snow. Yeah.
I agree. I mean, I get it. Like I had like a, I had to decide to Chicago or Texas after it, but I was, for me, it was after I had this stroke. I get it. That's why we always connect. All right. Um, so I think it was really important. I think I've done this both of you before, but before I Cohen have to remember. Um, to take a little break for five seconds. Just to remind our listeners to make sure to press follow and all the pretty buttons.
So you're reminded about bind waves and to make sure to listen to us every Thursday. All right. So back to the very important conversation. Um, so I think it would be, we've talked about this before about, you know, the three of us have had a stroke before and then it's really. Amazing how, like, to me, it's almost alarming that you've had a four stroke four times.
So, uh, we've had this conversation before about the very important symptoms that you received and that you've come to learn now that are so important to listen to. Throughout the various times. So can you like share that knowledge with our listeners about be fast and your symptoms that you felt. You know, the first or the second or the third or the fourth. You know, whichever one, but these symptoms are so important to know.
Yeah. The first one. It's a gamechanger. Because there's first one. Cause. I can say, Hey. Oh, God. I have to go to. What's happening when we. I feel. funny remember. I was feeling funny and no. Hi. Oh, I am. I know I was not. feeling right. So has, is this. I was my. With my brother, he just came home. But I was talking with my wife. And she was coming home. But. Um, in the meantime, I was telling her. My symptoms over the phone. And she said.
Come through the hospital because she was working in the hospital at the time. So. He came and worked out. With me. And I added. Because my brother. Was coming home. So he wants me to hospital and they ship. he took me to The ER, because they, they knew with. was happening with me. I that point I was still lucid. But I was. feeling very. Well, My speech was slurring. But my limbs, my extremities. when is. It was. Yeah. And the point. I knew. By them calling me, I was having a stroke.
So. The point here is, comes all the fear. not knowing what's going to happen.
Yeah. Yeah. So the first time it was mostly your arms and your speech.
Yeah.
And then I think another time you had told me more about like how your, your eyes, your vision and your balance was like, really like. Alerting you at the time, was that like the second stroke or the,
the was the second. Yes. Um, what happened with that? I was. I was upset. With myself, because I see. I felt my stroke coming on. So I cannot do anything, but sit there. and, wait for ambulance. But I feel still, mad at myself, for. having it. I don't know why.
Yeah. It's not like you planned it right.
I can not Uh, any. Uh, any body or beat any body up. I had ride it out. up. And tHe third one. Yes. I had a stroke. With, uh, the medication. Yeah. So I can. Have they any more? I had to go back to warfarin. And, uh, when my. He saved me. Hey, saved in my life. Because the physician. he was about to give me a, transfusion. I was. having, uh, I forgot. Where does. There'll be no. Was I. TPP or something like that.When theyman. when they admitted me. I had a. Oh valve. So. sticking out of my neck.
And yeah. I had to have a 8 hour transfusion for about a week. Yeah. So that was very scary.
Do you know your strokes. Um, hemorrhagic or ischemic. And I remember our blood clot or did you have a bleed?
Blood Clots.
Okay, so ischemic..
Yeah. Oh, whoa. Oh, all of them were blood clots., but, the last one, I guess it was ischemic. I don't know cause Uh, my doctor, he never told me otherwise. But my, um, PC. Well, I primary we relay. Follow up. He said, I am. Uh, my mom would make. What the heck was going on. He's following me. Pick him out and man, and now. It was. hereditary In my genes. Um, long ago, so. he was doing the background and digging and digging and was able to. let me know what my problem was.
That they figured that out. No more strokes, right?
No more strokes [knocks on wood]
I hope everyone heard that.
I know. I mean.
Hopefully.
So. How long ago was the last one.
Yeah, it was in 2017. And at that time, I was at PATE rehab. I met Brian. And here in line. had conversations. from time in time. And then through to me to come into my.
Oh, great. Cool.
I came here I was like amaze. Are these people. Doing. what they're doing. I am so in the. There's me. So I was like, wow. Yeah. This is cool..
I'm really glad. Yeah, I think that's awesome that you thought it was cool. And at. Honesty. Like, it's pretty cool that your counselor at the time is now the director. So I think that's really cool. That's how you heard. And now he's like the director here at BIND, so that's really awesome. So in which ways that BIND really help you. You know, I mean one. How long have you been here at BIND and how long have you been a member?
It seems like forever.. It was coming and progressing.. At a steady pace. So it's not so much since. Wow. Here here. Right here. I don't know what to do. Yeah. Yeah. He just came, but I don't know how long I will say I'm been here since two thousand since 17 I can tell you it seems like forever.. That's still passes.
Yeah.
And then like, so. Um, I think that's awesome that you've really enjoyed it so far here at BIND. And I think that's great. I think maybe one more question.
Yeah. Do you have any advice that you would give to new survivors? Like a little bit of hope or something that you'd just like to share with our listeners?
Well, one thing. I will say, do not give up.
That's a good one.
Yeah. Persevere. So, um, so. People. Uh, positive you're gonna lose this. And friends and family. But this okay. because you gain more familyat BIND
that's true.
Yeah, that is so true. Honestly. Uh, thank you so much for joining us today and taking this. Challenge. About speaking to many people and a wider network. So honestly, thank you so much for that.
Yes.
I hope that everyone sees all your progress because I've only been here for buying for three years and I've seen your progress just in three years. So it's amazing. Yeah. So, thank you so much for being here and thank you to the followers and listening to us. Yeah. Every Thursday.
Yep. If you'd like to contact us, remember you can email us at bindwaves@thebind.org, you can also follow us on Instagram. Guess where at. @bindwaves. And then if you want to visit our website, it's www.thebind.org/Bindwaves.
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until next time.
We hope you've enjoyed listening to BIND Waves and continue to support BIND and our non profit mission. We support brain injury survivors as they reconnect into the life, the community, and their workplace. And we couldn't do that without great listeners like you. We appreciate each and every one of you. Continue watching. Until next time. Until next time.