MEET SHARLENE
“I was a military brat,” Sharlene says. “We moved around a lot, but I attended high school in Denver and have been here since.” She worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant until the car accident that caused her stroke nearly eight years ago. A teen driver ran a red light and hit her vehicle head on.
While she rode the rodeo, breaking colts and competing, in her life pre-stroke, Sharlene brings that same level of focus to her rehabilitation, “getting into the saddle again,” so to speak. Staying out of a nursing home motivates her greatly, especially since she spent some of her rehab period in one for a number of weeks. She also says one of her biggest challenges daily is staying on her feet, “not falling down.” She practices walking, with the hope of doing so without assistance one day.
For fun and exercise, she goes to various farmers' markets every weekend, the library and to programs at Rocky Mountain Stroke Center. She especially likes the pool. “It is the closest I feel to being normal again,” she says wistfully. While she no longer drives, Sharlene uses Access-a-Ride, planning her days carefully to optimize her time. With the help of the Stroke Center, Sharlene now has a ramp at her home giving her more independence and accessibility.
As is the case with most stroke survivors, Sharlene reminds everyone to pay attention to the signs of stroke and to call 911 immediately when signs are present.
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