A quick heads-up: I am putting this text together and translating it using AI. Typing long posts with only one working hand is still too slow and difficult for me. So, I apologize in advance for any weird phrasing or "broken" English.
In April of last year, my life split into "before" and "after." I was 29 years old. I had a stroke caused by a congenital vascular anomaly (AVM) that I didn't even know existed. It only showed itself the moment it ruptured.
How it happened I was working a night shift as a security guard in central Moscow. I sat down on the couch and took out my laptop (I worked as a freelance graphic designer on the side). The moment the bright screen lit up the dark room, my eye pressure spiked, and I was hit with a blinding headache.
I took some painkillers and lay back down. Three hours later, I tried to get up to grab some tea... and just collapsed on the floor. My left limbs completely failed. I was in so much shock and so weak that I couldn't reach my phone or my radio. I lay there on the floor for three hours until a coworker found me. I remember checking my symptoms mentally: I tried to lift my left arm — it fell like a wet noodle. I tried to smile — my face was drooping. Yep, a stroke.
The diagnosis and the fear of brain surgery At the hospital, they gave me the exact diagnosis: Hemorrhagic stroke resulting from a ruptured AVM in the right frontal, temporal, and parietal regions. Intracerebral hematoma of 40 cm³ in the right hemisphere of the brain. That is exactly why my entire left side was paralyzed.
Angiogram of the brain AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation)
My AVM was located too deep, and the first surgeon refused to operate because the risks were too high. I spent a month in the hospital waiting. During that time, they did an angiography, accidentally damaged my femoral artery, and I had to undergo emergency surgery on my leg.
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The anesthesia for that procedure was an absolute nightmare: it took me 4 hours to recover, I was shaking from panic, and my throat was unimaginably dry.
Realizing that they are going to cut your skull open and dig into your brain is a primal, animal fear. Add to that the fear of the anesthesia and the risk of dying on the table or waking up blind. Thanks to my friends, who crowdfunded a paid surgery in a single day, I was transferred to a top neurosurgery center. Right before the craniotomy, Right before they opened my skull, my ex-wife ordered sushi to cheer me up. Even though I’m left-handed, I picked up the chopsticks with my right (non-dominant) hand and started eating perfectly on the first try. I didn't even have to learn — it just happened instantly. It was a huge relief to see that my right hand was fully capable and ready to take over.
Waking up and the scars The only person who managed to calm me down was an awesome anesthesiologist right before the surgery. She just said: "You’ll fall asleep, and you’ll wake up in the ICU." And that’s exactly what happened.
I woke up with a tube in my throat. Monitors beeping everywhere. I felt a wild headache, and the skin on my head felt stretched tight like a drum. The surgeons walked up to me: "The surgery was a success!" My blood pressure stabilized, but my body still wouldn't listen to me.
A day later, I woke up with a wildly swollen face and a massive black eye . I looked terrifying, but hey, I survived. And I got some serious battle scars on my head.
which is standard when they cut into the temporal part of the skull
First steps, art therapy, and chess
A couple of weeks later, I was transferred to a rehabilitation center. First, I learned to stand at the parallel bars. My leg felt like it belonged to someone else, but the instructors were incredibly supportive.
First steps at the parallel bars.
I tried to stay social: I went to art therapy, where we crafted things out of wool. I made some amazing friends there, which I am very happy about. I even liked a girl who was dealing with the exact same health problem as me. Since I'm a huge chess fan, I brought a 4-player chessboard with me and looked for opponents on the hospital patios. I played 1v1 with the local guys — it was crucial for me not to isolate myself and to keep doing what I love.
One year later: Where I am now
I’ve been through a lot of rehab since then. I was lucky enough to find an excellent specialist right near my house, and we’ve achieved great things together!
Today, I am incredibly happy with my results. I’ve restored my walking to a great extent. I still wear my AFO (leg brace) and haven't taken it off yet, but I can already walk outside without a cane, and I easily tackle flights of stairs — 14 floors up and down.
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My paralyzed left arm is also going through the recovery stages — it can already do some pretty cool stuff.
I keep grinding every single day. Twice a week, I leave my house and go for a walk - 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) on foot, no matter the weather. I do this just to get to the gym, where I spend another two hours sweating it out with my instructor. Through these workouts, I found a new version of myself: stubborn and strong.
https://reddit.com/link/1sx78lx/video/r4pwt6gi5rxg1/player
I’m writing all this to remind you: appreciate how awesome it is just to have working arms and legs! Finding the strength to enjoy life after a stroke wasn't as hard as it seemed. Right now, I found a part-time job as a phone operator — it's something I can manage at the moment.
Here is a video of how I walk today:
In my free time, I just play my favorite game — chess. Almost every day I stream on Twitch: I play, chat, and show my life without any filters. I would be super happy to see your support and just hang out in the chat!
👉 My Twitch:https://twitch.tv/SeregaStroke
Thank you to everyone who read this far. We keep working! 💪