I AM HESITANT TO TELL THIS STORY BECAUSE I WILL PROBABLY GET SOME NEGATIVE FEEDBACK AND RIDICULE . ( bfd ! ) HOWEVER, I AM COMPELED TO DO SO. I DO NOT REMEMBER IF I HAVE BLOGGED ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND I AM TO LAZY TO LOOK IT UP. MY MEMORY AIN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE BUT “THIS” MEMORY IS CRYSTAL CLEAR.

IT WAS JUNE 28TH, 1983 WHEN I SUFFERED A STROKE AND LANDED IN NORTHRIDGE HOSPITAL IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY IN CALIFORNIA. MY ENTIRE LEFT SIDE WAS PARALYZED AND I LOST THE LEFT SIDE PERIPHRIAL VISION IN BOTH EYES. I WAS NOT MAKING ANY PROGRESS IN THERAPY AND I WAS DROWNING IN MY DEPRESSION. MY WIFE VISITED EVERY DAY. OUR DAUGHTER WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD.

ONE NIGHT I WAS FEELING VERY SORRY FOR MYSELF AND SORRY THAT MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE HAVING TO ENDURE THIS TRAJEDY WITH ME. THE STAFF AT NORTHRIDGE HOSPITAL WERE VERY NICE AND EFFICIENT AND PROFESSIONAL.

SO, ONE NIGHT, I AM LAYING IN BED AND DEPRESSED AND ANGRY AT MYSELF FOR MY OWN BEHAVIOR THAT PUT ME IN MY WHEELCHAIR. IT IS DIFFICULT TO ROLL A WHEELCHAIR WITH ONLY ONE ARM. THE WHEELCHAIR JUST RUNS AROUND IN CIRCLES. I WAS FEELING THAT I HAVE BEEN RUNNING AROUND IN CIRCLES THE MAJORITY OF MY LIFE AND NOW I WAS FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF, AND DEPRESSED. IT WAS MY OWN FAULT. I WAS WORKING MYSELF TO DEATH AT MY SMALL CABINET SHOP.

SO…I AM LAYING IN BED AND DROWNING IN MY OWN THOUGHTS IN THE DARKNESS. I WAS NOT PRAYING.

RIGHT NEXT TO MY HOSPITAL BED I HEAR A VOICE.

IT WAS A UNIQUE VOICE THAT I HAD NEVER HEARD BEFORE OR SINCE.

IT WAS A SIMPLE MESSAGE. THE MESSAGE WAS, ” Heal Thy Self !”

It frightened me. I swung my legs over the side of the bed as best I could and tried to walk. I fell flat on my face. I crawled back up grabbing the bed and tried to walk and fell again. I was trying to exit the room and get to the nurses station. I tried again and down again and again. So I get up and try to get my feet under me and tried to gain some balance. I HOBBLED out of my room and down again and again. The Nurse at the Nurses Station yells at me that I was NOT supposed to be walking ! I answered her with, ” Oh Yeah ? Go tell that to the guy in my room ! So what does she do ? She calls security. She asked me what did the “guy” look like ? I answered, I have no idea because it was dark ! Then I told her what I heard. Security came and left. There was no-BODY there. They got my wheel chair and I went back to my room and laid there awake until dawn. I ate breakfast and rolled into therapy. I got up on the parallel bars to walk and everybody in the room was shocked ! They asked me, ” WHAT HAPPENED ? I progressed like I never had before. After that, I worked hard in therapy. I was able to get out of the wheelchair very quickly and used a cane after a lot of hard work with the therapists and staff. I only shared my story with a few of the staff. That was 39 years ago.

I still walk with a limp. It is a reminder to me. I remind myself of how important it is to tell the people that we love….”That We Love Them”

I got a second chance that many people probably do not receive.

It changed my life and gave me a better perspective on life and happiness and how fragile we all are. The therapists at Northridge Hospital were wonderful and patient with me. I even liked the Psychiatrist that was sent to talk to me. I told him a couple of Psychiatrist Jokes and we laughed and laughed and he left smiling and shook my hand when he left.

Just like the MOVIE- ” YESTERDAY ” on NETFLIX. IT IS IMPORTANT TO TELL THE PEOPLE WE LOVE – THAT WE LOVE THEM !

Thanks to all that have visited my blog. I Love you all !

My Blog has been viewed in 51 Countries. WIERD ! RIGHT ???

Marc