Okay, So I Had a Stroke. Now What?

Another update on my health. This time we'll talk about my stroke, and the things I'm doing to get over it.

[RiseOfTheKumquat]

Man, the difference between videos is insane. Welcome back dude!

[Huggbees]

Austin the amount of progress you've made is staggering. Can't wait to see you get back in action.

[TierZoo]

So awesome to see you in good spirits dude! Truly inspiring to see you persevere through such a tough spot.

[bigginox]

Hi, Austin. This is David Archer. I'm the tall long-haired dude with glasses that awkwardly introduced himself to you after our 3 hour auditions at Springfield Little Theatre. The fact that you showed up to a theatre audition in such a lively state is a testament to your strength and determination. Over the 3-4 years that I've watched your videos, you have been nothing short of inspiring. You are strong willed, down to earth, and honest. And when I saw you that night, I almost forgot about your surgery and your stroke. Despite the pain you have been experiencing, you walked the pain off so well that you seemed in the same high spirits I remember from 4 years ago. And even though we only talked for a few minutes, I'm honored that I got to meet you.

I further wish you luck on your recovery and hope you start feeling better soon. Also, I wish to congratulate you on being cast in the role of Monsieur Bouc in "Murder on the Orient Express."

You're here for a reason, Austin.
I'm not certain what it is, but I'd say it's a damn good one.

God bless you. :)👍

[johnselwitz]

0:09 Saying he made some progress is an understatement. Austin looks and sounds fantastic and I couldn’t be happier for him. I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch, but a major part of my career is providing physical and speech therapy for stroke victims, and I’d say it’s looking likely that Austin will make a full recovery. Fight the good fight, don’t try to do too much too soon, and stay positive! We’ll support you every step of the way!

[Blitterbug]

Austin, I've worked with disability-related IT for years, ranging from congenital palsies & spasticity to strokes / Parkinson's, involving a range of hand / foot controllers and speech recognition packages. I'd recommend avoiding the turnkey uber-costly crap that 'specialist' disability outfits offer. Often the cheap solutions are best. A rollerball mouse works for many with decentish upper-body mobility. It's basically an inverted, stationary mouse - you use your right thumb to roll the ball, and its buttons are on the side or sloped top. The index finger can operate both buttons. For others, simply switching to their non-dominant hand for mouse control can help - it's not as bad as learning to write with it! But in your case this may be counterproductive as I'm assuming you want to exercise your right hand, not stop using it. But it's an option, and one I use myself when I get wrist cramp. Hang in their, buddy, you've a huge sympathetic audience out there.

[ggaattyy]

something that my mom did when she had a stroke was she completely switched from using her left hand to her left foot. she learned to write, type, and use a mouse with her foot. it was legitimately impressive.

[samanthaw.]

Austin, I remember a while back you asked your audience what they believed your channel was about. And at the end of your last video when you told the story about the gardener: I finally figured it out.

You tell stories. You’re a story teller, and a really good one.

I’m glad to see you’re doing a lot better. And thank you for sharing your story with us.

[tessieract]

The outward difference in how you appear and sound from the previous update to this one is stark. You seem to have improved. I know that it's still a struggle, but youre making good progress! Keep up the great work Austin.

[mkeller]

Austin! You have made enormous steps forward!
My mom had a stroke shortly after birth and lost the use of her right hand.
She went on to have a career, husband and two children. People told her she shouldn't have kids because she wouldn't be able to care for a baby. She did it anyway and she's a great mom.
As a kid she got teased. She pushed on anyway. She couldn't play an instrument so she joined the choir. She uses a mouse with her left hand. Buys only cars where she can reach around the steering column with her left hand to turn the ignition. She found other ways to do things.
Today, people often don't notice her small, mis-shaped hand until they go to shake her hand. She just got busy living.
Thanks for taking the time and energy to make this video for us. ❤❤❤

[frugalprepper]

After my 6th stroke, In my cerebellum, I lost feeling and dexterity in my right hand. I was also blind for a few weeks and couldn't keep my balance and walk, and got so dizzy laying down that I was constantly nauseous. I am left handed thank goodness, but I am a network engineer so I type and use a mouse a lot. Get a tactile Keyboard. Like an old IBM Model M. A company called UniComp makes new ones. The click you hear will help. Learn to used your mouse with your other hand. I am left handed but I always use my mouse with my right hand. It has gotten better over the last year and I have regained some feeling, and I can type on a non tactile keyboard when needed. Also, I reloaded ammo for my physical therapy. I spent 3 months in the basement running my single stage press making myself do it with my right hand. It is really hard and slow at first, but you brain will relearn things over time and now I can reload 1000's of rounds. The physical therapy helped but not as much as actually doing things and relearning how to do them. And building muscle and using them to compensate for the ones that don't work right anymore. Today there are a few annoying things that still exist, but I work, and do everything I did before. You have to make yourself keep doing things. When I came home from the hospital, I would get out of bed, use my walker to get to the kitchen, and wash 3 dishes. 3 weeks later I made it downstairs to my basement.

[murta]

5:58 "When you're numb, you'll take whatever feeling you can get" really hits

[TheMArcanjo]

Austin... I'm a computers teacher here in Brazil... To my students with disability we use adapted mouse and keyboard... One mouse we use often is called big track ball that has a ball you roll for mouse use... It's not perfect but it's something... For keyboard there are plastic covers that looks like beehives that you can put over your keyboard to rest your hand over it and stick your fingers in holes so you can press the buttons... Again, it's not perfect but it is a solution... There are mouses you can use in different hand positions and some that track the movement of your hand... If you can I really recommend trying them... You might find something that really fits you

[allenelliott]

"I just wanted to be as far away from a heart monitor as possible" dude that is too relatable 😂

Glad to hear you're improving. Praying it continues!

[Real-Eric-Cartman]

Love it dude! "I had a stroke, " Sponsored by Squarespace© lol

[AFoxinSpace]

Bless your heart, man. I hope you continue to have a safe recovery.

[andrewmusgrave]

You have no fucking idea how happy the first few seconds of this video made me. GREAT progress! You're a stud!

[annieandersson]

12:44 I legit laughed out loud at that transition to the sponsor 😂

[DoctorFalchion]

The improvement just in the natural delivery of your speech between this and the video 4 weeks ago is so amazing, what a relief that your recovery is going so well.

That said, it still can't be easy, here's to your continued progress and all of the great things you'll no doubt continue to do regardless of any setbacks! The way you're powering through this is inspiring!

[Robinhickeynd]

As a man who has gone through rehab recently for the loss of a leg, I'm right there with you buddy ❤