In my dream I awoke knowing I was in the midst of a stroke. I couldn’t talk or get up, but I could use my phone to text. Later, the ER doctor confirmed I was having a severe stroke and asked about a Living Will. I was given a tablet and pen and wrote, “DNR.” Then the dream ended. My dreams are often meaningful even if they don’t make complete sense.

I am in good health. I have no heart problems. My blood pressure is good. I am not overweight, and I don’t have any issues commonly linked to strokes, but stroke and heart disease run in my family and can visit any of us without warning.

My wife had a congenital heart problem that neither of us took as seriously as we should have. Her job was stressful and her blood pressure was often high, even with meds. Both were warning signs. The evening her aneurysm ruptured, her BP was 225/126. God called her home a few months later.

Strokes can be minor or they can be life altering and devastating. It is not too late to make changes to help prevent a stroke. I don’t care to live a long time, but I do want to live as healthy as I can as long as I can. Please take this blog seriously and pass it along to others. I never thought I would bury my wife! She was taken decades early.

In addition to leading Elder Source, I am now part of a Brain Aneurysm Support Group. I am also on the Cerebrovascular and Stroke Advisory Council at the hospital where my wife was a patient for many months. For the past five years I have been on an advisory council for the SC Office on Aging. I am trying to make a difference.

These are the familiar stroke warning signs that should be put to memory. FAST: Facial Drooping, Arm Weakness, Speech, Time to Call EMS.

Stan Means
Elder Source Senior Ministries
A Cause Worth Supporting - Give online