Gerda Nischan - The Year I lost when I had a Stroke

I was taken care of by wonderful nurses and I remember their kindness. Later that night I was taken to various tests that I did not like, especially the MRI. The MRI made me feel as if I were locked in a casket where I would be forever. The next morning I could not move my legs and the doctor told me that I had had a stroke during the night. I later learned that I must have had a blood clot that caused the moderate stroke. My wonderful son Michael had learned about my stroke and said: “I know my mother and she will do everything possible to get through this!” He reminded me that the slogan in our house has always been: “Do nothing, get nothing!” He had heard these words all his life from me and my husband. Now he was reminded of it: “Do nothing, you will get nothing!” He had heard these words all his life from my husband and me, and now he was reminding me of it: „Do nothing, get nothing!“ I knew I would need to fight with all I had to get through this! I gave all my strength in therapy. After each therapy session, I would fall into my bed, totally wiped out. Once I fell into a crying spell that lasted for two days, wondering if I would have to live like this, unable to walk properly.

Urgent Care Urgent Care I arrived in Charlotte and took my connecting flight to Greenville. I finally arrived and my German friend Ines picked me up. Th next morning I felt fine and went to my fitness studio for my daily workout. In the gym, I noticed I felt tired. I picked up a few items at the supermarket and relaxed in the afternoon, watching German Television. I called my brother to let him know I had made it home safely. Two days later I decided to have myself checked by a doctor at Urgent Care. Strangely, I asked my friend Anne Riggs if she wouldn’t mind to take me because I somehow felt uncertain. Shortly after my arrival, a young doctor took care of me and suggested I should go to Physicians East right away for a cat scan (CT) but he did not say why. Anne drove me there. After the examination I was sent back home. Around 5 pm, I received a call that the CT showed something and that I should get immediately go to the hospital to the ER where the doctor expected me, as fast as possible! I did not feel sick in any way, but my wonderful friend Ines took me to the hospital. I was taken care of by wonderful nurses and I remember their kindness. Later that night I was taken to various tests that I did not like, especially the MRI. The MRI made me feel as if I were locked in a casket where I would be forever. The next morning I could not move my legs and the doctor told me that I had had a stroke during the night. I later learned that I must have had a blood clot that caused the moderate stroke. My wonderful son Michael had learned about my stroke and said: “I know my mother and she will do everything possible to get through this!” He reminded me that the slogan in our house has always been: “Do nothing, get nothing!” He had heard these words all his life from me and my husband. Now he was reminded of it: “Do nothing, you will get nothing!” He had heard these words all his life from my husband and me, and now he was reminding me of it: „Do nothing, get nothing!“ I knew I would need to fight with all I had to get through this! I gave all my strength in therapy. After each therapy session, I would fall into my bed, totally wiped out. Once I fell into a crying spell that lasted for two days, wondering if I would have to live like this, unable to walk properly.

- Chapter Four -

The Hospital

– Chapter Five –

The Reading

– Chapter Six-–

Coming Home

Foreword

On Monday, April 27, 2015, I learned my mother was hospitalized after a stroke. From that day onward, I didn’t know what lay ahead, but I knew I had to do whatever was needed to help her survive. Like my mother, I have always faced challenges head-on rather than hiding from them. That made my decisions relatively easy, because my focus was on making progress – any level of progress.

From a long distance, I had to immerse myself into a world I knew little about and this meant recruiting others with various skills that could be applied in certain areas. Everyone was important and everyone had a role – whether they worked in medicine, brought flowers, ran errands, or just spent time with my mother during her recovery. The new responsibilities I was suddenly faced with gave me the feeling of having taken on a second full-time job, but I did so gratefully and eagerly because my mother is worth it.

I would not be where I am today personally or professionally if it were not for my loving parents, so there was never a question that I was prepared to do whatever I needed to do for my mother. This book will give a bit of insight into our experiences during the healing process, and hopefully it will serve as a good reminder of how important it is to never give up, regardless of the endeavor. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Michael Uwe Nischan

Part I

– Chapter One -

The Stroke

I celebrated my 75th birthday with my best friends, people I truly loved. I was a very healthy person; you can imagine… the last person you would expect to have a stroke!

My doctors were at a loss: I did not have high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, nor was I overweight. I ate a healthy diet, went to a fitness studio every day, had yoga and Pilate classes, a great social life, and great relationships with many interesting people. I had done so much three weeks ago, like traveling by myself anywhere. I had given readings a year before in Los Angeles at the PEN conference, reading from my own published books. I was a published writer who read at international book fairs… and four weeks after my 75th birthday I had a stroke when I was in a hospital. Would I ever again be able to go to the Frankfurt book fair like I had done so often?

One week after I had returned from my trip to Europe, Germany and Switzerland, I had a stroke. I could not believe it, neither could my doctor who diagnosed it. Days earlier I had been with my family in Germany, celebrating Easter, having Sunday brunch with my family in the Palatinate, and had spent time with my friend Gaby in Martigny, near Geneva, Switzerland. Gaby had been a friend since school days 50 years ago, when we both attended an International School in Bournemouth, England. We had studied English Literature... I remember reading Oscar Wilde. Gaby owned a beautiful apartment in an historic house that had been built in 1725 in Martigny. We kept our friendship alive all these years, visiting each other and included our husbands. My husband had become a very well-known history professor and her husband – Jean-Claude Rouiller – was a famous painter. I remember we all attended, as their guests, a wonderful vernissage in Verbier in Valais in 1976 where her husband’s work was exhibited. It was an unforgettable experience for my husband Bodo and me and we met the most exciting people. Most of the European artists in Verbier were there.

- Chapter Two-–

Exploring with Gaby

I spent several days with Gaby exploring this beautiful city, eating outdoors and talking of what seemed important at the time. We strolled in the warm sunshine while the white snow caps of the mountains glistened beautifully. I remember how I felt so happy and grateful that I was spending this time with her. We had so much to say to each other and we laughed a lot. We went shopping and I bought fabulous Italian shoes and black leather boots. That evening we had dinner with her son Blaise, and had wonderful wine and conversation.

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