For quite some time, I have been away from my blog. 

Perhaps, you’ve wondered why? 

I intend to start writing and posting my photographs again, but slowly. I should explain what has gone on in the last ten months.

On September 30, 2022, Hurricane Ian created havoc on the west coast of Florida. It was a category 4.5. There was a controversy about the category rating. Many felt the devastation was more like a category 5. It left tremendous destruction in its path. People are still recovering. 

Fortunately, my husband’s sister lives on the opposite coast from where the hurricane center predicted. We decided to drive the 4 hours. We felt it would be a safer location. 

We had another family member visit our home to assess any damage the morning after the storm hit. A neighbor across from our house tried to call us, but their phones were down. They could see the destruction and were vigilant to monitor everything until our return. We anxiously drove home.

The drive home was a nightmare. Downed trees and electrical poles made it unsafe to travel on certain roads. The state of Florida deployed the national guard to monitor traffic. Detours were in place too. We lost our sense of direction at times. The roads weren’t familiar. Eventually, gas became a concern. The lines were very, very long. We prayed we’d make it home with the amount of gas we had. We did.

Our home sustained a lot of damage. The water, lights, and internet were down for many weeks. Living on the West Coast of Florida for 30 years, I am familiar with hurricanes and the aftermath they leave behind. We’ve had damage from storms before, but never like this one.

Although we had a generator, gas (petrol) was very scarce. We limited the hours it would be on. Navigating a dark house can be tricky, even with flashlights and candles. Because of this, I fell in the bathroom, hitting the back of my head on the tiles, which caused a stroke. I didn’t know it was a stroke. At dawn, when my head ached terribly, I decided to go to the hospital to get checked. The three hospitals in my neighboring town flooded, causing their electricity to shut down. There were no emergency facilities. Police, fireman, and emergency services stepped in to move patients to other towns as far as an hour away. 

I decided to wait before seeking medical attention for the fall. I waited five days. Then, the headaches became severe, plus I was dizzy and unable to keep my balance. The dizziness gave me nausea. I was unable to hold anything down except water. Concerned, my husband called around to see where I could get examined. The nearest hospital was an hour away. Our gas was low since the gas station was out of petrol. A kind neighbor offered to give us several gallons. A blessing!

We arrived at the hospital emergency room. It was full of people. There would be a very long wait. Eventually, tests are being done, along with blood work. 

My diagnosis was Hemorrhagic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/aka: stroke. This type of stroke, with no warning, is the most serious of all kinds of strokes.

How does a stroke affect my body?

Strokes are to your brain what a heart attack is to your heart. When you have a stroke, part of your brain loses its blood supply, which keeps that brain area from getting oxygen. Without oxygen, the affected brain cells become oxygen-starved and stop working correctly.

If your brain cells go too long without oxygen, they’ll die. If enough brain cells in an area die, the damage becomes permanent, and you may lose the abilities that area once controlled. However, restoring blood flow may prevent that damage or limit its severity. That’s why time is critical in treating a stroke.©webmd

Eventually, I was in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) for monitoring. Several days later, I went home to rest and recover. 

Because I have a genetic blood disorder, I form blood clots. I’ve been on blood thinners for it since my diagnosis in 2006. My hematologist, neurologist, and primary care physicians were there for my aftercare, but the electricity and internet were still down. 

I’m grateful and blessed that I do not have facial or physical paralysis. My thoughts are slower, although they have improved daily. The meds helped but weren’t helping. I struggled to stay calm due to the damage around my home. Our electricity did not turn on for three weeks. We needed to conserve gasoline for the generator since the lines were long plus limited amounts were still in place. For the most part, people were civil and helpful to each other. Sometimes, nerves, anger, and confusion about what to do next created episodes. We chose to do without necessities rather than get involved with that behavior from others. We had the basics of non-cooked foods and water. A very caring and generous neighbor brought us food while offering to help with clean-up. It was too much for me. I stayed indoors and kept the world outside. It was necessary for my recovery.

I’ll add photos as I continue with this saga. Of course, there’s more.

Thank you to everyone who’s touched my heart with laughter, friendship, fun antics, caring, and love. 

I have a new journey I’m embarking upon, one with adventures and family moments of love. 

My blog will still have posts, but not as many as before. I hope to write a bit more about the Hurricane repair experience.

Thank you for reading and continuing to follow my little space.

Namaste,

Isadora De La Vega 🙏🏻

*****If you’re curious about my orchids, I have five left out of the forty-eight I had in my greenhouse. My collection was from ten years of labor of love. I grew the orchids to 48 with my handy little cuttings and purchased weakness at orchid shows. I have photos and memories of the meditative moments they gifted me.