Solo

I spent Sat-Sun without my husband. His team is having a team building activity in Bohol, and if you know me, I never join those. I want my husband to really enjoy without thinking about me, especially after my stroke. I MISS HIM!!!!!

Right now, I'm in Kaayoo Cafe and it's so silent. I'm alone and not used to not having him to talk to about everything, or eavesdrop or just gossip!

This is what I'm having here.

I think this is the most post-stroke friendly food item they have. I was gonna go to Birdseed Breakfast Club but they open late and I’m hungry, so here I am. It's clean. It's silent. It's 8AM so that could be why. The embutido is not dry. I didn't eat the rice and just ate half the embutido and eggs.

Anyway, yesterday after driving my husband and his teammate to Pier 3, my team and I went to IT Park for karaoke. I was afraid I couldn’t handle the noise, especially the bass from the speakers. I was so hesitant to go in and was thinking of walking out the whole time, but I kept thinking about the quote that says not to avoid something just because you’re afraid. So I observed for a little while and actually began enjoying the noise.

My team is hilarious and I was trying so hard not to exert so much energy because I don’t want to go home with just 5% body battery left. I’m a changed person now. Before, I used to still do my long runs with just that much. Yeah, I did abuse my body, but definitely not anymore.

After that we went to Taoist Temple. I’ve been there probably almost 20 years ago. I forgot it had looooong stairs! We made it to the top but not without a few minutes' rest and my knees shaking. My gosh! I need to do an incline walk!

Thanks, Irish, for the photo!

After that I went to an empty and silent home. It's so different without my husband there. I watched some episodes of Desperate Housewives (which I’ve rewatched more than 10 times) and ate my leftover roasted chicken breast, kimchi, utan Bisaya, and lugaw. Had a looong sleep after that.

At around 3:30 AM this morning, I ate my pre-run oatmeal and a slice of wheat bread with peanut butter.

This is my run today!

There’s a running event in Ayala, so I had to park at the office. Sooo happy with my run. This is my longest, even pre-stroke, and I am not tired at all! I walked the first 10 minutes, jogged for 20, walked for 5, and jogged for 20 (repeated 2x).

After here, I’ll again go home to a silent home. Uli na, tweet! 😁

Update: Okay. So I didn't go home. I went grocery shopping for the prep meals. Happy Sunday! Now I'm home. Here's the pic I sent to my husband to show off!

'Til next blog! 💛

Stroke Recovery

Scroll down for the latest update.. 

June 5, 2025 - 5:59 pm

Quick Health Updates:

BP: Normal

Blood Sugar: Normal

Weight: 63 kg

Height: Still below 5ft 🤣

I didn’t really tell everyone about my recent stroke. I know I wrote about it here, but I also know that only my family and a few close friends read this. So when I posted about it in my FB stories, a lot of my friends messaged me. They asked how I am, what I felt, what happened. Some of them came here to read and find out more.

That made me think:

maybe blogging about it can actually help people. Maybe it can help raise awareness, or at least show how hard the recovery process really is so that maybe, just maybe, they’ll start eating better and living healthier. Because if you’re my friend, I KNOW that one of the things that bond us is probably food (buffet and cakes, right?) Haha.

So… here we are.

Today’s Milestone:

I've been walking 2km for the past 3 days. I feel good. Today, I used both hands to put the laces on my shoes. It was hard. It took time. But I made it. Tiny win? Maybe. But for me, it’s a huge step forward. I can also already peel kamote using both hands. Again, it was hard.

I also tried typing on my laptop, and yep, it was kind of a disaster. I typed one sentence and my arms got tired. I also found out that my ring finger isn’t that strong. I’ll try again tomorrow. Because that’s what progress looks like:

one slow, stubborn miracle at a time.

June 9, 2025 - 6:27 pm

Logged my longest walk and hit my fastest pace yet! Still working on my balance and refining my gait, definitely not at 100% there, but I’m moving forward (literally).

Tried standing on my left leg (the weak side), held it for around 5 seconds before I wobbled

My left arm is noticeably stronger now, and my fingers are starting to catch up. Little by little, strength is coming back. Last weekend's "swimming" aka kapay-kapay sa kamot helped A LOT! 

June 14, 2025 - 10:15 am

We all have to start somewhere.. :)

June 20, 2025 - 6:42 pm

I’m typing this using both my left and right fingers on my phone, so yes, it took time (haha!) but it’s much faster than before. Yesterday, I did a typing test on my laptop and hit 20 words per minute. For someone who couldn’t move her fingers a few weeks ago? That’s a huge deal. Progress is coming in fast these days

On top of that, I’ve been walking 3KM daily for the past 3 days. The best news? My doctor officially cleared me to return to work on the 30th! YES!!! I’m honestly so excited. Life, my life, our life, is slowly piecing itself back together.

When I was in the hospital, watching my left hand and foot weaken, losing control over them, I didn’t know if I’d ever come back to this kind of normal. At that time, just standing up without fear was the dream. Today, I’m living what I once prayed for. I’m so, so thankful.

While I was at the clinic, I met another stroke survivor, his happened 5 months ago. He said he went through a period of depression because his body became so weak. I realized, I never really had the space to feel that way. My husband constantly smiled and cracked jokes. My siblings would call and make me laugh about everything (including my condition 🤣). My mom was on daily food patrol, always checking on my meals and reminding me not to stress.

I AM SO BLESSED.

Between laughing with my family, doing my exercises, planning meals (and mourning humba nga tambok and lechon 😅), and taking 2-hour naps from sheer exhaustion, I didn’t have time to spiral. I was laser-focused on healing and getting my life back. And now, step by step, I am.

ANYWAY, I did a 15-minute hand-and-foot coordination dance routine. My left hand kept up with the rhythm, it didn’t fully open or stay raised for long, but it moved the entire time. It showed up. That’s what matters.

Yes to life. Yes to healing. Yes to coming back stronger. 💛

July 8, 2025 - 12:21 am

It’s been about a week since I returned to work, and I just wanted to say, it feels sooooo good to be back. Seeing everyone again, hearing the same laughter in the halls (and in the group chats), and getting back into the rhythm of work… it’s like coming home to something familiar.

My left arm is still at about 80%, so typing is slower than usual, but I can catch up just fine. Yes, I typo a lot.. 😂

There’s also been a big shift in the company. Same team, smaller in number, but bigger in purpos. It’s a good kind of change. I’m grateful for every "welcome back" message and every quiet moment of kindness shared with me. Those things mean more than you know.

The milestones don’t stop just because I’m back at work. Yesterday, I walked 5.05 km and even ran for a total of 12 mins in 3-min increments. A small run for most, but a huge leap for my healing body. From barely standing on my left leg to running (slowly, but surely), I can’t even describe what that felt like. I did a little victory/happy dance yesterday when I was done. My husband filmed it. I may show it here (let me think about it.. haha!)

This post will be the last bit of my stroke recovery blog, I’ve written enough about survival. I’ll share new milestones in a separate space, where recovery no longer sounds like rehab, but more like reclaiming.

"Til next blog! 💛