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

Gerda Nischan

The Year I lost when I had a Stroke

AUGUST VON GOETHE LITERATURVERLAG

FRANKFURT A.M. • LONDON

Die neue Literatur, die – in Erinnerung an die Zusammenarbeit Heinrich Heines und Annette von Droste-Hülshoffs mit der Herausgeberin Elise von Hohenhausen – ein Wagnis ist, steht im Mittelpunkt der Verlagsarbeit.

Das Lektorat nimmt daher Manuskripte an, um deren Einsendung das gebildete Publikum gebeten wird.

©2018 FRANKFURTER LITERATURVERLAG

Ein Unternehmen der

FRANKFURTER VERLAGSGRUPPE

AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Mainstraße 143

D-63065 Offenbach

Tel. 069-40-894-0 ▪ Fax 069-40-894-194

E-Mail lektorat@frankfurter-literaturverlag.de

Medien- und Buchverlage

DR. VON HÄNSEL-HOHENHAUSEN

seit 1987

Bibliografische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek

Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detaillierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet abrufbar über http://dnb.d-nb.de.

Websites der Verlagshäuser der

Frankfurter Verlagsgruppe:

www.frankfurter-verlagsgruppe.de

www.frankfurter-literaturverlag.de

www.frankfurter-taschenbuchverlag.de

www.publicbookmedia.de

www.august-goethe-von-literaturverlag.de

www.fouque-literaturverlag.de

www.weimarer-schiller-presse.de

www.deutsche-hochschulschriften.de

www.deutsche-bibliothek-der-wissenschaften.de

www.haensel-hohenhausen.de

www.prinz-von-hohenzollern-emden.de

Dieses Werk und alle seine Teile sind urheberrechtlich geschützt.

Nachdruck, Speicherung, Sendung und Vervielfältigung in jeder Form, insbesondere Kopieren, Digitalisieren, Smoothing, Komprimierung, Konvertierung in andere Formate, Farbverfremdung sowie Bearbeitung und Übertragung des Werkes oder von Teilen desselben in andere Medien und Speicher sind ohne vorgehende schriftliche Zustimmung des Verlags unzulässig und werden auch strafrechtlich verfolgt.

Lektorat: Dr. Annette Debold

Titelbild: Gerda Nischan

ISBN 978-3-8372-1995-1

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Part I Part I

– Chapter One - – 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?

The Stroke 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?

- Chapter Two-– - 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. We had drinks with Gaby’s friend, a well-known musician who lived nearby. In his beautiful home he had an enormous library as well as a recording studio. I remember that his wife was from Berlin. We listened to his music and I soon had to say good night because the next morning I had to take the train back to Germany. The next day I remember seeing blooming almond trees along the Weinstrasse while walking with my friend Lothar. His wife had been my best friend and he had lost her to cancer many years earlier, just as I has lost my husband a few years later. I have kept up my friendship with Lothar for at least 50 years and I considered him as part of my family. We took photos of each other on this beautiful day together. Somewhere we had lunch with good wine and later ice cream, and talked about our mates we had lost.

Exploring with Gaby 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. We had drinks with Gaby’s friend, a well-known musician who lived nearby. In his beautiful home he had an enormous library as well as a recording studio. I remember that his wife was from Berlin. We listened to his music and I soon had to say good night because the next morning I had to take the train back to Germany. The next day I remember seeing blooming almond trees along the Weinstrasse while walking with my friend Lothar. His wife had been my best friend and he had lost her to cancer many years earlier, just as I has lost my husband a few years later. I have kept up my friendship with Lothar for at least 50 years and I considered him as part of my family. We took photos of each other on this beautiful day together. Somewhere we had lunch with good wine and later ice cream, and talked about our mates we had lost.

– Chapter Three-– – Chapter Three-– 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.