Acknowledgments ix Foreword by the Author's Brother, Edward Nudelman 1 Introduction 5 1. An Overview: "You are very lucky!" 7 2. My Stroke: Issues and Challenges 10 3. How Many Hours Does It Take? 18 4. Types of Strokes 24 5. A Stroke of Endurance: Double Survivor 26 6. A Stroke of Disruption: Near-Perfect Health Before the Stroke 39 7. A Stroke of Wonder: The Day I Went into a Coma, Entering a Parallel World 43 8. A Stroke of Grace: Waking Up After an "Out-of-Body Experience" 48 9. A Stroke of Discordance: Challenges Regarding Institutional Meals 53 10. A Stroke of Cognizance: Differing Practices and Beliefs of Wellness and Healing 68 11. Physical Therapy in the United States: Pain Is Gain (A Stroke of Awe) 84 12. Physical Therapy in Japan 94 13. Some Specific Aids in Walking for Paralyzed Limbs 102 14. A Stroke of Disorientation: Post-Coma Illusionary Ideations … "I am not crazy!" 110 15. A Stroke of Dread: Horrible Travel Back to Japan and Nearly Being Incarcerated 118 16. Rebirth: I'm Back Party 124 17. A Stroke of Gratitude: Japan's Care Manager System and My Recent Adjustments 128 18. A Stroke of Relief: Back HOME After One Year 132 19. A Stroke of Disempowerment: Through the Lens of Gender and Racism in Japan 138 20. A Stroke of Balance: Taking the Best of All Worlds 146 21. The Japan Model 149 22. Independent Accessible Rooms and Public Toilets 152 23. Conditions Conducive to Stroke Recovery 161 24. Smell the Roses 164 25. Conditions of Stress in Stroke 165 26. Current Status: Moving Forward 170 Final Words 176 Haiku of Completion 179 Appendices I. Good Practices in the United States (Harborview) 181 II. Good Practices in Japan 183 III. Safe Aids in Mobility—the Harness Walker 184 IV. Information and Networking Websites for Survivors 185 V. For Gardening Lovers 187 VI. Other Special Needs Equipment 188 VII. Facilities for Re-Walking (Project Walk) 190 VIII. Strategies to Walking Recovery 192 IX. Robotics Rehabilitation: Ekso-Skeleton Suits in the United States 195 X. My Personal Best of Walking (Distance and Speed) 204 XI. Poetry, by Laurel Kamada: A Calendar of Poetry and Haiku 205 XII. Messages from Others Around Me for Stroke Survivors 208 XIII. Selected Glossary 210 Bibliography 213 Index 215