health
of us had been together the whole
time in the convalescent ward. Several
of the nursing staff gave me a nice
farewell. ‘See you later’ I said as my
helper wheeled me down the corridor.
‘No. Not see you later,’ one woman
responded. I understood. They didn’t
want to see me later; they wanted me
to get better. This scenario repeated
itself again, after eight months of
occupational therapy and physiotherapy
– and a bit of electrical stimulation on
my face from a speech therapist – at
the Geriatric Day Centre of the new
hospital in my neighbourhood. I went
twice a week for a full day of supervised
activity and even a nice hot lunch (cost:
about $55, payable on Octopus card).
I was by far the youngest in the group
and despite our language barrier these
lovely people took me under their wing.
A few days after my return home,
I received a visit from the Princess
Margaret Hospital occupational therapy
staff, who inspected the required
retrofitting (bars in the bathroom and
shower, a bathtub bench, even a raised
toilet seat) to see that I was able to
navigate the flat well enough, and to
test me yet again on the basics I had
learned such as lifting myself out of bed,
standing up, walking (with hospital-
issue quadropod, a steal at $40), and
dressing myself with one hand. I had
spent 100 days in hospital (cost $100
per day, which we gratefully paid when
we got the invoice). It was time for a
new chapter, just in time to play-out
a goal I had set when I emerged from
coma: to watch my daughter perform
in her school’s production of Legally
Blonde. That evening was a blur –
the first big day out for the new me.
Some of my children’s teachers came
to introduce themselves, and some
students had been placed to meet
me at the elevator and lead me to the
access seating of the school theatre.
The performance was magnificent and
my daughter told me she cried at the
after party. Life was getting back to
normal. But it is a new normal. And
as my story shows, the silver linings
are everwhere still. That’s life.
•
•
diseases should attend
regular medical examinations
and comply with the drug
treatment to control the
conditions of the disorders.
Lifestyle adjustments: quit
smoking, refrain from alcohol,
have a balanced diet and do
moderate exercise.
Understanding the warning
signs of stroke: seek hospital
treatment when symptoms of
stroke appear.
www.cheu.gov.hk
If you suspect a patient is
having a stroke...
•
•
•
Karmel Schreyer is an author and
educator. What’s Left of Me: a
Mother’s Memoir of Stroke and
Recovery, will be published in
North America next year
Warning Signs of Stroke
According to the Hong Kong
Government’s Centre for Health
Protection, a stroke can come as a
sudden attack or can be preceded
by the following symptoms:
• Sudden and temporary
numbness or weakness on
one side of the body.
• Sudden impaired vision of one
eye. Double vision.
• Difficulty of speech or difficulty in
understanding people's speech.
• Sudden dizziness or loss
of balance.
•
•
•
Keep clam & call “999” to
summon an ambulance.
If the patient is conscious, lay
him/her flat and elevate the
head and shoulders by 30
degrees.
If the patient is unconscious,
roll him/her lateral to drain any
saliva or vomitus from mouth.
Never place any pillow or
other things underneath the
patient’s head.
Loosen all tight clothing.
Comfort patient and
accompany him/her till the
arrival of the ambulance.
Do not allow any food or
drink. www.hkfsd.gov.hk/eng/
source/safety/stroke.html
Useful Resources
Hong Kong Stroke Society
www.stroke.org.hk
The Hong Kong Society for
Rehabilitation
www.rehabsociety.org.hk/
helpful-information/chronic-
illness-info-self-help-group/
Prevention of Stroke
•
Controlling the risk factors
of stroke: people with
hypertension, high blood
lipid levels, diabetes or heart
Spring 2019
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