Alina Gonzales’s stroke recovery story is one of patience, progress, and resilience, inspiring stroke survivors to keep pushing forward.

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Highlights:

00:00 Alina Gonzales’ Introduction and Recovery Journey
02:29 Alina’s Stroke Experience and Initial Deficits
04:36 Progress and Challenges in Recovery
07:37 Community Support and Participation
11:41 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Its Impact
17:00 Daily Life and Adaptations
22:36 Coping with Stroke and Future Goals
33:08 Support System and Gratitude
34:33 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
43:06 Closing Remarks and Resources

Transcript:

Introduction – Alina Gonzales Recovery Journey

Bill Gasiamis 0:00
For those of you who have found relief, encouragement, or simply benefited from the recovery after stroke podcast, I’ve just recently set up a Patreon page to help keep the podcast running. Since 2017 I’ve been covering all the costs myself, but now I’m reaching out to our amazing community for a bit of support. If this podcast has helped you on your recovery journey, joining our Patreon is a way to give back and ensure it stays available for others who need it.

Bill Gasiamis 0:32
Your support will help cover the costs of recording, editing, and hosting, so we can keep bringing you the content that’s made a difference in your life. It also supports the transcription of episodes into subtitles on YouTube, making the podcast accessible to listeners with hearing challenges. Memberships start at just $6 per month. If you’d like to support the podcast, head over to patreon.com/recoveryafterstroke. Your help makes a big difference and I’m so grateful for your support. Thank you.

Bill Gasiamis 1:07
Now this is episode 328, and my guest today is Alina Gonzales, who has appeared on the podcast in the past. Alina is a resilient stroke survivor who has made a significant stride in her recovery journey. Since we last spoke, Alina’s story highlights the realities of stroke recovery, from the challenges of rehabilitation to the power of community support. With unwavering determination, she’s made incredible progress in areas like communication and mobility. Join us as we explore Alina’s inspiring journey and her message of hope for stroke survivors everywhere.

Bill Gasiamis 1:46
Alina Gonzales, welcome back to the podcast.

Alina Gonzales 1:49
Thank you.

Bill Gasiamis 1:51
It is so good to have you back on the podcast, it has been almost a year since we spoke last time.

Alina Gonzales 1:59
This year, time flow is flown by a year.

Bill Gasiamis 2:05
Time has flown? Has it also gone slow?

Alina Gonzales 2:10
Yeah, very slow, because recovery in my mind, I thought that pushing ankle over here, long and recovering like that, and it takes take a couple of weeks, but a very long process.

Alina Gonzales – Stroke Experience and Initial Deficits

Bill Gasiamis 2:29
Yeah, in your mind, recovery was going to happen quickly. These things don’t happen quickly, it’s one of the things that stroke survivors get impacted with. Is that the understanding that this could be a bit of a longer process than first thought. So you had a stroke in 2022 is that right?

Alina Gonzales 2:56
2020 actually.

Bill Gasiamis 2:57
In 2020 and what happened to you Alina?

Alina Gonzales 3:02
I was driving, and then I had ringing in my ear, and I called 911 because my vision was a little bit flurry and severe ringing in my ear. So I didn’t know was going on, I had no idea.

Bill Gasiamis 3:20
And what was the underlying cause of it?

Alina Gonzales 3:24
In AVM.

Bill Gasiamis 3:26
Arterial Venous Malformation as well.

Alina Gonzales 3:29
Yes.

Bill Gasiamis 3:31
When you when you got out of hospital, what were the deficits that you were left with?

Alina Gonzales 3:36
I had a stroke and a G-tube and a difficulty on my left side.

Bill Gasiamis 3:46
And difficult on your left side the trach, is that what has made your voice a bit croaky.

Alina Gonzales 3:53
So when the hospital just at the Craig, for so long I’ve paralyzed vocal cord as a result.

Bill Gasiamis 4:04
I have a paralyzed vocal cord because they left the trachea in too long.

Alina Gonzales 4:12
I received very poor care at the hospital, but partially, I think, because of COVID.

Bill Gasiamis 4:20
Yeah, you were right in the thick of things. So how long have you been home now?

Alina Gonzales 4:30
Like, three or four years now.

Alina Gonzales – Progress and Challenges in Recovery

Bill Gasiamis 4:36
I remember last time we spoke, and for people who are watching and listening, they should go back and check out the first podcast interview that we did. All the links will be in the show notes, your mom had to be involved in that discussion.

Alina Gonzales 4:54
Yeah, for a long time I have very, A difficult time speaking, and I think is better, a little bit better with time and practice.

Bill Gasiamis 5:12
Your your recovery has improved a lot, like, compared to what you were last time, I’m noticing a massive difference, your level of communication, understanding, your independence, everything has changed a lot.

Alina Gonzales 5:32
That’s so good to hear.

Bill Gasiamis 5:34
Have you noticed that it’s changed a lot? Where are you at with it all?

Alina Gonzales 5:38
No, I’m good. Like, moving out and then that scope and now realize the gains that I’ve made. It’s very difficult to be in your own mind and those changes that you’ve made.

Bill Gasiamis 5:56
It’s very difficult to notice the changes that you’ve made when you’re in your own body, feeling and experiencing how it’s, how it now, how it is now, how your body kind of so when you left hospital, were you able to walk, or anything like that?

Alina Gonzales 6:19
No, I wasn’t able to walk, I have a very difficult time walking right now. I don’t have drop or anything like that, but have issues. So I have a lot of balance issues, and so it makes it very difficult to walk.

Bill Gasiamis 6:37
You have vestibular issues, so your balance is affected, and you don’t have drop foot, but the challenge with walking is related to your balance.

Alina Gonzales 6:48
Like my body space, like recognition of one of my bodies in space.

Bill Gasiamis 7:00
I think they call it proprioception issues. Your body on the left side doesn’t, isn’t able to report back to the brain as to where it is in space.

Alina Gonzales 7:12
Correct, yes.

Bill Gasiamis 7:13
Okay, so that puts you off balance, and it makes the body overcompensate, and always kind of put you out of whack with your compared to your right side.