Taylor C.
Friday, February 24, 2012
By: Taylor Choi

Survivor

My life after the stroke

My name is Taylor Choi and I'm a Patient Care Technician in the neuroscience department at Gwinnett Medical Center. In the summer of 2010, I was in the nurse extern program at this department of the hospital.

In 1998, I suffered a debilitating ischemic stroke in the left side of my brain. It has taken me a long time and a lot of hard work to be where I am today. It is amazing and frightening how quickly life can change. It seems like within a blink of an eye, I went from being a healthy teenager with typical concerns around school, friends, and boys, to not being able to speak, walk, or take basic care of myself. At times I wanted to give up and wallow in self pity, but I had to prove that I can overcome this adversity by setting goals for myself and working hard to achieve them.

After seeing first hand of all the care provided to me one of the goals I made with myself was to become a Nurse. Having been a patient myself I know how difficult and debilitating this process can be and I can empathize with what the patients are going through. As a nurse I hope to render aid in the process of recovery and rehabilitation. My personal experience has opened my eyes to things that I never thought had been possible before and with the support of my nurses, doctors, family, and friends they helped me find the strength within myself that I did not know I possessed. As I face new challenges and lingering frustrations every day, I find courage knowing in my heart that all I have achieved and the effort I put forward puts me closer to my goals. I truly hope to prove to myself what I can accomplish with my passion and dedication to helping others.