Out of the Darkness
An Inspirational Story of Survival in the Face of Stroke and Locked-In Syndrome
by
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Just when the caterpillar thought the world
was over, it became a butterfly…
- proverb
Miracles do happen
People say “I am a walking miracle”. My recovery miraculous and I am very lucky to be alive! I guess so, but it has taken a lot of hard work, a loving and supportive husband, a core group of dear friends, and a singular goal/determination to push myself in therapy and on my own to work as hard as possible, in order to get my life back.
I have heard it said that “strokes are like earthquakes- the epicenter of an earthquake and a stroke are very similar in destruction and the rebuild time needed. Using the same metaphor, outside areas are also affected, with disruptions to roadways (blood cells) and telecommunications (nerve cells)”.
Attitude, in any recovery, as in life, is extremely important.
“Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is
dealt you represents determinism;
the way you play it is free will.”
- Jawaharal Nehru
I doubt if I will ever gain my former life back and be able to return to work again, but I can continue to assist and help my husband Kevin grow his new business and do project work.
I really miss not working! We do not have children so both our jobs were a very important part of our lives and a sense of pride and accomplishment. It’s still amazing to me how quickly my daily life and identity was taken away. One week, I was a woman engaged in work, family and the challenges of daily life, then over what should have been a normal weekend, my life radically changed.
I woke up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with Kevin and my best friend Lisa by my side. Kevin explained to me that I had had a Stroke, had surgery and was in the ICU at INOVA Fairfax hospital. I was terrified and had no idea what was ahead. My ICU nurse, Val was wonderful! She looked down at me and said: "You know, I think she might still be there. Let's see, talk to her.” Val guided conversations in the form of questions, allowing me to blink once for “yes” and twice for “no” answers. Other people began to arrive as well, including my cousin who hates hospitals. Him being there made me think I was dying. This also happened when a Rabbi was just walking the hospital floor and stopped in to cheer me up. I didn't like men visiting, probably a vanity thing. This became clear as I became agitated.
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About the Book
In an instant, forty-nine-year-old Allison O’Reilly went from being an active woman engaged in her family, the challenges of daily life, and a career as director of marketing for a Fortune 100 company to a life struggle to regain her independence. In Out of the Darkness, she shares her personal story of experiencing a brain stem stroke that left her in a locked-in syndrome.
Her memoir chronicles the events of her massive stroke, as well as her will and determination to fight for her life and independence. She narrates the story of her miraculous recovery in the face of enormous odds, the task of relearning everything, the overwhelming challenges, and the lessons she learned about herself when faced with adversity.
A narrative of healing and of love and hope, Out of the Darkness shares the realities of O’Reilly’s experiences, acknowledging that every stroke and every recovery is different. In this story, she strives to provide a non-clinical voice for all stroke survivors.
About the Author
Allison O’Reilly is a native Washingtonian. In 2010, at age forty-nine, she experienced a brain stem stroke that put her in a locked-in syndrome. Before her stroke, O’Reilly was director of marketing for a Fortune 100 company. She currently lives in McLean, Virginia, with her husband. This is her first book.