Survival Journeys

She was a wife, had a job, one child in daycare, another in kindergarten. All this came to a screeching halt when she had a massive brainstem stroke that left her unable to talk, walk and swallow.

How I bounced back from a stroke and found humility and clarity in the process.

Poetry uses words to process emotions, and stroke appears to bring up plenty of emotions. We present to you the poetry of five stroke survivors...and an invitation (and guidance) from a poetry therapist to liberate your own muse.

I write this not for pity, but to give you some insight into what I wrestle with and hopefully so you can get to know me a little better. I was 43, in the prime of life or just the beginning, some would say.

Serious events like a daughter’s stroke and father’s heart attack aren’t typically considered blessings, but for Denice DeAntonio, a beautiful blessing emerged from those two frightening experiences.

In Feb 2003, Virginia had a stroke. She woke up in May. She had had a hemorrhagic stroke caused by an AVM. She still remembers the first two things her husband said to her.

After a stroke in 2007 that left her unable to work or be a mother, Lisa began questioning what her purpose in life was.

Mary and Reed Harris have been partners in Reed’s stroke recovery for nearly ten years. Personal relationships rely on communication so Reed’s global aphasia was met with more than a few challenges. They share their story, tips and advice to others for living with the effects of aphasia day-to-day.

Stroke survivor Robert Cull’s medical team was persistent in trying to identify why he’d had a stroke and made an important discovery about his health in the process.

Stroke survivor Connie Stagnaro headed back to physical therapy 15 years after her stroke after surgery to correct a stroke-related condition. But this time was different than the first.