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Mark J.  Caregiver & Family I met Mark three months after my first brain surgery at 18. I was bald on one side so I was sure he fell in love with me. Two years into our marriage, I had my second stroke. At the time I was also 7 1/2 months pregnant. I was left with partial use of my left side. Our son, now 30, is our miracle. Mark became a caregiver for the two of us. He has never left our side. Three more strokes later, I no longer have the use of my left side, including my eye and ear. I almost died during the last hemorrhage. We were always told the A.V.M. was too big & too deep, but after the last scare we were all desperate. Mark's dad heard of a doctor in Arizona, so we went there. I went into a coma, but Mark never left my side. He moved my limbs to help me get better. I could hear someone telling me to keep my eyes on the sail boat (I Love the ocean). He said “watch it and sail back to me!” He was so scared; I couldn't speak to tell him to go and get some rest. The nurses said he looked so tired. Go home...I thought. He takes care of my needs before his own. My medications come first. He's gotten me involved in therapeutic horseback riding and community sailing. Over time I developed other health conditions and Mark makes sure we know about them as much as possible. Most doctors tell me how lucky I am that he's never left. But to that we say that we are both lucky. I could never begin to tell you how loving and unselfish Mark is. He helps me in so many ways. He is my driver, my cook, my caregiver. He keeps my HOPE alive. He is my angel, sent to me from God, to help me. He always has my best interest in mind. |
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