You've had a stroke: Four words that change your life
Jennifer’s poem, You’ve Had a Stroke – Four Words That Change Your Life, offers a heartfelt glimpse into what it’s like to live with the lasting effects of stroke. With honesty and care, she explores the quiet, often unseen challenges that follow those four life-changing words. From memory lapses and fatigue to questions of identity and resilience, this poem gives voice to the daily reality many people face. It’s a reflection on change, adjustment, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going.
You've Had a Stroke - Four words that change your life
By Jennifer Houghton
You've had a stroke. Four words, no more,
But they slam like a sledge on the soul’s quiet floor.
One moment you're fine, then nothing’s the same,
And now every breath feels tethered to shame.
You live in fear of what comes next—
That flutter in flight, that climb up the steps.
A walk too far, a laugh too loud—
Will it strike again, silent and proud?
Did I forget, or never know?
Is this a gap or just life’s ebb and flow?
Is my mind slipping or simply slow?
These answers, elusive, refuse to show.
Sensible shoes—my balance is thin.
A stumble, a sway, a fight I can't win.
The fatigue is a fog that swallows the day,
And no one can see it, but it won't go away.
Did I take my meds? I can’t recall.
Was it morning, or not at all?
The pillbox blinks, accusing and cold—
A daily riddle, a story retold.
They say it was “mild,” not much to see,
But every inch of life changed for me.
I laugh, I talk, I walk the same,
But deep inside, I’m not the same.
Am I senile, or still in repair?
I search for myself, but I'm not quite there.
And still, I rise, though questions remain—
Each day a triumph, each breath through pain.
You've had a stroke—four words, one war.
A battle inside that’s hard to ignore.
But here I stand, though nothing feels right,
Still holding the line, still fighting the fight.
This photo was taken recently on a cruise. Part of reclaiming my life.