Blogs by Flo Fitzpatrick
Tales from the Floor, the Hospital/Rehab and Beyond
4/26/2026 7:38:35 AM
Saga of a Stroke
April 7th, 2026. I’d almost finished my workout…some days it’s cardio (dancing) and some it’s a mix of isometric strength training, yoga, and Pilates. This day was the latter and I was standing in a “horse stance” which is basically a giant ballet second plie (squat) that you hold. Started feeling dizzy and kabooey-kapowey suddenly I toppled over and was in the grass. Lay there for a second but it was wet and a bit cold so I crawled to the door of my house and made it the two steps into the laundry room; also managing to get Juniper the dog inside and close the door. From the floor. From there it was crawl to the library (one step) and into the living room with a few pauses to just lie and try and breathe on the way.
Things got weird. The only number I could reach (and I still don’t remember how I got my cell which was sitting on a table) was my best friend, Suzan, who lives in NYC! She called my brother Don, who called 9-1-1 and assured me he’d take of Juniper. ( I have priorities, ya know!)
Hospital. Many questions. Lots of IV druggie things. Don’t remember much but do know I forgot to tell them I’d taken a header on the ice in NYC 30 years earlier. Probably didn’t matter.
REHAB: Evening of Monday, April 13th they moved me to the Rehab unit (from 7th to 5th floor) and Tuesday started Rehab. Lots of walking with walker, leg lifts, working on getting up stairs. I did my own “lying down” Pilates and ballet floor leg work back in my room along with a couple of seated leg resistance moves. Friday I taught the rehab staff how to do the swing “Sugar Push” from my walker although I’m not really sure they got it since it involves a bit more movement than I could do while hanging on for support!
HOME: Don and my sil Lynda brought me home on Tuesday the 2st after a stop at Publix for some food. The dog drooled all over me. At least she hadn’t forgotten me! Although she’s a big miffed she’s not being taken for hikes with Don and Lynda. (She’s 12). I told her to deal with it…she has a full yard. My neighbor, Rick, installed shower bars in and out of the tub (good no matter one’s condition!). Called my niece-in-law and told her my great niece, who just got her driver’s license, may now have my car. I’m sure I can drive again but I don’t want to ever risk driving alone with the car and it’s not worth spending insurance etc. when Uber exists. Still working on how to get the dog and me to the vet. Working on my rehab exercises (they’re sending someone once a week) and eating right.
EATING: Okay. Went vegan five and a half years ago. Lost about 45 pounds. Never had a single cold. No Covid. One tiny tummy episode that was either a virus I picked up from a neighbor or some cereal that got recalled. No meat. No dairy. BUT…I was the vegan processed queen. Faux meats. Vegan cookies. (Publix vegan chocolate chip cookies are better than the original. I swear.) Peanuts were like another food group. Dry roasted edamame with sea salt. I even discovered that a brand of apple turnovers (my favorite sweet) were made without milk, eggs, or butter. Just oil. LOTS of oil. And sugar. Neither is good for the body or the brain.
Goal is to get back to dancing. So far (just a day less than a month in) I’m able to walk without the walker, although I look like Frankenstein taking some pretty funky, slow, awkward steps. Vision is a little wonky and, oddly, my typing is slower. Decided to give up petition sites and news for a while. Can’t handle the stress!
And…desserts from now on will be banana and raw cacao powder mixed with unsweetened almond milk. Or a blend of the same with some frozen cherries and vanilla extract and spinach. Makes a good “shake.”
Yeah, not vegan cookies but I figure my brain is worth more.
And I really want to dance!
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