It was Friday, September 27, 2024, that my life changed overnight. I went from being completely…read morehealthy--perfect bloodwork, no medications, a clean organic diet, slim and fit--to being crippled overnight.
I am a Clinical Psychologist, Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale University, and a full-time private practitioner. I love my work and my patients. But now, I am the patient.
After having two infected molars extracted--remnants of childhood root canals--I suffered a stroke just a day and a half later, paralyzing the right side of my body. My neurologist at Yale's Stroke Clinic believes bacteria entered my bloodstream from the procedure. I was prescribed antibiotics only on the day of extraction, not before.
I had always been fiercely independent. Suddenly, I was helpless. Lying in bed, unable to move, I was consumed by an anxiety I had never known. The fear was paralyzing. Nights were sheer terror--I felt trapped in darkness, convinced morning would never come. My body wouldn't move, my mind raced, and the isolation of night made it unbearable. Sleep, crucial for brain repair after a stroke, was impossible.
Desperate for relief, I reached out to Xilin Feng Jordan, the owner of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She had successfully treated me for a shoulder issue a decade earlier, and I knew I needed her expertise again.
The universe works in mysterious ways--without Xilin, I don't know where I'd be. She is my miracle, my healer--physically, emotionally, and spiritually. With experience treating stroke patients in a Chinese hospital, she makes magic happen.
Now, five months post-stroke, while I continue traditional rehab, it is Xilin's acupuncture--four to five times a week--that drives my recovery. I arrive struggling to move, and by the end of each session, I have more mobility than before. Walking, lifting my arm, moving my fingers--all remain challenges, but every day, I grow stronger. Her son, Libai, currently getting his degree in acupuncture, adds to her brilliance, offering insightful and effective recommendations. How wonderful it is to get two brilliant minds.
Xilin is more than a practitioner; she is a spiritual healer. The energy she and Libai radiate is infectious. She lives what she teaches, recommending transformative books like The Magic of Surrender by Kute Blackson, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, Believe in Yourself by Joseph Murphy, The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer, and You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay.
At her suggestion, I now use a Biomat--an FDA-licensed infrared heating pad infused with amethyst and tourmaline, combining far-infrared light and negative ion technology. Every night, I lay on it for an hour while listening to audiobooks. This simple practice has been invaluable to my healing.
In addition to acupuncture, Xilin prescribed two powerful herbal formulas. One calmed my crippling nighttime anxiety, allowing me to sleep--something I feared I had lost forever. That intervention was life-changing. Sleep is essential for stroke recovery; it's when the brain repairs itself. Without it, healing stalls. Xilin's medicine gave me back my nights, which in turn, gave me back my recovery.
Recovery demands full commitment--physically, mentally, and emotionally. The mind holds immense power. If you believe you won't recover, you won't. Even with the best care, a negative mindset will sabotage progress. We are the product of our beliefs.
Xilin has reshaped my perspective. I've let go of anger at the dentist who didn't prescribe antibiotics earlier. Instead, I focus entirely on the present--on healing. My journey is built on Xilin's extraordinary acupuncture, Chinese herbs, healthy eating, quality sleep, physical therapy, rehab, and the wisdom found in the books she recommended.
Most importantly, she believes in me, and that belief helps me believe in myself. Her confidence in making a full recovery gives me the strength to keep going. That trust, that unwavering faith in my ability to heal, is just as crucial as any treatment. It is the foundation of my progress, and for that, I am endlessly grateful.
