IS AN OCEAN BIGGER THAN A LAKE?

Each time Ron is asked to speak at a Stroke Recovery Group we are reminded of the tremendous physical and mental devastation that strokes can cause.  As Dr. Michael Hill states in his introduction to Volume II of BRAIN ATTACK The Journey Back :

“Recovering from a stroke may be the hardest thing one can ever do in one’s life . . .”

A copy of Volume II was given to Ron last Friday, March 31, by Dr. Alvin Yanchuk at the weekly meeting of the Victoria Stroke Recovery Association held in the Knox Presbyterian Church. Dr. Yanchuk is a stroke survivor and was a senior scientist in forest genetics with the British Columbia Forest Service. On March 20, 2015, at age 57, he had a stroke which left him unable to swallow, speak, read or answer the question “Is an ocean bigger than a lake?”

Two years later he is able to do all of the above and his recovery story is one of many featured in Volume II. Although Dr. Yanchuk’s physical body was left mostly unimpaired, except for issues with his balance, he had to learn how to speak all over again. Simply being able to pronounce letters such as ‘k’, ‘g’ and ‘z’ took him months.

Prior to his stroke Dr. Yanchuk “wrongly assumed” that strokes “only happened to people who did not take proper care of themselves.” He had been in good shape all his life, playing hockey and basketball, practicing karate, running, hiking and fishing. Now he realizes that EVERYONE “is a potential stroke victim.” Even today his doctors cannot say exactly what caused his stroke. However, he has learned that with luck, hard work and professional help, he can get close to being his normal self. That remains his goal. And, from what Ron and I observed last Friday, as he was leaving early for work, he was well on his way to doing just that.