It has been an enlightening and horrific past 14 years. I stopped all medications for HIV and subsequently experienced a mysterious brain infection that began to consume my nerves in my brain. I had encephalopathy and had massive stroke. I lost all motor function, including my swallow and speech. O.T. and P.T. therapy, as well as time in a nursing home was prescribed until I could manage well enough to come back home to our house. Since then it has been a continual journey of multi-modal therapies (Yoga, chanting, singing, volunteering, gardening, working, qi gong, etc..) to retrain and rebuild myself. Now, I have regained just about all of my faculties and senses, with a lingering and maddening aphasia, but I am grateful to simply be aware.
Through my experience I can clearly say it is through accepting the moment as it is, and practicing consistent gratitude and self love are the main keys to healing and rebalancing ourselves.
