To quote Edgar A. Guest, "it takes a heap of lovin' to make a house a home." And literally that is exactly what Shelley Allen did for her son, Will Allen.

Four years ago when Will suffered his stroke at 23 years old, he was sent to a rehab unit outside of Springfield, Missouri following his hospital care. Shelley drove at least once a week to the Springfield area to nurture and visit her son. At the same time she was caring for her husband who was recovering from prostate cancer.

During her weekly visits she could see Will going steadily down hill. In spite of feeding tubes and catheters, he steadily lost weight until he was mere skin and bones. She knew something had to be done. She just knew if she could just get him home ‑ under her care, he would regain strength. So she talked with the doctors about releasing him to her home care and they finally agreed but only after she took a two 1/2 week crash course in nurses training. By studying night and day she satisfied the doctors that she would be able to handle catheters, feeding tubes and aerators. She moved Will home with her and it wasn't long before he began showing vast improvement. He was eating without a tube, not using a catheter and gaining weight. He now weighs almost 200 pounds.

Through a friend whose husband had suffered a stroke, she heard about the American Stroke Foundation located near them in Kansas City, Missouri at 59^th and Swope Parkway. Will began attending the Missouri activity center and continued to improve.

Will, now 27, has flourished from the various classes exercise, the stimulation of friendship and conversation and the general good will of other stroke survivors. Will now enjoys closed caption TV, working with the computer and even cooking. Shelley feels he soon will be able to become a little more independent by moving into an apartment and perhaps doing some part‑time work. He will continue to have challenges, but Will has shown he has the determination to continue rebuilding his life.

Shelly credits the relief she and Will now to the "heap of lovin" they received from the American Stroke Foundation. Where else can you find the encouragement to get up every day and accomplish new things with the help of people just like you?