When I was five years old, I suffered a stroke. The only possible suggestion doctors have given is an arterial abnormality at birth. I was only in kindergarten when the stroke occurred, so my memory of the event is vague. The one thing I recall is that on that day in October while waiting in line for the school bus, I fell. After that, I was in the hospital for ten days.
At first there was paralysis of the right side of my body and a complete loss of speech. At the end of the ten days I was doing much better, and by Christmas everything was back to normal except for weakness in my right arm. The healing process seemed to be going along well until suddenly I started to develop motor problems in my right arm and leg, which would jerk spasmodically. The doctors discovered that scar tissue in the left hemisphere of my brain caused these new symptoms. To this day, I walk with a limp in my right leg and do not have control of my right arm. I went to speech and physical therapy all through grade school. In the summer of my freshman year of high school, I underwent surgery to rotate the femur in my right leg and to lengthen some of the muscles. I spent the entire summer in a wheelchair and underwent major rehabilitative therapy. I will probably never have full use of either my right arm or leg but my doctor's visits continue, and I will never lose hope.
Although I try to hide my condition, I will not let it stop me from doing the things I want to do. I have realized that life is not going to end and I am determined to make the best out of my life. After attending Villanova University, I moved to New York City and have built a successful career in public relations.
The American Heart Association is the largest voluntary health organization working to prevent, treat and defeat heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. These diseases, the Nation's No.1 and No.3 killers, claim more than 865,000 American lives a year. Thanks to all our walkers, runners, donors and volunteers who have accepted the challenge to help fight heart disease and stroke. We cannot achieve our mission without each one of you!
For more information please contact one of your Start! Wall Street Run & Heart Walk staff partners at (212) 878-5977 or via email at donald.cobb@heart.org
