MY MIRACLE BABY
– INSPIRING MY STROKE RECOVERY
In February 2019, Joanne Lim felt happy and blessed. Her fervent wish had finally come true. She was finally pregnant after trying for a baby for eight years. She and her husband Simon Pua were ecstatic and couldn’t wait to welcome the new life into their family. However, one night when Joanne was in her fifth month of pregnancy, she collapsed on the bedroom floor following a hemorrhagic stroke attack. She was 36.
This young, courageous strokee from Johor shares with Strokenews some of her fears and weaknesses at that time and how she was constantly challenged, as she fought to carry her unborn baby to full term while trying hard to recover from a stroke at the same time.
I have been on medication for diabetes and hypertension since the age of 29. There would be times when I would forget to take them, so I wasn’t very disciplined. I was also very overweight.
I was conscious of the need to bring my health issues to more manageable levels because there’s a history of stroke in my family. My mother, a single parent, suffered a stroke at 54.
When I got married in 2011 at the age of 28, I wanted to have a baby like most other young brides. I was also aware that I had to manage my risk factors better and make some sensible lifestyle changes.
When my pregnancy was confirmed in 2019, at the age of 36, I worked even harder to avoid further complications. I took extra care to take my medications properly, eat healthy food and do simple exercises.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried, my condition worsened. Both my diabetes and BP readings kept going up and I had to be hospitalised for further investigations. I was four weeks into my pregnancy and everyone was worried about the baby.
I can still remember the moment when my concerned looking doctor advised me to use insulin injections to control my blood sugar level. I remained in hospital for five days and I felt utterly helpless and worried about my baby throughout my stay there.
I tried praying…I tried talking to my baby and assuring it to stay strong. At this point the medical team and my family helped me a great deal because I too needed assurance that all would be well.
On the night of May 13, 2019, when I was already in my 2nd trimester – five months into my pregnancy to be precise – I tried to get up from my bed at home to go to the toilet. As I tried to stand my legs gave way and I fell down.
My family was shocked but acted fast. An ambulance was called and I was taken to Hospital Sultan Aminah. I cannot recall what happened to me after my stroke. All I remember is waking up in hospital and being told I had had a hemorrhagic stroke. I was paralysed on the left side.
On the second day of my stroke my condition worsened. I was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia (a type of lung infection) and needed emergency attention. No matter how much I tried to be strong, my medical issues made me feel helpless and worried.
In time I learned to trust my doctors and follow intently all medical instructions. The medical team painstakingly monitored the dosage and effects of my medications so that the foetus would not be harmed. Their dedication and reassurance gave me much hope. I even felt grateful, because even though I was being challenged by a life-threatening medical condition, I was already well into my pregnancy. That made me more confident that my unborn child had a good chance of surviving.
When I was discharged 10 days later, I could not even sit down by myself and found I had to cope with an even more tedious regime. For my stroke I had to go to the hospital for follow-ups every week. For the baby and to monitor my glucose levels I had to go for a check-up every two days. Then I had to take insulin injections to stabilise my glucose levels. At that time alone I was consuming 40 pills daily to prevent other secondary complications such as a second stroke.
The only plus point during this time was my weight loss. After the stroke I was on a liquid diet and managed to lose 20kgs. Twelve weeks after my stroke I was rushed to the hospital again because my BP shot up…I think it went as high as 240/100.
Doctors advised a cesarean section procedure to save me and my baby following emergency management of my condition. At this time I was in my 34th week. When my BP became slightly stable the doctors successfully delivered my baby – Phoebe. She came into this world on August 13, 2019, weighing 1.54kg and had to be hospitalised for one month. Overall, I was relieved, happy and grateful and till today seeing her alive and well remains the best thing in my life.
The days following my delivery, however, were extremely difficult. I simply could not cope emotionally and was haunted by negative thoughts. Eventually I sought help from a psychologist at the hospital.
Fortunately for me, throughout my stroke and pregnancy journey, my beloved family, especially my husband and close friends, stood by me. My family helped me with my daily needs and they even cooked for me. Most importantly, they took care of my newborn baby.
I am also appreciative of the care and concern from my eight-year-old adopted daughter Esther. After school and tuition, she would be my nurse…reminding me about taking my medications and assisting me to bathe and dress.
In addition, I feel thankful for my brother who would drive me around for my physio sessions and medical checks. He was always there for me even though he was also looking after our stroke mother single-handedly. I could confide in him no matter what the issue. He knew how to help me feel better again. Without this loving commitment from my family, I could not have progressed the way I did with my stroke recovery.
NASAM was recommended to me by an online friend. I started my one-on-one rehab sessions there, twice a week with physiotherapist Ashley, in September 2019, about four months after my stroke. I was wheelchair bound then. After three months I joined group sessions so that I could connect with other stroke survivors and improve on my confidence. Currently, I am working hard on improving my balance while walking. My goal is to eventually walk without aids.
As I write this in November 2020, about 18 months after my stroke, I am mobile, walking with a quadripod and able to take care of my personal needs, such as going to the toilet independently, making my own breakfast and also cooking a simple meal for my family. I am controlling my BP and diabetes through medication, diet and exercise. My baby – about 15-months old at the time of writing this – is well and keeping us very happy. She has to go back to hospital for regular checks every four months and is on thyroid hormone medication. Because of her I remain strong and determined to overcome my stroke issues.
I want to continue improving so that in the future, hopefully soon, I am able to take care of Phoebe. I want to be able to do things that any mother would do for a child – from preparing her food to taking her to the playground or participating in other activities such as swimming, dancing, music, and so on.
Source: Strokenews (Issue I), January 2021, Pgs. 3 – 7