Hi there , 

Wow! I can't believe I'm getting an opportunity to catch you all up on the surprises of the past 9 months since I last communicated to you.

When I wrote to you in June, I was scheduled for a somewhat risky, but clear recovery for a Craniotomy on my Meningiomas. I was hoping that I'd be communicating in a few months. However, that clear process was muddled by an unprepared stroke, which almost immediately followed my surgery. 

I ended up not waking up after my craniotomy and my Neurosurgeon, Dr. Zomorodi, had me scanned some hours later at Duke Raleigh and found a clot in the major artery (MCA) behind my left eye in my brain. He had me transferred to Wake Medical to have a Thrombectomy, where I could have the clot removed, and then I was transferred to Duke University Hospital for other possible care with concerns about my brain swelling from the craniotomy and stroke. 

Briefly, I was unconscious for several days before waking up - unable to talk, paralyzed on my right side, and filled with all sorts of tubes and monitors in the ICU. I was somewhat unaware of my circumstance, until I started waking up, gradually uttering words, getting PT to start to move. I was in the hospital for 2.5 weeks and I had progressed on a daily basis quicker than many stroke patients. Suffice it to say, my particular stroke caused Anomic Aphasia, difficulties moving, and loss of gross / fine motor skills. I was unable to go back to my full-time job as an art teacher in a local middle school.

There's a whole lot to share, explain, etc. However, I don't have space to write a book in a newsletter, but I will share some art that I have been up to since my stroke. I have been able to post shorter updates on Instagram, and I've posted Live updates to verbalize my current state periodically.

We are still keeping up the CaringBridge page that my husband, Lee, posted, which I then recently updated myself. There's a lot of progress expressed over time. I'll be updating things soon on Caring Bridge.

The sketch above is a rendering I completed of Duke Chapel while I was in the hospital after my stroke.  Special thanks to my Sis, who gifted me a journal, sketchbook, and markers to support my creative side, which were given to me in the ICU. 

Creatively,

Sketches during the Hospital

There was a belief by practitioners in the hospital that my artistic nature was going to help me problem solve. I'm sure that played a role, as well as so much more, but I was given materials by my sister to help me heal. Started in the ICU (top photo), then continued when I was in the Neurology Floor (bottom photo). Photos of me working, when I had already gotten tubes removed. 

Sketches Early on at Home

Once I got home, sometime from end of July to August, I started drawing with my right hand. It wasn't daily, but when I had energy. I had a hard time controling my hand, or how I was drawing, but I improved since using my left hand, and I've had so much work done in PT and OT over those months.

Moving onto the Studio

Sometime as August was ending, I felt compelled to start working on a painting that was waiting for me since 2024. It was hard for me to again control my hand and I wasn't able to do much detail. I worked on this painting several sessions, but am now still stuck again with how to move forward and I'm thrilled that I spent so many sessions adding colors and forms into this larger, complex painting.

More to Share Next Time!

Nine months is a lot of time and I'm realizing that I'm going to pause after sharing the first three months after my stroke. It's focused on my growth in artmaking. In the meantime a lot of other growth is happening. Check on me on Instagram, or keep awaiting your next newsletter.

Thanks for connecting, remaining interested, and for so many who have supported me in so many different ways. 

Beyond gratitude!

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