Just Pick Up The Peg: A Nurse's Journey Back From Stroke

by Angie Collins-Burke, Suzanne Cronkwright

Overview

"Stroke is a life-altering event. When Angie Collins-Burke suffered a devastating stroke that injured the right hemisphere of her brain at the age of forty-six, her life was suddenly changed forever. Once a registered nurse taking care of patients, Angie became the patient. In this candid memoir, Angie chronicles her heart-wrenching diagnosis and the emotional rollercoaster of her stroke recovery journey. With incredible determination, courage, grit, family support, and intensive rehabilitation therapy, Angie faced the challenges of overcoming severe physical and cognitive impairments compounded by post-stroke depression and epilepsy, and she shares her coping strategies and keen insights that can help others.

Her neurological recovery is extraordinary—not only was she able to regain her lost functions, but she also developed new artistic and athletic talents and found a new life purpose. This truly remarkable recovery story is inspiring and empowering, offering wisdom and hope to stroke survivors and their families. It is highly recommended for patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and anyone who wants to understand the lived experience of stroke."
– David J. Gladstone MD, PhD, FRCPC
Stroke Neurologist, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto

This book explores:
• Living with the challenges of a brain injury
• Dealing with depression and an identity crisis
• Fighting the what ifs
• Coping with frustration
• Moving from putting yourself down to positive self-talk
• Handling hurtful, inappropriate, and disrespectful comments
• Considering intimacy following stroke
• Detailing the benefits of a pain journal and exercise

Just Pick Up the Peg are the words that Angie commanded her hand to do during occupational therapy—a small phrase whose repetition yielded significant and life-changing results. Her memoir inspires us all to appreciate what we have in life, thrive through difficulty, and make the most of our challenges and opportunities.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940164022259
Publisher:	Tellwell Talent
Publication date:	03/26/2020
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	705,949
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Angie Collins-Burke was a Registered Nurse at The Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada with over 25 years of experience as a bedside nurse, clinical resource nurse, intake coordinator, and nurse educator. Following her stroke, she assisted other stroke survivors as a Stroke Mentor and volunteered with Peers Fostering Hope program through the March of Dimes. She is an amateur bodybuilder and earned her elite status in 2017, receiving an invitation to compete at the World Championships. As a member of the Integrated Stroke Unit Working Group at The Ross Memorial Hospital, she provided valuable input that was used to develop policies and procedures for a brand-new unit. Angie has been a keynote speaker and featured in radio interviews, live Facebook interviews, print media, blog posts, books, magazines, and newsletters. She is well known on social media with over 20,000 video views. Married for almost 30 years, she has gained strength during recovery from her husband Bill, two grown sons, and the family dog Roscoe.

Suzanne Cronkwright is a successful technical writer and editor with over 30 years' experience in both high tech and government in Canada. Working with Angie on "Just Pick Up the Peg" has provided a wonderful opportunity to use her writing skills to "make a difference". Suzanne has been married for over 36 years to her high school sweetheart, has two grown children, and delights in the antics of her grandson.