Life in New Zealand with a Stroke

by David G. Ray

Today, as I prepare this message, it is Christmas Day. I can recall many such days in past years when it has been warm and sunny. After our Christmas Church service and exchanging presents, we have gone to the beach for a day of playing, swimming and enjoying the company of our family before returning home and preparing for the Christmas feast. We prepared and ate the usual Christmas fare such as roast turkey or lamb and ham accompanied by roast potatoes, kumera, green peas straight from the garden and fresh red carrots, also picked from our garden.

This would be followed by steamed pudding and hot custard, fruit salad and ice cream. The meal would be supplemented with New Zealand wine or orange juice followed by coffee and nuts. What a feast. In latter years things have changed in our household. Instead of hot roast meals we have cold meats, no heavy steam pudding, instead we have Pavlova, with plenty of cream and strawberries and/or raspberries. But today, in what is supposed to be summertime, I think we will be returning to the old days.

Our Stroke Club has finished for the year and will not re-commence until February. My own situation has changed and I have not been well but I am now making a recovery from the Raynards Disease, which had me in hospital for 6 days. Raynards affected the fingers of my left hand, the hand unaffected by my stroke. I am still required to take a mountain of medication each day but, except for one, these will cease very soon. Recently my wife and I went to a healing session given by a Catholic Priest and since then I have been making very fast progress towards a full recovery. I am still recovering from my stroke but even now I am walking much better and longer distances than before.

We are now looked forward to the New Year and all it will bring. Our programme for the club year has been mapped out and will consist of the usual mix of education, entertainment and bus trips about the Wellington/Lower Hutt area. Some of our members are more or less housebound and really look forward to the variety of activities that we arrange. I hope that all readers have had a great holiday and are looking forward to a new year full of happiness and very good health.

The Stroke Network, Inc.

P.O. Box 492 Abingdon, Maryland 21009