Can I Paint in Heaven?

This is a true story about my near-death experience due to a brain aneurysm and stroke that damaged or destroyed thirty percent of the left hemisphere of my brain. After weeks in a coma, the grim prognosis was that death was expected and survival meant living in a chronic vegetative state. By God's Grace, I survived and recovered. The purpose of writing my story is to share my experience and hope with others who are facing similar situations. A stroke is a life-changing event. It has a traumatic effect on the survivor that lasts a lifetime. Victims live with the knowledge that death by stroke is a ticking time bomb. We learn to live with it one day at a time. Sharing the details of my road to recovery may help others keep hope alive that significant restoration of brain function is possible. A catastrophic illness has major consequences for the family and friends of the victim. My family suffered tremendous emotional, physical, and financial pain. Their lives have been forever altered. Sharing their stories may help other families to realize they are not alone in their struggles.