An Incredible Journey of Determination and Recovery In 2005, Ted W. Baxter was at the top of his game. He was a successful, globe-trotting businessman with a resume that would impress the best of the best. In peak physical condition, Ted worked out nearly every day of the week. And then, on April 15, 2005, all that came to an end. He had a massive ischemic stroke. Doctors feared he wouldn’t make … he wouldn’t make it.
But that’s not what happened . . .
In Relentless, Ted W. Baxter describes his remarkable recovery from a massive stroke. He’s walking again. He’s talking again. He moves through life almost as easily as he did before the stroke, only now, his life is better. He’s learned that having a successful career is maybe not the most important thing. He’s learned to appreciate life more and that he wants to help people, and that’s what he does. He gives back.
Readers of Relentless will be inspired by Ted’s incredible journey of determination and recovery. This is a wonderful resource for stroke survivors, caregivers, and their loved ones, but it is also an inspiring and motivating read for anyone who is facing struggles in their own life
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True story of dealing with a severe stroke in your forties. Moving and recommended for anyone dealing with stroke victims.
The challenges of recovering one’s speech and body function after a massive stroke that interrupted a promising career fill the pages of this book. Ted’s grit and determination come through on every page, as he does far more than turn lemons into lemonade.
Relentless was fascinating, to see how nothing much more than a little heart defect with too much plane travel… all in a row… could cause a stroke… and his wife’s understanding against all odds that he wanted to live and would fight with all his might to do that….. Her decision went against that of his best friend…
All in all I found it inspirational.. with things to remember about REALLY trying hard to recover physically… in spite of it hurting…AND of course… he was the A type personality that simply dedicated himself to a straight line to his goal… Inspirational… and as many seniors face physical issues… his road map showed how information is critical to recovery….
Good read !! I was astounded at the tenacity and determination of this man as he fought his way back from a devastating stroke to a normal life . He finally settled on a totally new path to follow for the rest of his life with a new love and a renewed spirit.
Story of a man who battled back from a serious stroke.
I read the kindle book and loved this book so much. Coming with T. Baxter through the stroke and into rehab with all the techniques some of which worked and some that did not — it was amazing. I saw his determination to do better. I’m impressed. When stroke happened to Patricia Neal, she and the husband knew who to call. Ted and Kelly just didn’t know what was happening, but they got so many things right and wrote a new manual.
A must read for anyone associated with stroke victims. Inspirational!
A very graphic story of a man who survived a stroke and has worked relentlessly to overcome it’s effects on him and his body. There is a lot of detailed info about the effects of the stroke. His perseverance is inspirational.
I would really have loved to give this book a five-star rating – but there was a glaring omission: how in the world did he PAY for all these different avenues of treatment? His wife didn’t work, he was (I assume) no longer employed, so was he somehow still able to afford insurance, did his company bankroll all his recovery, or was he now rich enough to have afforded all the 2 years of therapy he participated in? Until those issues are addressed, it is difficult to consider how useful a book like this is. Kinda like reviewing Brad Pitt’s or Tom Cruise’s suggested therapy options… “yeah right” would be the response. I could see how some of the exercises could be performed by those do-it-yourselfers who don’t have the luxury of moving to a new therapy localle, etc. But his explanation re: the approaches his therapy took and the difficulties he had w his aphasia was greatly informative.
A look into the life of a successful young businessman after a major stroke due to deep vein thrombosis from too many hours of flying. His recovery from aphasia was due to his determination to try all manner of rehabilitation.
Seemingly endless self-absorbed prattle. Anyone hoping for guidance or inspiration will be sorely disappointed.
I have had a stroke which has left me with a good deal of pain on my left side so I wanted to know how he has dealt with his stroke. I had some difficulty at first speaking without slurring but I think it was because I was so numb on the left side, even my tongue.
I think he is a remarkable man and working so hard to make things right again. I feel inspired to work harder, however I have exercised hard and have definitely felt
good results. A wonderful book!
I learned a lot, I had a stroke but not nearly so severe
Having had a stroke, this book is encouraging and gives hope to both the victim and caregiver.
I know what it feels like to lose everything because of a stroke, and I recognize Ted’s determination to make as complete a recovery as possible. Relentless is an inspiring story that I hope encourages others to approach their own recovery with the same resilience.
Relentless, as its name implies, is the story of Ted Baxter’s relentless quest to force his stroke-ravaged brain back to full function. For those with an interest in stroke survival and rehabilitation for your loved ones or personal enlightenment, I suggest you pair this book with neuroscientist Jill Bolt Taylor’s My Stroke of Insight to get a sense of the incredible range of recovery options available.
Baxter’s book represents what you would expect from a Master of Universe in the financial world who could devote his life and a lot of money to his relentless quest for full recovery. If there was anything during this period he did that was not directly related to his personal goal, I didn’t notice it. Although he apparently perceived his single-mindedness as evidence of his courage, intelligence, and tenacity, I also must applaud his first wife’s strength and willingness to put up with his massive ego and sense of entitlement and the negative fall-out thereof for as long as she did. She also served as a good reminder of how much caregivers may suffer during the patient’s healing process too.
Unlike Baxter who perceived his injured brain as a villain he must best into submission, as a neuroscientist Taylor intimately knows and appreciates her brain for the elegant, complex, and adaptable organ that it is. Her insights into the world her right brain reveals when the chatter of left is silenced is worth the read. It causes her to take a kinder, gentler approach to a stroke that is as serious and debilitating as his. But although their approaches to healing differ greatly, they both stress the need for patients to make a conscious choice to heal in a way that meets their needs best. In an era when the majority of US stroke victims lack the financial wherewithal and access to anything beyond the minimum rehab options, it’s reassuring to know that the power of patient choice remains one of the most potent forces in stroke recovery too.