Step by step, syllable by syllable with loads of love
“I’m glad to be alive,” says Chintha De Silva who recalls her long journey after being struck down by a debilitating stroke 21 years ago
Twenty-one years ago I suffered a major stroke, which abruptly shattered my dreams of an exciting career and an active life filled with travel. It happened suddenly, like lightning. I was perfectly healthy with no underlying problems such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure, which trigger a stroke.
Chintha De Silva - after the stroke
I was at a party actually, celebrating my niece’s engagement. Ten of us – sisters and brothers along with our spouses and children – had driven down to my brother’s beautiful ancestral home. A large number of invitees had gathered in the landscaped garden overlooking the Indian Ocean and miles and miles of beaches, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. A sumptuous dinner buffet was being served under a starlit sky in the garden that was lit and decorated for the occasion. Lots of music and laughter and the cool breeze made it a magical night. Suddenly, a tremor ran through my body; unable to move or speak, I simply collapsed on the dinner table. I cannot recollect what happened next including the long drive to the hospital.
Rushing me to the hospital from Gampaha, my husband suspected I had had a stroke. My two children were unaware, but he knew that they would have to get me to the hospital within the next 2 ½ hours for any treatment to have a chance. I remained silent, barely conscious. I have no memories of the trip. When I woke up, I found myself in the intensive care unit of a private hospital. I learnt that I had been the victim of a stroke and that my condition was serious.
The next few days were quite traumatic as my life was in danger. They found that there was another clot forming in my heart and that had to be treated at once. The first clot had formed on the right side of the brain. There had been no indication of it before, but the doctors suspected it was due to high blood pressure. I was unable to speak and my right side was paralysed. I could not use my right hand or leg. Naturally, I was terribly upset.
I was lucky though because my husband worked at the same hospital and I received the best of attention. I was cared for by a team of doctors including physicians, a Neurologist, a Cardiologist, a Rheumatologist, a Physiotherapist, and a Speech Therapist. My eldest brother, a Senior Paediatric Surgeon, attached to the Sri Jayewardene Hospital, was also at hand to care for me. Everything that could be done to help me was done. Throughout my ordeal, my husband, son and daughter, were a constant source of encouragement, whenever they came to see me they filled me with happiness. They kept asking me to keep my chin up, saying I would get better soon. My family showered me with love, care and hope. My favourite niece Tamara, who was away in the U.S. on a scholarship, wrote to me, sending me prayers and positive thoughts across the continents, which I shall always treasure.
The recovery was however agonisingly slow. I was used to leading an active life. I had loved to go for walks and my husband and I were very fond of dancing. We were an outgoing couple but in those first few weeks after the stroke I could barely muster the strength to get out of bed. With my family’s encouragement, I began to attempt some basic physical exercise under the instruction of a physiotherapist who visited our home. They would support me as I hobbled about our bedroom. With a speech therapist I began learning how to speak again – I started with voicing basic sounds. I would struggle through my ‘A, B, C…’ as I trained my mind to speak again. I tired very quickly. Often I could only work for 15 minutes before I needed a break but a short while later I would have to start again. My brother-in-law Dr. Siri in the U.S. sent me a small battery operated piano – each key corresponded to a certain sound. With it I was better able to practise my speech. However hard I worked, both my family and I had to accept that I would never be fully recovered. Still, some days were better than others.
Portrait of courage : Chintha De Silva, as she was before the stroke and top right, today
Abruptly, my stroke had made me an invalid, having to depend on my family to care and nurse me. They, in turn, were marvellous, especially my husband who showed lots of patience, love and compassion; his dedication is beyond being described in words.(This year we celebrate our 48th wedding anniversary.)
For several months my condition remained static, but I never once despaired, although I did at times feel miserable and unhappy. Even as a young girl, I had been happy and optimistic and those traits stood me in good stead now. My husband and children were always there to cheer me up and my sisters, brothers and friends often came to visit bringing flowers, fruits, magazines and good cheer. With so much love and affection, I gradually began to recover my speech and the use of my limbs. I remember how impressed my Neurologist was with the progress I made, thanks mostly to my family and my Speech Therapist who also gave me great support and inspiration.
Knowing that I love animals, especially dogs and cats, when I came home from the hospital, my daughter gifted me a little puppy, handsome with jet-black fur and a long bushy tail that he loved wagging; we named him Benson. He and Marco, our cat, became my constant companions.
After a couple of months I spoke my first word, “Amma”. With time I improved and I can speak well now. But I still walk with a limp and I cannot use my right hand. It is unlikely that any person who has suffered a major stroke will make a one hundred per cent recovery. However I have trained myself to cook and do my chores and housekeeping. Since I could not use my right hand, I learned to write with my left. The saddest thing was having to give up my job and career; I was working for an international organisation and had many awards to my credit.
I can walk slowly by myself now, can make myself understood. In a notebook I practise writing – using my left hand to support my right. My recovery is on-going but my husband always says to me that if I can express myself to him, it is enough. I still keep up with my exercises and hope to strengthen my right side.
Although twenty-one years have passed, I have not forgotten those gloomy hospital days and the mental and emotional turmoil I underwent, especially during the initial critical days. But I am blessed with a kind, understanding and gentle husband and two devoted children and I am glad to be alive.
Follow @timesonlinelk
comments powered by Disqus