.WHO ARE WE?.


by Peter V Cornelis We are one in 4.8 million survivors just in the USA and millions of others around the world, we are not alone. We may have difficulty walking or talking. Our vision or thoughts may be impaired. Our arms, hands and fingers may not work the way they used to. We may not be what other people consider normal. But what we are is a group of people, that if "normal people had to endure what the stroke survivor does, on a daily basis, the normal people may not be able to handle it. Take pride in what we are. A group of people that wake up every morning and face more challenges than everyone else. A group of people that works hard on getting better and learning to understand acceptance. A group of people that learn to deal with their abilities not their disabilities. A group of people that are bonded, not by race, religion, nationality, political affiliation or sex, but a group of people that are defined by their hope, strength, commonality  and happiness. We are stroke survivors, people who earn their wings every day and meet a huge amount of challenges every day.We are not people who get upset about a hangnail, leaves in ones gutter or being caught in traffic. Be proud of who we are. We are a group of people that have mastered dealing with real adversity. We are stronger in spirit and commitment than most. We are the ones that would swim the English Channel with one hand. We are the ones who go the distance and then some on a daily basis. We are the ones that force our tears back and go forward. We are more human than most, stronger in character and we are not broken. We are the ones if you met us, would like us. We most of all are human beings, not a statistic or a person on disability. We care, we feel, we embrace life, we are a good person to know. We are the one! We are one in stroke! We are one in helping each other, for who knows us better than us. We are one. Join us. Catch the fever, we'll help you.