STROKE MONTH SAGA

It all started innocently enough when Donna Hastings, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavit, invited Ron to speak at a meeting of her Regional Managers to be held in Calgary on June 8. Ron accepted and Donna suggested he also contact Vicky Jones, President of the Stroke Recovery Association of Calgary. Ron did and Vicky promptly invited him to speak at their annual “convention” on June 10^th at 10 AM SHARP.  Ron accepted. When Betty Jane Hegerat and Tyler Perry heard that Ron was coming to Calgary they arranged for Ron to read at Shelf Life Books on Wednesday evening, June 7^th at 7 PM or thereabouts.

In the meantime, Marg Dietrich, a facilitator for the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Living with Stroke program, had already written to Ron, telling him how much she had enjoyed The Defiant Mind, and, with the assistance of Head Librarian, Anne DeGrace, the two ladies arranged for Ron to read at the Nelson Public Library on June 1^st at 7 PM.

I was pleased. My cousin, Cheryl, lives in Calgary and I thought this would be a good chance to see her. Also, I have always wanted to visit Nelson for many reasons: My long time friend, Suzanne, lives in Nelson and I thought that this would be a good chance to see her. Also, I am old enough to be a fan of the movie, Roxanne, starring Steve Martin, set in Nelson, and I thought that the reading would give me time to see the city first-hand.

When Deborah Rusch, Manager Promote Recovery of the Heart and Stroke Foundation in BC, heard that Ron was heading east she suggested that the two of them join forces. Deb would set up Lunch & Learn sessions at a number of hospitals in the BC Interior. Heart and Stroke would provide the lunch. Deb would talk about the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s new Living With Stroke program for stroke survivors, caregivers, and other interested parties, and Ron would follow with his personal story and a reading from his book if he were so inclined. He was.

So, on Saturday, May 27^th Ron and I packed up our aging Silver Toyota with baggage and bed bar and headed for Vancouver to pick up books from Ronsdale Press. After an overnight stay with our good friends, Bill and Peggy, we departed for Kelowna the next morning and our Stroke Month Saga was under way.