Progress Timeline:

• July 17, 2021 23 days post stroke
• Aug 25, 2021 62 days post stroke
• Jan 18, 2022 208 days post stroke
• Mar 25, 2022 639 days post stroke (fairly recent header photo with the puppies)

This is not the first time I attempted to do this. – See below video. Do not think for one second, I am one of the ‘lucky’ people this worked for on my 1st attempt. Since having my stroke, I have fought relentlessly to regain function in every aspect possible. Seeing my ‘face droop’ was just ONE of the MANY battles I was facing. Facial exercises was the one activity I could facilitate on my own and on my own time. I put in the work everyday, dedicating at least 15 -30 + minutes to working on my facial strengthening exercises and voice strengthening.

REMINDERS

• 1. Follow your home program
• 2. Do the exercise, no matter how uncomfortable or silly you feel or look
• 3. It is very common in the beginning you won’t see any movement because those neural connections are still learning to rewire.
• 4. Help facilitate the muscle and lift your weaker side while you are doing the motion.
• 5. REPETITION REPETITION REPETITION
• 6. Be consistent, be patient
• 7. Stroke recovery is a process
• 8. DON’T GIVE UP! You have to train your brain. The movement is there. It’s just slowly coming along and will take time.

You may notice this video was recorded several months ago on 8/9/21. If you read any of my older posts after my stroke, you will recognize my influx of highs and lows, mainly lows but even though I could not get myself to share the video when the video was actually recorded – I never gave up in doing my exercises. No matter how hard it was to look at myself in the mirror to see my crooked smile, I still put in the work.

I share this with you to as a fellow survivor who truly understands the mental and physical battles you are facing. Or maybe you are a caretaker for someone who suffered a stroke. Or maybe you are just struggling with life in general. Keep putting in the effort find the drive to continue to push forward even when things visibly seem bleak and it’s hard to even force yourself to smile.

Be patient. I’m currently post stroke 652 days or 1 yr 9 months 14 days. I am not where I want to be. I still believe I will get there. I will not stop fighting. I am struggling in the valley lows on most days. My hope is still in Jesus. I believe if He hasn’t called me to my eternal home, I still have purpose here. I believe the brain is powerful and it’s up to you to continue to unlock it and PUSH FORWARD.