Paralyzed

Most frightening of all was the inability to use the affected arm. The partial paralyzation of the arm was something I really wasn't prepared for. It wasn't a subject we had ever discussed.

I couldn't move my arm. I couldn't dress myself, at least not anything that went over my head or had a back opening. For anything that needed two hands, I only had one hand that functioned at full capacity.

I couldn't roll my hair with one hand. Pulling on panty hose with one hand was a real challenge. Driving a stick shift was almost impossible. Forget opening jars or lifting over my head. Wasn't happening.

I know many people must go through life without extremities and have learned to deal with the situation very well. I have been astonished at how well some have adapted. I was ashamed that I was grieving the loss of an ability that others never had.