Help Fran Raise Funds for Stroke Support Assoc.

The Stroke Support Association (SSA) has changed my life. 

Prior to my stroke I was recently retired and a very active senior. I became a certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer with ambitions to continue to teach group fitness classes into retirement. That didn’t happen.

 After my stroke in 2019, my life was focused on healing and recovery. I spent most of my time in therapy or exercising to increase my mobility. Much of the time I was home. I began driving again after two years, but did not venture too far from home. I felt very anxious when I started driving again because I didn’t trust my senses as I once did. My life had gotten smaller due to my disabilities and anxiety about doing new things. 

The in-person support groups changed all that. I found out about the groups on-line and attended a few Zoom groups prior to getting up the nerve to attend an in-person meeting. The meetings gave me the chance to develop friendships with other stroke survivors and obtain the support I needed to emotionally adjust to my “new normal.” As time went by, I received support and encouragement from other members that gave me the strength to take on new challenges. 

This year, I returned to school to improve my computer skills and plan on continuing classes for self-improvement. I began facilitating stroke support groups last year and this year I joined the SSA Board of Directors. I am honored to have been given these opportunities and to give back to SSA who has given me so much. 

Another great thing about the group is getting together with members outside the meetings. We meet to take walks along the beach, have coffee together, play scrabble and occasionally get together for watching football games! 

It’s wonderful to get together with like-minded, kind and good-hearted people. 

Please consider donating to this exceptionally worthy cause. It does change lives.