08 – Stroke – No Emotion

Albert had his stroke when he was in Nashville taking care for his mother who had stage four lung cancer. Before the stroke, Albert was affectionate and caring to his family. He took care of his mom and supported his brother’s opinions and suggestions.  Albert loved his sons.  Jordan, our youngest son, was the son of his old age.   He and Jordan had a wonderful relationship and did everything together. I remember when I told Albert that I was pregnant. He said, “I’ve been praying to God for a baby”. 

Together we decided that Albert would do most of the baby care duty because I had raised our other two sons almost by myself and by the age of two, Jordan was a daddy’s boy. They played football together, wrestled in the hallway, had horseback rides through the house, etc. They laughed together, watched sports together, and hung together continually. When I went shopping, I’d ask Jordan if he wanted to go with me or stay with his dad and his answer was always, “I’ll stay with Daddy”. I loved their relationship. They would sit on the bed together watching football, basketball and golf.  Jordan was always under his dad’s shadow. It was pure love. 

As Jordan grew older he played flag football and Albert was his coach. Albert went to practices and to games uplifting Jordan and the boys on the team. Albert was in his element coaching flag football, coaching Jordan, coaching the team.  

After the stroke, Albert lost the emotions that he had for Jordan. The love that he had for his son was gone.  This was hard on Jordan, and it was visible to the eye. Albert didn’t hug or sit with Jordan. He didn’t want Jordan underneath him and he didn’t reach out and touch Jordan. I could see that Jordan craved his dad’s touch and love, but Albert wasn’t able to give it to him. Albert didn’t want to be touched.  Sometimes, when Albert was lying on the bed,  Jordan would go into the bedroom and lay his body on top of Al’s body and stretch his arms and legs out on top of Albert’s arms and legs. He would lay on top of him until Albert got tired, and move Jordan’s body off of his.

Stroke takes away more from its victims than what we see physically.  It takes away the emotions that make living and loving life possible.