Phoenix: Live Love Laugh

Hi.

My name is Andrea. You may think you already know me. You might remember the woman I was before my stroke. Or maybe you met me during the years I was simply trying to survive. You may know me as a teacher. A mother. A Christian. A Sickle Cell warrior. A stroke survivor. Someone living with Mild Cognitive Impairment. Those things are all true.

But they are only part of my story.

So…

Allow me to re-introduce myself. I am the woman who spent years grieving the person she used to be. The woman who wondered if she would ever feel “normal” again. The woman who apologized for forgetting. Who became embarrassed when she couldn’t find a word. Who secretly compared herself to everyone around her. Who smiled and said, “I’m okay.” Even when she wasn’t.

Today…

I’m still living with all of those challenges. But something has changed. I have stopped waiting for my old life to return. I have started embracing the life God is giving me today.

Let me re-introduce myself. I’m the woman who designs journals to help other people heal. I’m the substitute teacher who still believes every child deserves encouragement. I’m the woman planning solo trips because fear no longer gets the final say. I’m learning that courage isn’t the absence of fear.

It’s choosing to move anyway.

I’m still forgetful.

Still learning.

Still healing.

Still growing.

Still laughing.

Still creating.

Still trusting God.

Still becoming.

I’m no longer trying to become the woman I was before. I’m becoming someone she would be proud of.

Let me re-introduce myself…

I’m the woman who no longer measures success by how much I can remember.

Let me re-introduce myself…

I no longer apologize for needing extra time.

Let me re-introduce myself…

I have learned that healing isn’t going backward…it’s moving forward.

Let me re-introduce myself…

I finally believe my best days may still be ahead.

My name is Andrea.

I am a stroke survivor.

I live with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

I live with Sickle Cell Disease.

I still forget things.

I still make mistakes.

I still have difficult days.

But none of those things get to introduce me anymore. Allow me to do that myself.

Hello…My name is Andrea.It’s nice to meet the woman I’ve become.