‘To Dance in the Rain’ & Mastering the art of living after a stroke
Many of you have asked how Alicia has been doing since her story, ‘To Dance in The Rain’ was published in 2014. This title described our family’s journey of hope and healing following Alicia’s devastating stroke as a teenager. A few of you may see her from time to time on FB, but many have asked what she is up to. So let me tell you how Alicia and Liam are doing post-epilogue.
After Liam was born, he and Alicia lived here in Connecticut for just over a decade. Matthew, Liam’s dad, also relocated here for a couple of years and although Alicia and him are no longer together as a couple, they continue to do a great job co-parenting Liam.
To be honest, I am not sure what the big appeal is with Ohio but Matthew, who was brought up there and Alicia who went to school at Wright State University had both missed it and talked often about making their way back to the Buckeye State.
While Alicia was living at home after graduating from WSU, she had applied for one job after another in her chosen field of Rehabilitation Services. After years of no success in landing a job, she went back to school and earned a certificate in Billing and Coding, which she felt might be an easier field to enter the workforce in, considering some of the limitations she has had since her hemorrhagic stroke at age 16.
In 2020, much to my disappointment, Alicia decided to make her way back to Ohio with Liam and settled in the Dayton area. They found an apartment, Liam was enrolled in school and Alicia was on her way once again, to making a new path in life. Finding a job has not been easy for her although not for the lack of trying. She continues to apply nearly weekly for a variety of positions. So, although it has been difficult, frustrating and at times discouraging for her, Alicia continues to persevere.
Now in 2022, twenty years after Alicia’s life was almost taken from her, following a devastating brain injury, she pushes on. She continues to remain hopeful, finding joy in the moments she shares with family and friends. I am so very proud of how she approaches life… patiently, diligently and accepting of all the challenges as well as blessings that she has been given.
