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    The Year I lost when I had a Stroke
    The Year I lost when I had a Stroke
    The Year I lost when I had a Stroke
    Ebook80 pages48 minutes

    The Year I lost when I had a Stroke

    By Gerda Nischan

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    About this ebook

    Gerda, 75, lives in Greenville, North Carolina. A former war
    child from Germany, she’s a person of great courage, accustomed
    to face challenges. She has traveled the globe by herself,
    given readings as an author at world-famous venues. But above
    all, she’s a healthy person.
    Out of the blue, she gets a stroke. And all of a sudden, she’s confronted
    with an unknown helplessness and uncertain future.
    So is her son Michael, a risk manager. From one day to the next
    his mother becomes his „client number one.” Making his first experiences
    as a patient advocate, he gains a second full-time job.
    He organizes an e-mail communication with friends of the family,
    sharing any relevant news with them and appealing to their
    support, to motivate his mother. A visit, phone call or post card
    is enough.
    Meanwhile Gerda is in good hands, doing a rehab.
    Gerda can return home and focus on the healing process, regaining
    her independency and resuming her life. Instead of some
    smaller setbacks, each day is an improvement. Soon, Gerda can
    go back to the rehabilitation center – for an outpatient therapy.

    A book that does not only tell the story of a stroke patient, but is
    “a good reminder ... to never give up, regardless of the endeavor.”
    Because “it’s worth it.”
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherFrankfurter Literaturverlag
    Release dateAug 9, 2017
    ISBN9783837219951
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      Book preview

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

      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.

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