I Had a Stroke

On Sunday, June 23 at 11:04 AM, I walked into the toddler room at my church. At 11:05 AM, I began to feel the effects. My wife was outside of the room on the playground, trying to dry up some of the water on the playground. I reached for the paper towels by the sink in the nursery in order to assist. I immediately felt a little "off." Something wasn't quite right. I made it to the playground and began wiping out the sinks of the playground kitchen, and my hand felt weak and unresponsive. I remember telling my wife, "My hand wasn't working right."

Then, from my right side, one the little boys started running, yelling, "I got to go. I got to go."

I knew he was running to the bathroom, so I told him to keep going, I was right behind him. As I entered the bathroom, I locked the adjoining room door to give him some privacy. Problem was, I couldn't turn the lock. It was that old school twist-in-the-doorknob type lock. I couldn't turn it.

I stopped fiddling with the locks, because my bathroom charge needed help with his pants. I couldn't pull them up. My fingers wouldn't grip his clothes. However, he fabulously usurped the task and redressed himself.

It was 11:15 AM.

At that time, the children were coming in off the playground for snacks and their lesson. I went to a chair along the wall under some windows and sat down. My son, who is six, was in the same room with us and was being a little disruptive. So, I told him to quiet down and pay attention. At least I think that's what I said. It was a little loud in the room, so I tried again. It still didn't sound quite right.

By this time, my wife is teaching their lesson, playing some games, and singing some songs. One of the boys was running around her, dancing, and having some fun. I spoke to her to warn her not to back over him. It sounded something like this.

"Lu-csh, in run-ng arond in cir-cles."

Now, I thought to myself, that really sounds weird.

I looked at my watch, it was 11:30 AM.

I couldn't dismiss it. One could have been a fluke, perhaps my blood sugar fluctuation, but not two. My hand, rather my arm, to the midline was numb or unresponsive. But now my speech was being affected. I called my daughter over to get my wife's attention. I had to make them both hear what I was saying.

By now, it was 11:45 AM.

I asked her, "Can you hear me?"

"Yes."

"I can't hear myself and I'm having trouble talking. And my arm is numb."

She told me to sit tight, she was going to get someone. I didn't know who, but I assumed it would be one of our nurse church members. I was right. She brought, Ms. T.

We talked. I smiled. I gripped. I drank some juice. (I am a diabetic, as well). I stood up. I walked to the car.

Now, here we are with 20 kids, two of them mine, with one other adult, with me having some kind of medical emergency. It was surreal. I'm told that I acted a little robotic. I felt a little distance from myself. I couldn't speak very well, but I was clear headed.

As with any emergency, time is of the essence. We arrived at the hospital around 12:00 PM. I was promptly escorted into the ER, thanks to Ms. T, without having to endure a possibly life-threatening wait.

By 12:15 PM, I have met the nurse, lab tech, and PA. All of which begin my assessment for a possible stroke.

-stayed tuned for part 2-