When I thought I was going to die...

#BeKind #Stroke #Recovery

[LexVenit]

As a young cancer survivor I sometimes fall into the trap of not allowing myself to feel bad, and that never turns out well. When the grief shows up, it's always better to feel it out.

[newcastleman]

I’m so glad you’re still with us. You have so much to experience and teach us. I’m very proud of you for being strong even when it was easy to give in. Thanks for sharing Jo! 😊

[Terry-utbo]

You allowed yourself a minute to be down but came back swinging. Keep going Jo!!

[JayR-wgjq]

this is such an important sentiment. life is too short to not be human

[amorgan]

This hits hard. I have been sick for the last 7.5 months and finally am finally feeling better. When my doctor found the right meds and I finally started to feel human again the amount of energy I suddenly had made me feel high on life. But I also know I havent taken time to really process what the experience means for me in the future. The management plan for one of my chronic conditions has had to change significantly and it may never go back to what it was. This is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because maybe I wont ever have to be so sick again but a curse because it means my body isnt doing as well and is no longer as capable. I have definitely been living more in the joy of feeling better and a bit in fear of backsliding but havnt really taken the time to grieve what all this really means for the future

[Giganfank]

I have yet to come down fully from my stroke almost dying event.

I've had to deal with suicidal depression off and on for a very long time. It recontextualized every moment of that pattern of thinking.

In the back of my mind every flippant message I write. Every 5-minute conversation I have with the barista. I now realize fully this is a part of my life. And everything is super finite.

How many more times will I meet my loved ones?

What kind of note did I leave off on them?

I feel like I'm encapsulated in some kind of mellow serenity. In which I constantly try to take time out of my day to just be there. In a way that I've never done and it makes my life feel so much more fulfilling.

[trans-forming]

I appreciate you and that you take us on this journey with you. I've learned so much from your videos, and I'm glad that you are still here with us.

[LiamODonovan-le]

Wishing the best for you. you're an amazing, powerful woman

[naseerahvj]

You are amazing it is SOOO HARD to look that grief in the face and not run away from it

[froggedupp]

I’m so glad you’re okay!
Thank you for sharing this valuable wisdom ❤️

[theokay]

Im so glad youre still here with us! Take care of yourself, including feeling those bad things!

[OtakuLoki]

Thank you for sharing.

I'm struggling with denial at the moment, myself. Going through diagnostic process for potential dementia causing condition, and it's ducking terrifying to admit that possibility.

I try to remember that denying those bad feelings doesn't make them disappear. Instead, it gives them a chance to do an anime-style training montage and come back next season to kick my damned ass even harder.

It ain't easy.

Thank you for sharing that even someone whom I admire for being open on her social media platform about her own vulnerabilities and struggles with these things still has problems.

It helps to feel a little less alone.

[Knikon]

I am not an amputee, but the reason that I am subbed to your channel is because of your zest for life. You have a disability, and you do not let it stop you.

While not an amputee, I was born with Cerebral Palsy. It affects almost every aspect of my life. I am in a wheelchair. I have problems with coordination, and I am constantly in pain. I get muscle spasms, and can not drive, work, or do things that most people see as "being productive", but being productive means different things to different people.

Other the years, I have watched the long term affects of my condition begin to take a toil on my body, like gradually losing more and more mobility, and it is perfectly okay to grieve what you have lost. That is part of being human, but also remember that you could have died. Be sure to continue to be grateful for what you have.

I am sorry that you lost your ability to do martial arts, and your ability to create art in the same way that you used to, but I joined this channel because you are a fighter, and I am sure that you will find other things in life that you are passionate about.

[lgrantnelson]

It's good to know we are not alone. Years ago a dark cloud enveloped my mind, and I decided to embrace it and see where it took me. Fortunately it only lasted about a year.
It seems that once we get through a hard time, life is better on the other side, even though there will still be ups and downs.
It's good to know that you keep looking forward to better times.

[yomp]

A year ago today I was still in the hospital, accepting (because of the immense pain) my death. As I returned to life I felt some of the same things you did; a joy for my chance to live, to try new things, to be more thoughtful, more considerate… I was all these things before, but now I felt them even more… I also felt depressed, a deep emptiness sometimes. VERY introspective. I went through; and I’m still going through these emotions, on top of the rest of my life but now, like you, I’m ok with these feelings as long as I acknowledge them, and take an honest look at myself
, WITHOUT being overly critical. While we may have been through situations that leave us with similar emotions, I also want to add the following… I mentioned my situation not to put your emotions aside with my experiences, but rather to let you know that you are not alone. Keep doing what makes you happy you feel right. 👍🏾

[davidjohnsonsrst]

HEY!!! I SAW YOUR COMMERCIAL ON TV TODAY. I GOT SO EXCITED. I’M HAPPY FOR YOU JO.
You are great. 😊😊

[goblin.]

I didn’t take a single moment to actually process when I was in the ICU because I was too busy trying to continue on with life/going off to college. All the feelings hit me at once one day in the middle class months later after my complications had mostly subsided. I realized how traumatic what happened what I went through really was, with all the big and small things sinking in, including the apologetic tone a message from a professor seemed to take after she found out I almost died weeks before her class started. I couldn’t function the rest of the day. Definitely better to take a few moments to slow down before that happens

[pharonh]

2.5 years ago I had a widow maker heart attack with cardiac arrest and was pulseless and not breathing for 20 min while rescuers, including my hero wife who witnessed my collapse and called 911 while doing CPR, worked to revive me. As she put it months later, she said she felt abject terror about the whole thing. Since the incident, I have not felt like myself and have had bouts of severe depression where I question my value and continued existence. But something my wife said to me really helped and is very similar to what you said, and that is it's understandable to feel sad/depressed, and even moreso to express those feelings through crying or some other non-harming or non-destructive way. She was literally my safe space that I was able to let those emotions out. I felt so much better when I did, especially because I wasn't being judged in a bad way for doing so. Lately, I've started to feel like my old self again, so it's been a long road, but I'll keep walking it.

[martinmarrero]

Joe u are absolutely beautiful in my eyes . Glad to see u back .

[g_way]

What a profound and positive comment at the end. I almost can't believe you pulled a positive message out of a stroke — "almost" because I've been following your content for a while, and I know better than to doubt your resilience. You managed to come out of this with the incredibly beautiful sentiment of allowing yourself to be human. Thank you for sharing this with the world. Touched my heart