I had a stroke after I gave birth to my first baby. I wasn't the usual suspect, as I didn't smoke, do drugs nor drink alcohol. I wasn't even fat at that time. To top it all, my blood pressure was normal, cholesterol was normal – in short, I never abused, misused or overused my body. But what was it? It was what they call: "Stroke of the Young". It was very typical as it was stress-related and work-related. It was migraine-induced, the doctors say.
But there I was, I couldn't subtract, I couldn't even count backwards, I was stuttering. Where will I get the ability to teach my son how to count? I couldn't walk straight, I was limping, my right hand was paralyzed, and my face was crooked. I couldn't look at the mirror at that time. I needed therapy. Oh, I had depression and a mountain full of self-pity. That was the hardest battle I had to fight. But slowly, I fought back by slowly picking up the pieces – for my young family and for myself.
And then exercise came into the picture. I needed a life style change, which meant learning how to relax a little at first then more later.
At the onset, I was exercising for health. I was doing it for my family. I want to be around when my kids graduate from college and start having their own families.
Now, I have moved up a notch higher (many notches from where I started). In my mid-40's, I challenged myself to go beyond health. I am able to play a better game of badminton now more than ever. My physical strength has enhanced my stamina to play the game. I also added swimming drills as another option to my regular workout regimen. I am proud to have bounced back to life with vigor with no pains to my health that threaten people my age. I want to show young and old people that they have this option to choose: either to age gracefully and beautifully or to be swamped with medicines and health threats. I choose to be in control of my life and enjoy my husband and children and grandchildren.
Angelita Mercado
Platinum RCBC NYAA 2011 Health Category Winner
