Hello, My name is Vic Chernoff 

I suffered my third stroke in March of 2005.
I had already come back from a life threatening stroke in 1997.
I wanted to share my experience and hope with others, and to offer encouragement to anyone battling their way back from any life altering health changes.

Life can be great if you keep the right attitude!
Visit my blog "TheGulchman News"

Thanks for stopping by!  

Vic's Daughter Linda , shares what it was like for someone on the outside. 

Two years ago my Dad entered a nursing home after his third stroke.
He was one of the youngest residents since he was only in his early 60’s
 
Dad had owned his own business for over 30 years
 and was very self sufficient.
His first major stroke came in 1996, and he was in
 Stanford Critical Care for weeks.
He had to relearn how to walk and talk
and had permanently damaged his left side.
He managed to recover enough to go back
and work full time for the next ten years.
Then he had another devastating stroke.
This one struck the right side and was even more
damaging then before.
After the stroke he could not chew food,
barely speak or even roll over and the doctor
 told him he would never use his right hand again.

He worked hard at his rehab for a year and then after driving 240 miles round trip each weekend to be with him at the nursing home,
I moved him to a nursing home closer to me.
This can be a frightening and isolating event made even harder
when someone has been independent, taking care of a large
family and themselves for over forty years!

My Dad was glad to be closer to me, but went through
depression and sadness at the loss of his ability to drive and be on his own. He dearly missed his dog, and his old home and life at times.

He is still working on regaining more walking ability,
 but is still in a wheelchair for now. ( he always likes to emphasize "for now"!
He refused to accept the proclamation made by the doctor about his right hand,
and much to the therapists amazement, he started to regain use of his hand.

We set him up with a desk and a laptop with dial up , since we couldn’t get broadband or dsl in the nursing home,
 but everyone can have a phone line.
( now he has Verizon Wireless, thank goodness!)
He has learned the joy of online shopping and free shipping and emailing people.

He has taken to this like a duck to water.
He found that using the mouse helped his right arm and hand.
His arm movement is somewhat limited so we bought
Dragon Nine Voice Recognition software.

He is now practicing using it to write for his blog,
the Gulchman News.

When people come to check out the nursing home,
 the director always takes them to Dad’s room and they are very impressed.
He does so much on the Internet, he was able to take his love of
comics and use it everyday.
He uses iTunes to listen to music.
He also downloads our Pastors sermons when
we can't make it to church.
He signed up for a media service and has access to hundreds of comics each day.
He reads his favorites and new ones too.
Then he sends his friends and family comics he knows we each will enjoy.
He sends different ones to each person.
Everyday I have several laughs because my Dad sends me such funny comics!
He writes a monthly column for the newsletter at the nursing home, called "A View from the Chair" and they chose him to be
the president of the residents association.

Recently the director asked him if he would come and speak at a meeting for nursing home owners and managers!
He was thrilled.
His topic was "Getting Your Residents Wired,Bringing Technology Into The Nursing Home.
 He did a wonderful job and the audience had many questions
for him and came up to talk him when he was done.
It was wonderful!
 
He downloads the sermons from church when we can’t always make it and listens
 to Joyce Meyers online and loves her uplifting and positive messages.

Dad said "I thought my life was over, now with my new skills, I feel like I am just getting started."
To see him empowered and thriving and using the people skills he always had is such a blessing to me and my family.

We both hope if you find yourself dealing with a life turned upside down by a stroke or some other illness, that this site can be a place of hope and encouragement for you.

Linda Lee
askmepc-webdesign.com