January 12th, 2020—a beautiful Sunday at Riverbend Country Club in Houston, Texas, and a full day of teaching on the lesson tee for me. I just couldn’t wait!
I was only able to finish my first lesson before my life took a drastic turn.
On my way back to the front of the range, I suddenly lost consciousness, and when I came back around, I had no idea how much time had passed.
A small group of people, paramedics, and police cars crowded around me near our golf shop, everyone trying to convince me to go to the hospital. At the time, I didn’t know why. I insisted to everyone that I was fine; I just needed to go home and rest for a bit. But my friend and student, Jean, broke the ultimate news to me and though her words filled me with fear, I am so thankful for her being there that day to get me into that ambulance.
“Deb,” she said, “you have had a stroke. We’re going to the hospital—now!”
My surgeon friend was heading home on that Sunday night. He was ready to exit the freeway home when he got the call. He made a quick U-turn on the freeway and was backtracking to Sugar Land Methodist Hospital to perform my emergency surgery.
Thankfully, the surgery was a success. And after I got out of the operating room, everyone would wait and see how I was going to recover.
When I woke up in the hospital, it was the middle of the day. A group of my friends were in the room with me, talking and watching TV as they visited.
I said, “Sure can’t hear the TV too well with all this chit-chat.”
The whole group looked to me suddenly in shocked silence and then immediate thrilled delight.
Right away, I was asked to move my arms and legs and talk, talk, talk! I was stiff and sore with a headache, but I felt good as the hospital staff checked on me.
They told me I had been asleep for nineteen days, and that I was one of the lucky ones. None of it really sank in until I was prescribed heavy duty physical therapy for the next ten weeks.
I nearly died when I learned this. Couldn’t I just go home? Thankful that I was that I was on the path to recovery, I just wanted to get back to the golf course and my students.
When I went to my first group therapy meeting and saw the others I would be rehabilitating with, my attitude changed very quickly. So many folks were impacted so much more than I was, and it settled in how fortunate I had been. I decided then and there to be a model patient, and I would do whatever was asked of me (which, if you know me, is no easy task).
The physical and mental therapies were so difficult while at the same time so incredible. I am so lucky that I had such a hardworking team of therapists.
On May 1st, fifteen weeks after my stroke, the daily 8-5 therapy ended and the grueling in-home therapy began.
While I recovered, I was insistent on getting back to what I love: teaching people to play this wonderful game of golf. And I am happy to say that since late summer, I have been back in action at the Riverbend Country Club and filled with so much gratitude for everyone who helped me along the way—family, friends from the LPGA, RBCC, school, teammates and my students! I cannot thank you all enough for your kindness and support! I am reminded every day when I get back on that lesson tee, how lucky I am to be able to keep playing this game with all of you.
HI Deb, We never met. I had read your story on fb, I’m sure it was posted through the LPGA. I am a member of the LPGA Amateurs in Omaha NE. Before that was a member of EWGA since 2007. In 2009 I had a stroke, I too was very lucky. I golf on our 2 leagues and this year. My balance gives me problems so I’m hesitant to swing with force resulting in short drives. I tried to be more aggressive this year and I did great. I have a good short game and with my new found swing I was really going to lower that awful handicap. Then came Covid 19. It would be nice to meet you sometime I know we would have a lot to talk about.
Thank you for your note, Delores. Do hope to meet you sometime. Happy Holidays and all the best!
-deb 🙂
Please be generous with your prayers . This will provide comfort and healing for loved ones and friends Grateful to know you are doing well. As so many of you know Deb is truly a supportive teacher and friend . There is no doubt of the commitment and hard work that has provided Deb to continue to share her continued support for others.
Your student and friend,
Charles
Thank you for your kind post, Charles! You are the best! Please take good care and Happy Holidays! Look forward to seeing you in 2021!
Still hope to sit down with you one day.
I should have made it down to see you when I was in Austin in 2018. My bad!
Jerry…so GREAT to hear from you…thanks! Do hope to see you in 2021! Happy Holidays!
-deb 🙂
DEB,
We meet at a seminar Boerne ,Texas, with Dr. Graham 2001, I have been following your teaching and videos on line. I am pleased that you are back to teaching and your determination to get back to golf. Hope to see you in person again
Hi Theresa!
So great to hear from you…thank you! Dr. Deborah’s material is so great and she is too! Thank you for your nice note and for following me for so long…so nice of you! Hope to see you in the future, too! Happy Holidays to you!
-deb 🙂
Hi Deb. The love of golf…I was just an avid golfer at the Country Club of Asheville, NC when I had a cerebral hemorrhage. I had a fun round of golf with the WGA ladies. Early next morning I suffered the stroke and was in a coma for 14 days.
During all my therapy my husband, who was battling cancer, was so supportive and amazingly strong for five months until two weeks before his death. He told the therapist one day, “I would almost guarantee you, if you give her a golf club to hold, she will be able to balance alone while standing there.” I actually took the club and gripped it like I should.” Fortunately, I had the long term memory and knew how to grip that club.
My short term memory and balance was affected.
I learned to walk again. I’m back on the golf course. Thankful that my short game has always been the best part of my game and that I can hit the ball straight. I’m now a member of the LPGA in Asheville. It has taken eight years to bring my handicap from horrible to close to what it was my better years.
My balance and short term memory were affected. My doctor told me at the completion of my therapy that I would not get any better with my balance and memory and I gave him thumb up and told him that I was going to prove him wrong. I owe a world of gratitude to the LPGA and ones who have the love of golf.
Hi Becky!
Your story is quite a story! Congratulations for coming back so great! Loved reading this!
Have great memories from BEAUTIFUL Asheville…got to spend time in this beautiful area when I worked with the LPGA Foundation Board. Great folks on this Board!
Continued success to you! Happy Holidays too! Thank you for sharing!
–deb vangellow 🙂
Deb, thank you for sharing your story. I have always been impressed with the way you handle yourself and how much you have given to golf and to the LPGA. So happy you are on the road to recovery!
Hi Sue!
THANK YOU so much for your very kind note. This was super nice of you!
Happy Holidays!
-deb vangellow 🙂
Deb,
The golf community was rocked when we learned about your incident on the range. In record time, your many fans rallied together wanting to help. The man upstairs must have been shocked because the amount of prayers that day had to have been overwhelming. We are all thrilled your recovery has gone so well and I personally cannot wait to see your beautiful smile in person.
Hi Jill!
THANK YOU for your nice notes and thoughts…you’re the best! I am a lucky one and really, really appreciate it.
Please do have a terrific Holiday Season! Look forward to seeing you in 2021 for sure!
-deb vangellow 🙂
Hi Deb, this is Esther from your Miami of Ohio days. I had a mini stroke two years ago so I can appreciate your story. Thank goodness your friends insisted that you go to the hospital. Congratulations on your wonderful recovery and being back to playing the sport that you love!