BIOGRAPHY:

Frank L. Ruby III

In December 1999 when I was 40yrs old I started having headaches. I finally went to the Doctor in mid February and was sent for a CAT Scan, then a MRI. The doctor said she didn’t like some things she saw on the film. They sent me to get my heart and my carotid arteries checked. Every thing was okay. Then about a week or two later, things started happening. I had trouble signing my name. Then at work on March 1, 2000, I started to feel weird. I went to the nurse’s office. They called my then girlfriend to take me to the hospital. We sat in emergency for ten-hours before they finally got me a room. I was told I had become combative and wanted to keep walking.

The doctors still didn’t know what was happening, my whole left side hurt. Finally I had the full stroke in the middle of the night. The next day they did an angiogram. I think that’s when IT happened. I lost the whole side, vision and even talking and swallowing. Thankfully most of this was temporary. I’m still working with my leg and arm, I’m walking, kind of, but I can’t go back to work without my hand, I’m an aircraft Technician. I quit smoking and am trying with my new wife, to be a better diabetic. Yes you read right, I had a stroke and then I married my guardian angel. She begged god to let me live and she promised him she would take care of me for the rest of our lives. I feel so lucky that I didn’t lose more in the stroke, and that it brought us closer together. I want to get better very, bad.

Since then I’ve gotten much better. I started driving in May 2001. I walk without a cane but with a brace because of tone. I credit my wonderful wife Robin with my survival. If not for her I would have lost my will. I have a son, Stephen, who is sixteen now. I don’t see him much; he’s at that age. I also have two cats, Travis and Shadow. Travis is big black, 17 lbs. Shorthair. Shadow is a silly Main Coon. Robin has a little girl “Lady.” She’s a Westminster Terrier I think. Well that is us. I used to love to sing and am still working my way back to that. We live in Mesa, Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. Currently I don’t work or volunteer anywhere but I am looking into it.

Update October 27, 2001. I’m back in the wheelchair now, can’t drive. I had another stroke in September ’01. About two weeks later I fell and broke my hip. Now I’ll start the rehab thing all over. The only problem with the new stroke is balance; just have to get walking again. Keep smiling, and it’s okay to be silly, as long as you’re not trying to be serious.

Update: Started driving again May 2002!

The Stroke Network, Inc.

P.O. Box 492 Abingdon, Maryland 21009