When I was in the hospital, my friends decided I was not a teddy bear type.  Therefore I received a stuffed animal kangaroo, flamingo, ostrich, three-foot-long rhinoceros

In the rehab hospital, I graduated to a daylong neuro program, sleeping at home but coming to therapy during the day. Patients in the program were sent to the hospital cafeteria for lunch.

I didn't eat much at the hospital and became really skinny. This period is the closest I have ever been to supermodel gaunt.

In the rehab hospital, I met another stroke patient, an older gentleman. He didn't seem to have difficulties speaking or have movement problems.

I also shared a room in the rehab hospital with a teenage girl who had tried to shoot herself dead in the head, and missed.

Rehab hospitals see the unlucky and the lucky. I shared a room with a woman who went into her office on a weekend. Thieves broke in.