6 Neuro Surgeries, 4 Concussions- Ty Knows Life As A Victor!

Yes I had 6 brain surgeries by the age of 7. I have had 4 concussions in my life that I count. You may ask yourself how I can see myself as a victor. Well I never let my surgeries and concussions get me down for long. There was always a job to be done. Rehab from a surgery or accident that led to concussion. School homework, baseball drills, running track and just trying to achieve normal kid goals no matter how long it took. To say I am stubborn and humbly speaking an overachiever I will gladly accept those compliments but only for a moment because there is always something new to achieve.

Some of my goals as an adult have been achieved. I am well educated but never feel I have all the answers. I seek knowledge as my dad told me many years ago that I would make my way in this world with my brain, pen and paper. Little did he know that being an author, blogger and speaker would be in my future when I was a boy.

None my hopes. dreams, dreams and accomplishments would have ever come true without my faith in God, my family or friends that encouraged me. I must sound like a broken record but I am not a arrogant individual that thinks they live life on a island by themselves. My supporters were many and they have continued to stay with me on my journey through the good, bad and the ugly of life.

My new goals in life are to be the best I can be in the literary and eventually back in the motivational speaker’s community. Should I ever go back to university a Master’s Degree in Sociology would be a goal that would connect with my B.A. in Leadership Development. I even like writing about the journey of people and civilizations as I have studied in Mexico and grew to love the people ,there culture, music and language.

So brain injury is an obstacle and yes I do have my bad days and will probably take anti epileptic medication due to my surgeries for the rest of my life. These facts of my health are relevant and need to be treated with respect. However I am a role model to my nephews, the disability, brain injury communities and  in my profession as a writer.

I have had to go through the stages of grieving denial, anger, bargaining, acceptance and letting go to move forward and gain peace and freedom. This is my hope for all who read my blog. Whatever life has put in your path you can overcome and be victorious. You can be someone’s hero in your family, your community and in the world. There is greatness in all of us if we dig down deep and stand up and say I want to lead, be a role model and encourage the gifts in others lives.

By Ty Stingel

Nectrotizing Fasciitis and Epilepsy

Necrotizing Fasciitis and Epilepsy don’t mix especially when you have powerful antibiotics fighting this condition post surgery with very little appetite the potential for a seizure can happen. I had a seizure in the bathroom and had the sense to pull the cord connected to a buzzer to get help from the nurse who was at her station outside my room. The doctor was by to see me before my epileptic attack and I threw up in front of him Hence no medication in my stomach or food these things can happen.

I am not trying to gross anyone out by writing about this subject. This was my reality in hospital fighting flesh eating disease. Epilepsy has been part of my life on and off since I was ten. I am now forty years old and have learned to manage it through managing my stress, staying fairly healthy and taking my medication at 8am and 8pm everyday. I have had seizures over 70 times in my life. Necrotizing Fasciitis once and I pray these two diseases never meet again in my body. This sickness will not define me but strengthen me from July 2014 till the end of my days.

Everyday should be a day of Thanksgiving, birthday, Christmas or an anniversary rolled up into one. Life is a gift and not a right. My goal is to live a happy productive life all my days. How about your life? We can choose negative or positive seeds we sow into ourselves or others. Each one of us has a mission and purpose in life.

Necrotizing Fasciitis or Epilepsy will not define who I am. God and the choices I make and how I treat others will define my journey. This life is a gift and I will treat it with respect.

By Ty Stingel

Surviving Necrotizing Fasciitis and Recovery

I haven’t written on my blog since I believe July. The date was July 31, 2014 when I got really sick due to a spider bite, fever, vomiting and a suspected charley horse in my right hip and leg. I went to the hospital a little over an hour from when I initially got sick in our small town hospital in Ponoka, Alberta Canada. Within hours my doctor had me transferred to bigger center in Red Deer Alberta.

A long story short the doctor’s in Red Deer diagnosed me with Necrotizing Fasciitis or commonly known as Flesh Eating Disease. I would have two surgeries on my right leg as the surgeon removed muscle and the infection out my leg and saved my life. I also survived respiratory arrest during my first surgery as I was in critical condition. Through the surgeons hands, medical team, positive thoughts and prayers I believe I am alive.

All toll I was in the hospital 16 days and had a total of 18 stitches in my right calf and thigh to close the incision for my surgeries. I learned to walk again with a walker and then elbow crutches. This was a humbling experience and I was encouraged by doctor’s, nurses, Physio Therapists and other medical staff as I travelled through what was and still can be difficult days of recovery.

Two months since I came home I still struggle with stamina. My lungs took quite a beating from surviving my respiratory arrest incident in surgery. However survivors of NF have endured much greater struggles than I. Having a grateful heart for every day I am given is going to be my attitude for the rest of my life. A goal of mine is to encourage Canadian Survivors of NF and provide a support group for them. The American group has been a great support to me.

Lastly I am in the middle of writing a screenplay about a man who survives NF and his families journey through the illness, surgery and recovery. I hope to have it done in a couple of months. The goal of this play is to give NF survivors a voice regarding their experience with the disease.

By Ty Stingel

The Angry Soul

The angry soul of a man

When he has his peace taken away

By someone or by the world

Through gossip or malice of another party

That man is hurt like a wounded bear

He realizes he is a part of the wrong team.

When he is angered and sad he is not centered

No matter how hard he tries he can’t escape the turmoil.

He has to escape to his place of solitude

To find his peaceful and joyful soul once again.

Trading destructive people who want at him

Tearing the flesh from his bone with hurtful words and deeds.

He replaces them with loving, kind and respectful people

To help transform him back to who he truly is.

No longer the angry soul but a kind loving soul

And the good man who is grateful for life.

By Ty Stingel

May 20, 2014

Dad had his 65th birthday

 My dad had his 65th birthday on February 27th and the thought of him becoming a senior citizen I have mixed emotions about. Yes I am grateful he made it to this age and yet concerned that he feels worn out. This is the natural progression of life I guess. He and my mom who turns 65 later this year are in my thoughts and prayers. Even more than that I want to protect them from those who take advantage of old people. This includes relatives, so called friends and perfect strangers.

 They will forever be heroes in what they accomplished in their lives. My mom as a nurse, teacher, administrator and mother and how she balanced all her duties. My dad as a welder, teacher of welding in high school and a father. My parents beat the odds and taught me how to dream big. Now they are teaching my sisters kids their grandchildren how to work, learn and follow their dreams. Hockey camps, school plays, meeting their teachers are all apart of their lives. Just like their previous lives of being great parents they have transferred those same skills in making them wonderful grandparents. I remind my nephews how blessed they really are to have Nana and Gah- Gah as they are affectionately called as active grandparents in their lives.

So 65 years old has perks and drawbacks but has not stopped my dad and mom from living. So what if they need to take a few medications so they can have quality of life and function well. The important thing is they live well and they are grateful for every breath they take. My hope and prayer is that I have that kind of attitude at their age.

By Ty Stingel

March 4, 2014 

Coming To My Senses

Coming to my senses

Is not just an emotional awakening of the soul

But to taste, touch, smell, hear and see when the day unfolds

Praying I won’t be blinded by cloudy lenses.

The gift of life can be wasted and there is nothing sadder

What if we have one or more of our senses taken away

Do we curse our luck, like we have no value like a tossed away piece of clay

Yes life gives us challenges and it’s how we use our lives that matters.

Some days I can only feel  hot or cold on my right side

But their is nothing wrong with my taste buds when eating a meal

Or the smell of beautiful flowers from a freshly cut field

Taking delight in the song of a bird and watching it glide.

Then again I need to come to my senses and to be free

For the things I do have and seeking favor

To the God who gives me breath and life to savour

We all have strengths and weaknesses you see.

And who am I to tell you what to believe and say what’s right

Just know with this life we have the choice to receive

So we can give with our abundance of riches and truly breath

No I am not just talking about money though that is nice.

It is our talent, time, teaching and a helping hand

No matter the challenges that lay ahead today

We can make a difference in our work and play

Rich or poor, sickness or health we can say I will and I can.

Making this world a better place should be appealing

To lift a brother or sister up who needs love, mercy and grace

Leaving a legacy for family, friends to follow while they see us life with a joyful face

Coming to one’s senses gives a person no greater feeling.

By Ty Stingel

February 8, 2014

Pictures

When I was a baby there was a picture of stand on my dads hand

Or being held by my mom

The shaved head a memory of surgery was done

A family portrait taken in a grain of time like the blowing sand.

Pictures full of my memories

In more innocent times

When all the world seemed fine

Oh how I could go back to days such as these.

Where dad came home dirty from another construction job

Mom was the teacher, nurse and a rock

My sister ran from the camera which was a lock

We lived, we grew with picture as we traveled this sod.

I went to college and made new friends

was in love and their was getting my picture taken again

then working as a missionary in a different land and more pictures I sent

Through different roads in my life a picture was like an old friend.

Pictures are like a window into the soul

They rarely if ever lie

They are like a gift from heaven coming out of the sky

The photo can capture our darkest hour or catch us with a smile and glow.

College graduations, weddings, reunions and births have been taken

In the last number of years

Where there was much joy and we overcame our fears

Creating lasting memories, joy, tears and love are at stake.

Now grand children and nephews take up the photo lens

With our digital cameras and computers to create the scene

Of who we are and were we have been

When we are done we create many photos and press send.

So you see pictures are a history making tool

That we can admire and reflect on the day

Where our world changed come what may

Knowing we did our best to live life to the fullest and keep the Golden rule.

By Ty Stingel

February 5, 2014

I Will

I will not dwell on the past for long.

I will concentrate on being the best I can be in the moment.

I will look forward to the future.

I will ask God for his favor.

I will challenge myself to get out of my comfort zone.

I will listen to positive options others give.

I will acknowledge change is unavoidable.

I will keep an open mind in all situations.

I will make my own decisions.

I will think about the possibility of successes.

I will cheer for others and encourage their efforts.

I will get back up when I fall down.

I will focus on my strengths and work on my weaknesses.

I will not try to please others.

I will be a patient person.

I will overcome my fears as a brain injured person.

I will make it a goal not to repeat habitual mistakes.

I will be calculating in my decision making.

I will ask help from others.

I will help others who ask for it.

I will not quit.

I will be a good teammate.

Most of all I will be a champion!

By Ty Stingel

February 2, 2014

Tears of Healing

I have experienced tears of healing

Tears of fear, tears of joy

Words of encouragement that were employed

Being forced to face life and my feelings.

My experience of tears started as a little boy

This may seem normal as life goes

But challenges came early and the tears flowed

Their were surgeries and mentions of life, death and no time to play coy.

So I prayed for my mom and dad when life seemed uncertain

By the grace of God, prayers and the surgeon’s hands

My tears of fear, became tears of joy as I wanted out of that hospital bed to stand

The dark feelings of sadness gone as my mom pulled back the curtain.

So in the coming years my tears of healing came

Now and then as I am grateful for life

Even when disappointments of the world cut like a knife

Due to my second chance to live I will never be the same.

I do not know were you tears in life have come from

My hope is that your tears of sadness are replaced

By tears of healing and joy on your face

As your life is full of love, grace and peace under the sun.

By Ty Stingel

January 29, 2014