Chapter 41-My Experiments with Life, Strength & Minds After Strokes

I was hit twice with a stroke in 2009 and 2011. My mind and memory was weakened. I work hard to recover my health, strength, memory and my mental focus and concentration.

I have not preached in the church since 2009 after my stroke until 5 years later. I have not made any lectures. My mind often went blank. I lost much of my confidence. I continued to read and write. Writing become hard. I could not remember some words I would like to use. Though it came back after some minutes or hour.

I had a hard time remembering events. I thought my productive life has ended. In t he lasts 9 years 2001 to 2008, I and my friend, Rev. Olof Lindstrom have written and published 9 small books for studies, reflections, and meditations. I thought writing was ended for me already. I could not preach any more. I could not lecture anymore. I could not write.

But I could pray. I could reach out to my sons, my brothers and sisters, my relatives, friends and church members in prayer. I secretly prayed for them. I continued to attend a worship service in our church. I tried to converse with friends. I listened to pastoral prayers. I tried to recall and remember them.

There was no invitations for me to preach the last five 4 years after my stroke. I started practicing writing . I wrote some messages to keep my mind working even if I do not intend to preach. I tried to read the Bible more. But my eyesights were blurred with cataracts. I read only a few verses and reflect on its meanings. Preaching, the task God gave me to pursue my mission many years ago, now seemed impossible. But I kept on writing. I kept on speaking and preaching silently alone in my room. I hope it will strengthen my mind. Little by little bring my confidence back.

I wrote my Auto-biography four years ago. I have it printed and published. Some friends helped by paying the printing costs. The book “MEMORIES: Faith & People’s Struggle for Freedom” (PART 11) were sold, some given to individuals, pastors, church leaders, and community people. I hope it will touch some minds and hearts for the Lord. The book was published and copywrited in 2017.

I got also some invitation to preach. But I found it difficult to accept. I have no license to drive a car anymore. I was not permitted to apply for a license after I reach 75 years. While I could still drive a car anywhere, I did not venture to do it without a driver’s license. It was hard going to far churches in towns and villages by public transportation, specially when heat was strong at noon and afternoon. I decided not to accept invitation from far churches. And soon no invitations came anymore.

I made special efforts to improve my health and strengthen my body. One thing I did was to strengthen my stomach from some weaknesses. I drank warm water on empty stomach. Warm water help improve my stomach and bowel movements.

To strengthen my body, I worked out daily with soft calisthenics. We have some equipment for exercise. I had a dumb bell and barbel that I used since I was in college. I kept it until today. It accompanied me when I was in Manila. And went back with me when I returned back to Iloilo.

I exercise always by walking slowly. No breast walking. Just walking. I walked slowly about one {½} kilometer to 1 kilometer every other day. On rainy days and I could not walked outside, I stayed in my room and walked. I walked about 2,000 steps inside my room.

I also pull grasses in our small garden at home under the soft morning sunshine. I do a little manual labor, cutting firewoods, pulverizing soils with speeding pork, watering plants with water cans. I continue working until there are perspirations on my forehead and neck. Then, I stopped and rest.

I eat rice, if possible not sprayed with pesticides. One cup per meal. I eat always vegetables that we planted. I avoid vegetables from the market. Most vegetables in the market are heavily sprayed with pesticides. I eat fish, small fish caught from the sea. We minimized eating fish cultured in fish ponds. Fish feeds were heavy with growth hormones. I eat pork, small part, without the fat. We care some native chickens feed with ordinary feeds –rice bran, corn bran, cornmeal and grasses. Broiler farmers today, we heard, were raising chicken at 28 days only. Before, broilers were raised 45 days. We learned big amounts of growth hormones and anti-biotic on broiler chickens now. But I am not sure. While, it cannot be avoided, we tried to minimized eating broiler chicken at home. I hoped it will improve my health and strength, esxpecially, now at 79 years.

To help lessen my high blood pressures. I maintained the medicines given to me by my physicians 10 years ago. I took before daily, 1 tablet of Amlodipine 20 ml. One tablet of Losartan 50 ml, One tablet of Clopidogrel 75 ml and 1 tablet of Atorbastasin 40 ml.

Four years ago, I asked my new physician if I could lessen my maintenance medicine. I said I will continue with 50 ml Losartan and 75 ml Clopidogrel. But I will take only 10 ml Amlodipine and 20 ml Atorvastatin. My physician said, OK but come to me if you feel something wrong with your body. That was 4 years ago. All seems alright with my health.

I also drink a Teaspoon of Apple Cyder Vinegar or Tuba Vinegar together ½ Teaspoon of Baking Soda in a glass of water twice a week.

I add some herbs to my daily diet to help lessen my blood pressure. Every two days, I got 2 cubs of garlic and one small union bulb. I cut it into small pieces and swallowed it with warm water. I eat this mixture at 6:00 a.m. when my stomach is still empty.

Also every other day, at 6:a.m. when my stomach is still empty, I drunk 1 cup of warm water with 1 tablespoon of ground ginger and ½ tablespoon of ground Tumeric roots with a little brown sugar. It helps my efforts for good health.

I fought against diabetes. I was at a border line, 5 years ago, I used a herb called “Insulin” whose scientific name I forgot. I took 5 leaves, washed with water, and eat it every day. It helped me battle with diabetes.

To strengthen my mind and memory, I tried to read every day. I tried to commit a verse to memory. But I found it hard to remember verses. I just read a verse or two and reflect on its message and meaning. It strengthened my faith. It helped also to strengthen my memory. To help strengthen mind, I eat 5-7 flowers of Blue Ternate. I just picked the flowers and eat immediately. Then drank a glass of water.

I drink coffee 3 times a day. I use stick coffee that cost P3.00 in a store near our home. I divided it and used only one- half stick (½) in a glass of water with a little sugar and milk. It is refreshing. Coffee helped strengthen my mind and concentration specially, after I started to write again.

A month ago, I felt pain in my palm and on the upper right of my arms near my shoulder. I was a hard pain. I consulted my physician. She told me it’s Athrities, gout. The pain bothers me the whole day. She gave me medicine. Two tablets, 1 for pain and the other for swelling. She gives me sachet of powder that I will mix with a glass of water and drink once a day for 35 days. I was also given a capsule, Vitamins B1, +B6 +B12. She give me also a soothing gel to rub my left palm and right arms 3 times a day.

She give me a leaflet, “Acute Gouty Arthritis -Autonomy” The leaflet teaches me foods I will avoid. It listed some foods that will help, like eggs, cucumber, tomatoes, small part of dark chocolate, cherries, fat free dairy products and water. I took the medicine on 30th day, and slowly I felt a bit relieved. I was relieved a bit of the pain and the swells lessened. Tomorrow I will visit her and ask her what will I do, so that the pain and gout will l not bother me in the coming days. This way, I continue with my experiments on life and living.

I am writing today, the first part of my Auto-Biography. At times when I cannot remember some details of my story, or a number, or a name, I just leave it for the time being. Soon, after some minutes, or hours or a day, I would remember. I often discuss social, economic and political issues on Facebook. It helps keep my mind working. I started to write my book. I have been writing this since 2 years ago, ”MEMORIES: Early Life & The UNSEEN FUTURE.”

We are now in the final months before the book is ready to published. One problem faced, is the how the book will be printed. It will cost about P90,000 to print 1,000 copies.

Editing this book is in the hands of one of the best Editor and friend, Pastor Alpha Dofeliz-Sorensen, who has the mastery of the English language and a writer. She edited our book. I am re-writing the book after her editing. But after working an hour, I lie down and closed my eyes. I have to rest my eyes now more longer. I am writing the first part of my Auto-Biography. It tells the story of my life since I was 3 years old. I am writing also history.

At age 79 & 10 months, I think I have one lesson that is important to share with the older and younger generation. As we grow older we have worked most of our lifetime, behind us experiences of a lifetime. We have so many knowledge, skills, experiences, that were kept hidden in or minds and hearts. Many of us did not write while were working. We are always busy with our jobs.

But on retirement, we will have lots of time to think, meditate, reflect and write. The stories we will write will be helpful for the younger generations. I encourage you to write the stories of your life -the struggles, the success, the failures, the continued struggles and the successes of your lives.

To lessen my stress, I sing. I sang alone inside my small room. I do not have a good voice. But singing helped relaxed some of my tensions and nerves. I listened to songs that were sung during our younger days, the songs of the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80”s. I listened to these songs again through Goggle. Now, I sing every day, alone. Singing is good for the mind and heart.

To open my day, I sang Christian hymns and spiritual songs. I followed it with some love songs. These were songs that were soft that touched the hearts. I love to sing “Morning Has Broken.”, “Amazing Grace”, “How Great Thou Art” , “It Is No Secret”, “Because He Lives”, “One Day at a Time”. One of my favorite song, speaks of faith. The song asked me not to be afraid. Why? For I am not alone. Someone holds my tomorrow. I sing this sometime to give me strength.

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

I don't know about tomorrow

I just live from day to day

I don't borrow from the sunshine

For it's skies may turn to gray

I don't worry o'er the future

For I know what Jesus said

And today I'll walk beside Him

For He knows what lies ahead

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand

Ev'ry step is getting brighter

As the golden stairs I climb

Ev'ry burden's getting lighter

Ev'ry cloud is silver lined

There the sun is always shining

There no tear will dim the eye

At the ending of the rainbow

Where the mountains touch the sky

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Ira F. Stanphill

© Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group

To relax my mind and heart I go back to the LOVE songs of yesteryears. “This Is My Song”, from Petula Clark. “Memory” from Barbra Streisand. “The Way We Were” from Doris Day. “Those Were the Days” from Mary Hopkin, “Yesterday When I Was Young” from Andy Williams. “Yesterday Once More” from Karen Carptenter.

One love song I loved to sing is Surrender. I cannot remember its author. I first heard it sang by Elvis Presly in the 60’s. Then I forgot about the song. I have not heard it sang again until the last few months. I found it in Goggle sang by Lissel Kyrkjebo a Norwegian soloist. It is soft, sweet and lovely. It is good for a girl to sing to her boyfriend. Or for a husband to sing to his wife.

Surrender

When we kiss my heart’s on fire,

Burning with a strange desire.

And I know, each time I kiss you,

That your heart’s on fire too.

So, my darling, please surrender,

All your love so warm and tender.

Let me hold you in my arms

While the moon shines bright above.

All the stars will tell the story

Of our love and all its glory.

Let us take this night of magic

And make it a night of love.

All the stars will tell the story

Of our love and all its glory.

Let us take this night of magic

And make it a night of love.

Won't you please surrender to me

Your lips, your arms, your heart,

Be mine forever,

Be mine tonight!

https://lyricstranslate.com

Love songs helped refreshed memories. It touched mind. It softens the heart. Some say, it cleanses the soul. It makes us dream again.

These are experiments in my life. I do this to gain health. To develop strength. To warm my memory. To live a longer life, if needed, while waiting for God’s coming or bring me home.