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10 Months Later. Here's Where I Am

By The Artful Woman
 It's hard to believe it's been 10 months since my accident. It's been quite a journey. I went from the trauma unit to an acute care hospital, connected to more life support machines than I could count. One by one, I was able to come off each machine until I was finally discharged at the end of December. When I got home, I spent about a month in bed. I couldn't do much for myself and had to slowly rebuild my strength. I started going to the gym once a week, and after a couple of months I was finally able to get a caretaker who could take me two or three times a week. That's when I really started making progress. But recovery hasn't been a straight line. My amputated leg had complication after complication, and the wounds wouldn't heal for months. Even though I received my prosthetic leg on February 10, I couldn't safely wear it until the very end of April because the wounds wouldn't close. Just when I started walking with my prosthetic at the gym, I ...
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Did I Lose Part of My Soul? A Stroke Survivor’s Journey of Reconnection

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By The Artful Woman

In 2020, my life changed forever. A stroke left me feeling disconnected—like something was missing, as if a part of me had died. For the first three years, my focus was solely on physical healing. But over the past year, I’ve shifted my attention to something deeper: mind, body, spirit, and energy.

I’ve been searching, trying to piece together what feels lost.

At times, I question whether my soul is still whole. The idea of losing part of yourself—your spirit, your essence—is not new. Many cultures believe that trauma, loss, or profound life events can fracture the soul. And what is a stroke, if not a sudden, violent rupture in both body and being?

I knew something was off the moment they sent me to rehab. I was supposed to start physical therapy, but instead, I spent three days lying in a hospital bed—forgotten. No therapy. No guidance. Just me, trapped in a place where healing wasn’t happening. And in that moment, I knew: I had to get out.

I had to get home.

Because while my body was there in that hospital bed, my spirit felt shattered. I knew I had spirituality—I always had. But something was damaged, something was disconnected. I had to find a way to reconnect my spirit with my mind and body.

This wasn’t just a feeling.

I’ve had out-of-body experiences before—I know what it’s like to feel my spirit hovering, watching my body from the outside. That kind of separation has always been familiar to me. But this? This was different.

This time, it felt like my spirit—or maybe even my soul—wasn’t just observing. It was missing.

What Happens When You Lose a Part of Yourself?

Whether or not someone can literally lose part of their soul is a matter of personal belief. There’s no scientific proof, but the feeling of loss is very real. Many stroke survivors experience a deep disconnection, a sense that they are no longer the person they once were.

This can be due to:

  • Physical Changes: A stroke can alter mobility, independence, and daily routines, leading to frustration and loss of identity.
  • Emotional Changes: Many stroke survivors experience mood swings, depression, or anxiety due to brain function changes, leaving them feeling like a stranger in their own body.
  • Cognitive Changes: Memory loss, speech difficulties, and slower processing can make it feel as if a part of your mind—your very essence—has slipped away.
  • Spiritual or Existential Shifts: When life is suddenly threatened, deep questions about purpose, God, and the soul arise. What once felt certain can become distant or incomplete.

Reconnecting to What Was Lost

If I’ve learned anything, it’s that healing isn’t just about the body—it’s about reclaiming every part of yourself.

Before my stroke, I was unstoppable. I’m a published, award-winning photographer. I was constantly creating, inspiring, leading.

During COVID, I gave up. And in giving up, I lost more than just opportunities—I lost parts of myself. My health suffered. My relationships suffered. And worst of all, my spirit suffered.

I’ve been deeply exploring energy, the higher mind, and spiritual healing. I’ve even considered taking a course in shamanism for soul retrieval—something I plan to do—but first, I seek God and Christianity. I want to understand where I fit, what I might be missing, and how to reconnect with the version of myself that never settled.

The Path Forward: Healing Mind, Body & Spirit

If you’ve ever felt like you lost a part of yourself—whether through trauma, illness, or simply the slow erosion of settling—know this:

You can reclaim yourself.

Here’s what’s helping me:

  • Faith & Spiritual Exploration: Strengthening my relationship with God while remaining open to deeper spiritual wisdom.
  • Coaching & Energy Work: As a Master Certified Life and Spiritual Coach, I’m applying everything I teach to my own life.
  • Physical & Emotional Healing: Even small victories matter. Every step toward wellness helps me rebuild my sense of self.
  • Returning to My Roots: Remembering who I was before the stroke and stepping back into that power.

Healing is a journey, and I am walking it one step at a time. I may not feel exactly the same as I did before, but I am committed to finding a new sense of wholeness, purpose, and alignment.

And if you’re on a similar path, I invite you to walk with me.

For coaching, transformation, and rediscovering your power, visit ArtfulLivingCoaching.com.

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Location: Dana Point, CA, USA

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