Stroke Survivors Succeeding Life with Tammy D'ercole

Greetings.  I'm Tammy D'ercole, a 47-year old lady who is an 8-year butt-kickin SURVIVOR from Sarasota Springs, NY.  Now a single mother of four lovely women, mema of 2 delicious chicks and a daughter, of course.
   The labors of a fulI time mom included being a softball coach, girl scout leader, volunteer, nurse, neighbor... yada yada yada. My 19-year old daughter Catie had heart surgery as a new born and stroked. My third daughter is a true miracle. That was 1994. '95 had us nursing after my sister-in-law who was in stage 4 breast cancer.  1997 she lost.  
     In witnessing those life-fights, 2006 it was my turn. Atrial myxoma... what's that you say... a tumor? Where my heart... for real...  kinda unexpected.... this mom used to say God has three answers - "sure, not yet, and I had something else in mind."
  How right I learned that was.  After my sister in law passed, my church life and fake faith did too. On feb1 2006 I had open heart surgery and we, me my partner and kids together suffered a massive stroke; not my plan. 
Yet from the 5th day post event till now 8 years later a mustard seed has become a mountain of faith, hope, recovery and inspiration. From the trenches to the triumphs,  hear the story of this woman's struggle out of that bitter morass of self pity to knowing a new freedom and a new happiness! I am a long distance mom and mema, and I am no longer a cause for fear or concern to my daughters. Today. I get by with a little help from my friends, and an amazingly loving God.  Thank you Matt Duffin, for asking me to share.