Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke

In her illuminated story, “I Still Matter,” Angel James shares the challenges of rebuilding her life after a stroke left her struggling to speak, walk, and read. Through the support of her family, an aphasia group, and her speech therapist, Angel slowly found the courage to speak again. By practicing with her cat, Lola, and learning to celebrate her progress, she began to rebuild her confidence an...

In his illuminated story, “Kindness Lights the Way,” Brad McKenzie reflects on how seeing the Light and feeling a deep sense of peace guided him toward spreading kindness in the wake of his stroke. After losing the ability to walk and speak as he once had, Brad worked to rebuild his life and reconnect with what mattered most. Through the support of his family and the brain injury community, he fou...

In his illuminated story, “Better Version of Myself,” Mike King shares how he reached a turning point in his recovery after stroke and began to believe in a new future. Through the support of his family and the connections he found in the brain injury community, Mike rediscovered his passion for helping others. From baking with fellow survivors to hosting a support group of his own, Mike reflects...

In her illuminated story, “Finding Strength in South America,” Tia Palafox shares how a solo adventure to Uruguay helped her rediscover her strength and independence after stroke. Walking the cobblestone streets of Colonia del Sacramento, she reached the historic gates overlooking the ocean and declared, “I can do this.” Tia reflects on the daily challenges of recovery, the reminders that keep her...

In his illuminated story, “Moments Connect,” Roger White shares how he came to understand his recovery after stroke not as one defining turning point, but as a collection of meaningful moments. From hiking in the Wallowa Mountains to cycling around Crater Lake on his three-wheeled trike, Roger reflects on the small successes that, together, tell a much bigger story of recovery, resilience, and pos...

In his illuminated story, “Filling the Gaps,” Ray Erdmann shares how he found a way to fill the gaps in his memory after stroke. Through the kindness of a doctor and hospital staff, Ray was reunited with the people who recognized his stroke, provided lifesaving care, and helped him begin to move forward. That powerful experience inspired him to give back through volunteering, continuing his gratit...

"All of us are healing together, each person's strength feeding the others." Roger thought he understood interdependence. A stroke in 2024, and the cancer behind it, showed him what he'd been missing. From the moment he regained consciousness, Roger's relationships shifted: a friend who sat quietly by his hospital bed, four guys sharing bibs and bad jokes at a rehab lunch...

"All of us are healing together, each person's strength feeding the others." Roger thought he understood interdependence. A stroke in 2024, and the cancer behind it, showed him what he'd been missing. From the moment he regained consciousness, Roger's relationships shifted: a friend who sat quietly by his hospital bed, four guys sharing bibs and bad jokes at a rehab lunch...

"I always knew I was put in this world to help others." Pina knew this as an office manager, a caregiver, a grandmother. A stroke taught her what it really means. Pina's story is about trying — one step, one word, one breath at a time — and the family, faith, and fellow survivors who made that possible. Now Pina is the one sitting with others when the words won't come, saying w...

"I always knew I was put in this world to help others." Pina knew this as an office manager, a caregiver, a grandmother. A stroke taught her what it really means. Pina's story is about trying — one step, one word, one breath at a time — and the family, faith, and fellow survivors who made that possible. Now Pina is the one sitting with others when the words won't come, saying w...

Mariella's stroke taught her that the little moments are the big moments. From standing up in a rehab hallway to finding her people in a water cup relay, Mariella shows us what it looks like to trust the process even when progress isn't always visible. Her story is about consistency, community, and discovering you're more resilient than you ever knew. Community Conversation Prompt M...

Mariella's stroke taught her that the little moments are the big moments. From standing up in a rehab hallway to finding her people in a water cup relay, Mariella shows us what it looks like to trust the process even when progress isn't always visible. Her story is about consistency, community, and discovering you're more resilient than you ever knew. Community Conversation Prompt M...

"When we let each other in, we help each other." Gary knew this as a runner and a coach. A stroke in 2020 taught him what it really means. Gary's story is about connection — neighbors, coaches, roommates, therapists, and fellow survivors who showed up. Now Gary is the one showing up for others, sitting with fellow stroke survivors, and passing on exactly what was given to him.  Comm...

"When we let each other in, we help each other." Gary knew this as a runner and a coach. A stroke in 2020 taught him what it really means. Gary's story is about connection — neighbors, coaches, roommates, therapists, and fellow survivors who showed up. Now Gary is the one showing up for others, sitting with fellow stroke survivors, and passing on exactly what was given to him.  Comm...

Faith says her body is like a baby. It needs repetition, patience, and consistency to learn something new. Try. Try again. Try again. She's now washing dishes, folding laundry, walking her neighborhood for an hour at a time — and she's walking fast. In this episode, Faith traces her journey from the ICU to the familiar halls of the rehabilitation center where she once worked as a nurse,...

Faith says her body is like a baby. It needs repetition, patience, and consistency to learn something new. Try. Try again. Try again. She's now washing dishes, folding laundry, walking her neighborhood for an hour at a time — and she's walking fast. In this episode, Faith traces her journey from the ICU to the familiar halls of the rehabilitation center where she once worked as a nurse,...

Today we meet Denise Lowell.  Denise shares her journey from confusion, depression, and isolation after her stroke to discovering purpose and creating community. After losing her ability to read, write, and speak clearly due to aphasia, Denise transformed her struggle into action—creating a thriving aphasia support community in Rhode Island that has grown from a single conference to an organizatio...

Today we meet Denise Lowell.  Denise shares her journey from confusion, depression, and isolation after her stroke to discovering purpose and creating community. After losing her ability to read, write, and speak clearly due to aphasia, Denise transformed her struggle into action—creating a thriving aphasia support community in Rhode Island that has grown from a single conference to an organizatio...

Join us for a reflective two-part compilation featuring the collective wisdom of twenty-eight of our 2025 storytellers. Stroke survivors share profound insights on discovering purpose, reclaiming voice, and finding hope through adversity. Hear stories of resilience, acceptance, and the transformative power of community as survivors navigate their recovery journeys. From learning to breathe again t...

Join us for a reflective two-part compilation featuring the collective wisdom of twenty-eight of our 2025 storytellers. Stroke survivors share profound insights on discovering purpose, reclaiming voice, and finding hope through adversity. Hear stories of resilience, acceptance, and the transformative power of community as survivors navigate their recovery journeys. From learning to breathe again t...

Today we meet Sue, whose left hand suddenly stopped working during a Zoom meeting. She couldn't type or navigate the buttons to leave the call. She made her way to the floor and curled up in the corner of her home office, terrified and waiting. Sue doesn't remember the ambulance or much from her weeks in the hospital—just fragments of dreams and her kids holding her hand. When she finall...

Today we meet Sue, whose left hand suddenly stopped working during a Zoom meeting. She couldn't type or navigate the buttons to leave the call. She made her way to the floor and curled up in the corner of her home office, terrified and waiting. Sue doesn't remember the ambulance or much from her weeks in the hospital—just fragments of dreams and her kids holding her hand. When she finall...

Today on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke we share a Community Special focused on Gratitude.  This is a recording of our November Storyteller and Listener Gathering.  Our community of stroke and TBI survivors publicly share what we grateful for on this journey of recovery. From the therapists who believed in us, to the community that holds us when we stumble, to the unexpected wells of stren...

Today on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke we share a Community Special focused on Gratitude.  This is a recording of our November Storyteller and Listener Gathering.  Our community of stroke and TBI survivors publicly share what we grateful for on this journey of recovery. From the therapists who believed in us, to the community that holds us when we stumble, to the unexpected wells of stren...

Today we meet a woman whose life was defined by constant motion—conference to conference, idea to idea, achievement to achievement. She traveled with a car full of plans and a calendar full of purpose, moving through her days on autopilot while her consciousness split between the present moment and endless to-do lists. But her body was already trying to tell her something. When her legs stopped wo...