Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke

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 organization serving people worldwide. Now, as she embarks on graduate school and explores what it means to care for herself after years of advocating for others, Denise reflects on the question: "What do I want to be when I grow up?"

Community Conversation Prompt:

What inspiring moment in your life nudged you to make a difference in the lives of others?

Mentioned Resources:

Just ASK (Aphasia Stroke Knowledge)
Aphasia Center Intensive Treatment Programs
Bridge Project
Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
National Aphasia Synergy
Trish Hambridge's Story and Interview

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

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 organization serving people worldwide. Now, as she embarks on graduate school and explores what it means to care for herself after years of advocating for others, Denise reflects on the question: "What do I want to be when I grow up?"

Community Conversation Prompt:

What inspiring moment in your life nudged you to make a difference in the lives of others?

Mentioned Resources:

Just ASK (Aphasia Stroke Knowledge)
Aphasia Center Intensive Treatment Programs
Bridge Project
Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
National Aphasia Synergy
Trish Hambridge's Story and Interview

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

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 to advocating for aphasia awareness, these voices remind us we are part of something greater. Each story offers a compass for navigating life's challenges with courage, patience, and connection.

Community Conversation Prompt: 

Looking back, what insights have emerged from your stroke experience?

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

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 to advocating for aphasia awareness, these voices remind us we are part of something greater. Each story offers a compass for navigating life's challenges with courage, patience, and connection.

Community Conversation Prompt: 

Looking back, what insights have emerged from your stroke experience?

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

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 finally returned home, the real journey began—discovering that her deepest purpose wasn't in her busy professional life, but in the weekly rhythm of planning family dinners, transforming what once felt mundane into her greatest source of gratitude and meaning. Sue shares ways she is inviting her true being and values to shine now, post-stroke.

Suggested Resources:

• Job Accommodation Network
• Love Your Brain
• National Ability Center

Community Conversation Prompt:

• Sue found joy in cooking again, just differently. What do you do differently now that still brings you joy?

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

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 finally returned home, the real journey began—discovering that her deepest purpose wasn't in her busy professional life, but in the weekly rhythm of planning family dinners, transforming what once felt mundane into her greatest source of gratitude and meaning. Sue shares ways she is inviting her true being and values to shine now, post-stroke.

Suggested Resources:

• Job Accommodation Network
• Love Your Brain
• National Ability Center

Community Conversation Prompt:

• Sue found joy in cooking again, just differently. What do you do differently now that still brings you joy?

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

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 strength we've discovered within ourselves, our members share the mindsets, resources, and relationships that have carried them from those first days after stroke to where they are today. Whether it's finding purpose 20 years post-stroke, learning to let go and embrace new identities, or simply knowing we’re not alone on this roller coaster ride, these stories remind us that gratitude isn't just about what we've gained—it's about recognizing the connections that sustain us and the wisdom we're becoming. Let's dive in!

Community Conversation Prompt:

• When reflecting upon your recovery, for whom are you grateful?  Why?
• How could you show and/or tell them this week?

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

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 strength we've discovered within ourselves, our members share the mindsets, resources, and relationships that have carried them from those first days after stroke to where they are today. Whether it's finding purpose 20 years post-stroke, learning to let go and embrace new identities, or simply knowing we’re not alone on this roller coaster ride, these stories remind us that gratitude isn't just about what we've gained—it's about recognizing the connections that sustain us and the wisdom we're becoming. Let's dive in!

Community Conversation Prompt:

• When reflecting upon your recovery, for whom are you grateful?  Why?
• How could you show and/or tell them this week?

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

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 working in her own driveway, everything she'd been running toward suddenly stopped. In the hospital, drifting between consciousness and somewhere far beyond, she experienced something unexpected—her wedding day replayed in slow motion, her first classroom vivid and full of color, moments she'd lived too fast now given back to her to truly see. And in a rehab hallway, shuffling sixty small steps in pink hospital socks while holding a walker like her life depended on it, she discovered what it means to stop making life happen and start participating in it with presence, trust, and faith.

Community Conversation Prompts:

• What does 'sleepwalking through life' mean to you?
• What helps you stay present and aware now?

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

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 working in her own driveway, everything she'd been running toward suddenly stopped. In the hospital, drifting between consciousness and somewhere far beyond, she experienced something unexpected—her wedding day replayed in slow motion, her first classroom vivid and full of color, moments she'd lived too fast now given back to her to truly see. And in a rehab hallway, shuffling sixty small steps in pink hospital socks while holding a walker like her life depended on it, she discovered what it means to stop making life happen and start participating in it with presence, trust, and faith.

Community Conversation Prompts:

• What does 'sleepwalking through life' mean to you?
• What helps you stay present and aware now?

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Welcome to Voices of Resilience: A Beyond Stillness Program where our storytellers speak directly to those beginning their recovery journey. What follows is a message from one stroke survivor to another, born from experience, compassion, and hope.

After her stroke left her paralyzed on her right side and unable to talk, sing, or walk, Angel James found strength in her daily prayer—"God, make me over again"—and in her husband's unwavering commitment to care for her no matter what. She offers fellow survivors a message of hope: find your value within yourself, conquer your fears one by one, and keep pressing forward toward your goals, because this is your new normal and God's not finished with you yet.

For more about Angel, listen to Reclaiming My Voice - Angel James’ Story and Interview

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Welcome to Voices of Resilience: A Beyond Stillness Program where our storytellers speak directly to those beginning their recovery journey. What follows is a message from one stroke survivor to another, born from experience, compassion, and hope.

Instead of offering unsolicited advice to stroke survivors in their first year of recovery, Michelle chooses to listen and invites questions, recognizing that each person's journey is unique and their energy is precious. Drawing from her own experience with a bilateral pons stroke in 2013, she offers herself as part of listeners' "A-team"—those trusted people worth conserving your limited energy for—and opens her inbox to anyone who needs support.

For more about Michelle, listen to “From ‘I Have to’ to ‘I Get To’ Michelle Humphrey’s Story and Interview

Michelle's Email: hamhumphrey@gmail.com 

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Welcome to Voices of Resilience: A Beyond Stillness Program where our storytellers speak directly to those beginning their recovery journey. What follows is a message from one stroke survivor to another, born from experience, compassion, and hope.

After waking from a five-day coma in 1990 with right-sided paralysis and aphasia, Sue Aigner Phipps found her way forward through the unwavering support of family and friends who refused to let her give up—including one friend who simply asked her to take a shower, and another who drove her to Bible study every week. More than three decades later, even after a recent mini seizure, Sue's message to survivors is rooted in her own experience: "I've done this before, I know I can do it again"—and so can you.

For more about Sue, listen to Positive Resilience and Seizures - Sue Phipps Story and Interview

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Welcome to Voices of Resilience: A Beyond Stillness Program where our storytellers speak directly to those beginning their recovery journey. What follows is a message from one stroke survivor to another, born from experience, compassion, and hope.

After a stroke caused by vertebral artery dissection left him unable to move anything below his neck, Eric Anderson found hope in the smallest victory—leaning forward two inches in his wheelchair—and built his recovery on celebrating every incremental gain. Eight years later, he shares the wisdom that carried him through: breathe deeply, practice gratitude, remember how far you've come, and focus on what you can do today, not what you can't do yet.

For more about Eric, listen to The Power to Choose - Eric Anderson’s Story and Interview

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today we meet Kelly, an Ashtanga yoga student and teacher trained in the practice of holding each posture—observing her thoughts and feelings and learning to simply be present without reaction. Six years ago, Kelly woke up with a strange feeling in her chest. Emergency open heart surgery led to spinal and brain strokes that left her unable to move from the waist down. In the rehab mirror, she saw the details: messy hair, chest glue, swollen feet in white Adidas. And she realized she was doing exactly what her yoga teacher had taught her—not reacting, just being there, in her posture, noticing. Through months of rehab, relearning how to move, how to walk, how to live, Kelly found that the practice she'd taught for years was now teaching her—one moment, one movement at a time.

Community Conversation Prompt:

• The head of recovery told Kelly, "I believe this is where your yoga comes in." What practice or skill from your past helps you now?

Mentioned Resource:

• Insight Timer Free Meditation App

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today we meet Kelly, an Ashtanga yoga student and teacher trained in the practice of holding each posture—observing her thoughts and feelings and learning to simply be present without reaction. Six years ago, Kelly woke up with a strange feeling in her chest. Emergency open heart surgery led to spinal and brain strokes that left her unable to move from the waist down. In the rehab mirror, she saw the details: messy hair, chest glue, swollen feet in white Adidas. And she realized she was doing exactly what her yoga teacher had taught her—not reacting, just being there, in her posture, noticing. Through months of rehab, relearning how to move, how to walk, how to live, Kelly found that the practice she'd taught for years was now teaching her—one moment, one movement at a time.

Community Conversation Prompt:

• The head of recovery told Kelly, "I believe this is where your yoga comes in." What practice or skill from your past helps you now?

Mentioned Resource:

• Insight Timer Free Meditation App

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today we meet Mary, a teacher who knew her calling from childhood—organizing cousins into line while playing school in Lynn, Massachusetts.

For twenty-four years, Mary taught with passion until a stroke on January 28th, 2010 changed everything. She couldn't speak at all for three months—only shake her head yes or no. Her first word came spontaneously: "Tailgate!"

Mary returned to teaching by applying her own lessons: practice, patience, and "wait time." Now she brings those same tools to the aphasia community, showing that the wisdom we gain as teachers can guide us as students of life.

Community Conversation Prompt:

• What do you hope others will learn from the way you live your life?

Mentioned Resources:

Aphasia Resource Center at Boston University 

BU's Living with Aphasia Documentary Series

Constant Therapy

Just ASK (Aphasia Stroke Knowledge)

Living with Aphasia Project

Mass General Hospital Comprehensive Stroke Center

National Aphasia Association

National Aphasia Synergy

Sherrill House

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Trish Hambridge’s Episodes 

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today we meet Mary, a teacher who knew her calling from childhood—organizing cousins into line while playing school in Lynn, Massachusetts.

For twenty-four years, Mary taught with passion until a stroke on January 28th, 2010 changed everything. She couldn't speak at all for three months—only shake her head yes or no. Her first word came spontaneously: "Tailgate!"

Mary returned to teaching by applying her own lessons: practice, patience, and "wait time." Now she brings those same tools to the aphasia community, showing that the wisdom we gain as teachers can guide us as students of life.

Community Conversation Prompt:

• What do you hope others will learn from the way you live your life?

Mentioned Resources:

Aphasia Resource Center at Boston University 

BU's Living with Aphasia Documentary Series

Constant Therapy

Just ASK (Aphasia Stroke Knowledge)

Living with Aphasia Project

Mass General Hospital Comprehensive Stroke Center

National Aphasia Association

National Aphasia Synergy

Sherrill House

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Trish Hambridge’s Episodes 

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke we're offering another Community Special featuring the Overlake Aphasia Communication & Support Group at Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue, Washington led by Emily Wimberly. This dedicated group meets monthly, creating a space where members connect, practice communication skills, and discover new ways to cope and thrive with aphasia.  Join us as group members share the insights they've gained while navigating life with aphasia and the meaningful connections they've built along the way.

Community Conversation Prompt:

• What helps you feel heard and understood?

Mentioned Resources:

• Overtake Communication & Support Group
• My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor, P.h.D 
• National Aphasia Synergy
• Sue Phipps' Stories and Interviews

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke we're offering another Community Special featuring the Overlake Aphasia Communication & Support Group at Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue, Washington led by Emily Wimberly. This dedicated group meets monthly, creating a space where members connect, practice communication skills, and discover new ways to cope and thrive with aphasia.  Join us as group members share the insights they've gained while navigating life with aphasia and the meaningful connections they've built along the way.

Community Conversation Prompt:

• What helps you feel heard and understood?

Mentioned Resources:

• Overtake Communication & Support Group
• My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor, P.h.D 
• National Aphasia Synergy
• Sue Phipps' Stories and Interviews

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today we meet Kimberley, who persevered through hardships growing up. On Thanksgiving Day 2012, a stroke furthered that storyline—leaving her unable to speak in a hospital hallway despite desperate attempts to call for help. The stroke caused aphasia, affecting her ability to find words.

Now Kimberley not only perseveres in her own life, but also advocates for all people with aphasia. She wears "aphasia" t-shirts daily to engage and teach others, and even plans to speak with people in Congress with her group from University of Pittsburgh's Community Aphasia Center.  Kimberley is offering her lived experience and voice to make way for a more supportive and just environment for people living with aphasia.

Kimberley’s journey shows that advocacy begins with curiosity, listening, and compassion—and flourishes through courage to engage. 

Suggested Resources:

• Pittsburgh VA Hospital PIRATE (Program for Intensive Residential Aphasia Treatment & Education) Program
• University of Pittsburgh Community Aphasia Center

Community Conversation Prompt:

•   What practices help you prepare for challenges ahead? 

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today we meet Kimberley, who persevered through hardships growing up. On Thanksgiving Day 2012, a stroke furthered that storyline—leaving her unable to speak in a hospital hallway despite desperate attempts to call for help. The stroke caused aphasia, affecting her ability to find words.

Now Kimberley not only perseveres in her own life, but also advocates for all people with aphasia. She wears "aphasia" t-shirts daily to engage and teach others, and even plans to speak with people in Congress with her group from University of Pittsburgh's Community Aphasia Center.  Kimberley is offering her lived experience and voice to make way for a more supportive and just environment for people living with aphasia.

Kimberley’s journey shows that advocacy begins with curiosity, listening, and compassion—and flourishes through courage to engage. 

Suggested Resources:

• Pittsburgh VA Hospital PIRATE (Program for Intensive Residential Aphasia Treatment & Education) Program
• University of Pittsburgh Community Aphasia Center

Community Conversation Prompt:

•  What practices help you prepare for challenges ahead? 

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today we meet Virgil, who learned that strength isn't about being untouchable—it's about discovering what you're truly capable of when everything changes. From that confusing June evening in 2018 to becoming a beacon of hope in Pittsburgh's aphasia community, Virgil's story reminds us that sometimes life's greatest purpose emerges not despite our struggles, but because of them. This is a story about lacing up your boots and learning to march forward, not alone, but surrounded by a family that refuses to let anyone settle for less than their best.

Community Conversation Prompts:

• Who believed in you when you couldn't believe in yourself?
• How did they show you that you were stronger than you knew?

Mentioned Resources:

• Champion the Challenges - Golf4Life
• Pittsburgh VA Hospital PIRATE (Program for Intensive Residential Aphasia Treatment & Education) Program
• University of Pittsburgh Community Aphasia Center
• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Montefiore Rehabilitation Hospital

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today we meet Trish Hambridge, who discovered that recovery isn't just about rebuilding what was lost—it's about creating something entirely new. Through her journey with aphasia, Trish has become a powerful advocate, founding National Aphasia Synergy, a peer-led organization that proves together, we are greater than the sum of our parts.

Community Conversation Prompt:

Trish shares that meaningful contributions help her stay healthy and happy. How do you support others in big or small ways? 

Trish's Suggested Resources:

• National Aphasia Synergy (NAS)
• NAS Aphasia and Mental Health Video
• NAS Peer Befriending Program
• NAS - The Synergy Turf: Anxiety vs. Excitement 
• NAS Facebook Page
• Aphasia Games for Health
• Effects of tDCS Video
• How Positive and Negative Emotions Affect People with Aphasia Naming Pictures
• Journey Back to "Life is Good" Video
• P2Go App
• Project Designing Game-Based Rehabilitation Experiences for People with Aphasia
• Project Exploring Post Traumatic Growth in Aphasia
• Stroke Survivor Tips and Tricks
• Yike! I Had The Yips for Aphasia Video

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today we meet Trish Hambridge, who discovered that recovery isn't just about rebuilding what was lost—it's about creating something entirely new. Through her journey with aphasia, Trish has become a powerful advocate, founding National Aphasia Synergy, a peer-led organization that proves together, we are greater than the sum of our parts.

Community Conversation Prompt:

Trish shares that meaningful contributions help her stay healthy and happy. How do you support others in big or small ways? 

Trish's Suggested Resources:

• National Aphasia Synergy (NAS)
• NAS Aphasia and Mental Health Video
• NAS Peer Befriending Program
• NAS - The Synergy Turf: Anxiety vs. Excitement 
• NAS Facebook Page
• Aphasia Games for Health
• Effects of tDCS Video
• How Positive and Negative Emotions Affect People with Aphasia Naming Pictures
• Journey Back to "Life is Good" Video
• P2Go App
• Project Designing Game-Based Rehabilitation Experiences for People with Aphasia
• Project Exploring Post Traumatic Growth in Aphasia
• Stroke Survivor Tips and Tricks
• Yike! I Had The Yips for Aphasia Video

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today, we welcome our guest, Eric Anderson, who discovered his greatest strength in his most vulnerable moment. When a sudden stroke left him completely paralyzed from the neck down, Eric realized he still possessed what he calls his "superpower" – the ability to choose his thoughts, even when everything else was beyond his control. Join us as Eric shares how he transformed a medical crisis into a masterclass in resilience, built a "positivity plan" that changed his recovery trajectory, and learned the profound difference between enduring challenges and embracing them. His story reveals how sometimes our most difficult moments become the gateway to our most meaningful purpose.

Community Conversation Prompt:

• In what ways have you chosen your environment or thoughts in order to create a positive space?

Mentioned Resources:

• Champion the Challenges Booklets
• Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute
• M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital - Burnsville, MN
• M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital - Edina, MN

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today, we welcome our guest, Eric Anderson, who discovered his greatest strength in his most vulnerable moment. When a sudden stroke left him completely paralyzed from the neck down, Eric realized he still possessed what he calls his "superpower" – the ability to choose his thoughts, even when everything else was beyond his control. Join us as Eric shares how he transformed a medical crisis into a masterclass in resilience, built a "positivity plan" that changed his recovery trajectory, and learned the profound difference between enduring challenges and embracing them. His story reveals how sometimes our most difficult moments become the gateway to our most meaningful purpose.

Community Conversation Prompt:

• In what ways have you chosen your environment or thoughts in order to create a positive space?

Mentioned Resources:

• Champion the Challenges Booklets
• Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute
• M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital - Burnsville, MN
• M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital - Edina, MN

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke we offer another Community Special highlighting University of Pittsburgh's Community Aphasia Center Support Group led by Chrisa Kravetz.  They meet monthly to promote social engagement and supportive communication.  Join us as members dive into what they hope others will learn from their journey with aphasia and the connections they've built together.

Community Conversation Prompt:

• What do you hope others learn from your journey?

Mentioned Resources:

• University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
• Homewood Community Engagement Center
• University of Pittsburgh Community Aphasia Center Support Group

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today, we welcome guest Jim Dana, who takes us on an honest exploration of how a stroke nearly three decades ago reshaped his sense of self. Guided by an inner voice that evolved over time, Jim shares how he learned to embrace honesty, vulnerability, and self-reflection to become who he calls “Jim Dana version 2.” Join us as he shares his journey of navigating uninvited emotional outbursts, discovering unexpected gratitude, and choosing every day to grow into a better version of himself. 

Community Conversation Prompt:

• In what ways has your stroke journey led you to become a better version of yourself?

Guest's Suggested Resources:

PsuedoBulbar Affect

• American Stroke Association on PsuedoBulbar Affect.
• Mayo Clinic on PsuedoBulbar Affect.

Life Lessons

• David Brooks, “How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen,” Random House, 2023.
  • A wonderful book about how to connect with others that is written for all imperfect people, not just stroke survivors.
• Parker Palmer, “Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation,” Jossey-Bass, 1999.
  • Parker Palmer also wrote many other wonderful books including “The Courage to Teach.”
• “The Downside with Getting What You Want,” New York Times, April 18, 2025.

Rational Emotive Therapy Book Lists

Rational Emotive Therapy is not typically suggested as a treatment for PsuedoBulbar Affect.  Jim found it more useful for controlling his anger and frustration, and only slightly helpful for controlling his laughter and crying. Jim learned Rational Emotive Therapy mainly in therapy and not through reading books.

• Albert Ellis Institute.

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today, we welcome guest, Jim Dana, who takes us on an honest exploration of how a stroke nearly three decades ago reshaped his sense of self. Guided by an inner voice that evolved over time, Jim shares how he learned to embrace honesty, vulnerability, and self-reflection to become who he calls “Jim Dana version 2.” Join us as he shares his journey of navigating uninvited emotional outbursts, discovering unexpected gratitude, and choosing every day to grow into a better version of himself. 

Community Conversation Prompt:

• In what ways has your stroke journey led you to become a better version of yourself?

Guest's Suggested Resources:

PsuedoBulbar Affect

• American Stroke Association on PsuedoBulbar Affect.
• Mayo Clinic on PsuedoBulbar Affect.

Life Lessons

• David Brooks, “How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen,” Random House, 2023.
  • A wonderful book about how to connect with others that is written for all imperfect people, not just stroke survivors.
• Parker Palmer, “Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation,” Jossey-Bass, 1999.
  • Parker Palmer also wrote many other wonderful books including “The Courage to Teach.”
• “The Downside with Getting What You Want,” New York Times, April 18, 2025.

Rational Emotive Therapy Book Lists

Rational Emotive Therapy is not typically suggested as a treatment for PsuedoBulbar Affect.  Jim found it more useful for controlling his anger and frustration, and only slightly helpful for controlling his laughter and crying. Jim learned Rational Emotive Therapy mainly in therapy and not through reading books.

• Albert Ellis Institute.

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today, we welcome guest Doug Alford.  Before his stroke two years ago, he served as a mediator helping organizations and individuals navigate change; now, he applies those same tools to his own recovery.  Doug shares candid reflections on fear, vulnerability, and the challenge of rebuilding a life forever changed.  Join us as he offers five tools for adapting when life shifts in ways we never chose.

Community Conversation Prompt:

• How has vulnerability become one of your strengths?

Guest's Tools for Processing Change:

1. Clarify Mission and Purpose
2. Cultivate Determination and Will
3. Practice Flexibility and Adaptability
4. Uphold Respect for Self and Others
5. Engage in Clear and Consistent Communication

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today, we welcome guest Doug Alford.  Before his stroke two years ago, he served as a mediator helping organizations and individuals navigate change; now, he applies those same tools to his own recovery.  Doug shares candid reflections on fear, vulnerability, and the challenge of rebuilding a life forever changed.  Join us as he offers five tools for adapting when life shifts in ways we never chose.

Community Conversation Prompt:

• How has vulnerability become one of your strengths?

Guest's Tools for Processing Change:

1. Clarify Mission and Purpose
2. Cultivate Determination and Will
3. Practice Flexibility and Adaptability
4. Uphold Respect for Self and Others
5. Engage in Clear and Consistent Communication

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today, we welcome guest Joe Malinowski who spent decades standing up for others—as a union leader and advocate for abused children—but after a stroke, he was left questioning his own worth. In this episode, Joe shares how the people around him—his care team, his wife, and fellow survivors—empowered him when he couldn’t see his own strength. Now, he’s giving back, using his story to uplift other stroke survivors. From isolation and paralysis to connection and purpose, Joe reminds us how deeply healing it can be to feel seen, supported, and believed in.

Mentioned Resources:

• Bikers Against Child Abuse (Baca)
• Brigham Mass General Neuro Sciences
• Dr. Kathy Post's Stroke of Inspiration Support Group
• Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts
• Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke
• Stroke Onward

Community Conversation Prompt:

How has supporting someone else in their recovery helped you in yours?

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today, we welcome guest Joe Malinowski who spent decades standing up for others—as a union leader and advocate for abused children—but after a stroke, he was left questioning his own worth. In this episode, Joe shares how the people around him—his care team, his wife, and fellow survivors—empowered him when he couldn’t see his own strength. Now, he’s giving back, using his story to uplift other stroke survivors. From isolation and paralysis to connection and purpose, Joe reminds us how deeply healing it can be to feel seen, supported, and believed in.

Mentioned Resources:

• Bikers Against Child Abuse (Baca)
• Brigham Mass General Neuro Sciences
• Dr. Kathy Post's Stroke of Inspiration Support Group
• Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts
• Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke
• Stroke Onward

Community Conversation Prompt:

How has supporting someone else in their recovery helped you in yours?

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke we offer a Community Special highlighting University of Pittsburgh's Community Aphasia Center Support Group led by Chrisa Kravetz.  They meet monthly to promote social engagement and supportive communication.  Today's conversation highlights the importance of finding a safe and supportive community of understanding individuals.  We hope this conversation reminds you that you are not alone and that there are others who could benefit from your wisdom and companionship too.  Join us as members dive into lessons they’ve learned through recovery.

Community Conversation Prompt:

• What supportive advice did you most need early in your recovery?

Mentioned Resources:

• University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
• Homewood Community Engagement Center
• University of Pittsburgh Community Aphasia Center Support Group

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today, we welcome guest Dr. Simbi Animashaun, who shares her story that begins with a pounding headache during a night class at grad school and unfolds through the heartbreak of miscarriage and the isolation of stroke recovery. Dr. Simbi takes us through the darkness she faced and the moment she chose life. Join us as she reflects on rediscovering her strength, reclaiming her purpose, and embracing her second chance with clarity and conviction.

Community Conversation Prompt:

• What moment in your recovery reminds you of your strength?

Guest's Mentioned Resources:

• Dr. Simbi Animashaun on Instagram and Facebook
• United By Loss Foundation
• The Power of Healing: A Memoir of Loss & Victory
• Horizon Over the Spectrum
• Mama, What Is Autism? A Coloring & Activity Book for Children Ages 2-7 by Dr. Simbi Animashaun
• Spectrum of Love: My Journey Through Autism by Dr. Simbi Animashaun
• Death Taught Us How To Live - AVM Superhero's Youtube Channel
• Greg Graham's Story and Interview
• Sue Phipps' Story and Interview
• Molly Buccola interviewed by Greg Graham

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today, we welcome guest Dr. Simbi Animashaun, who shares her story that begins with a pounding headache during a night class at grad school and unfolds through the heartbreak of miscarriage and the isolation of stroke recovery. Dr. Simbi takes us through the darkness she faced and the moment she chose life. Join us as she reflects on rediscovering her strength, reclaiming her purpose, and embracing her second chance with clarity and conviction.

Community Conversation Prompt:

• What moment in your recovery reminds you of your strength?

Guest's Mentioned Resources:

• Dr. Simbi Animashaun on Instagram and Facebook
• United By Loss Foundation
• The Power of Healing: A Memoir of Loss & Victory
• Horizon Over the Spectrum
• Mama, What Is Autism? A Coloring & Activity Book for Children Ages 2-7 by Dr. Simbi Animashaun
• Spectrum of Love: My Journey Through Autism by Dr. Simbi Animashaun
• Death Taught Us How To Live - AVM Superhero's Youtube Channel
• Greg Graham's Story and Interview
• Sue Phipps' Story and Interview
• Molly Buccola interviewed by Greg Graham

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

As a way to celebrate Dan rolling through our hometown of Bend, OR this week, we are reposting Dan Zimmerman's story and interview from September of 2024.

Today we welcome Dan The-Trike-Man Zimmerman who suffered a series of strokes due to Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT).

About four years after his last stroke, Dan woke in the middle of the night and vowed to get his life back on track.  And that he did.  Dan found freedom, community, and purpose through trike riding, a passion that has since fueled his recovery and empowered him to help others on similar journeys.

In this episode, we’ll hear how Dan transformed his life, founding the nonprofit ‘Spokes Fighting Strokes’ to share how trike riding can speed recovery and save lives. This is a story of survival, rediscovery, and purpose.

Dan’s Suggested Resources:

• Azub Trikes 
• Catrike Recumbent Bikes
• Cycle Con 
• Dan Zimmerman Facebook 
• Spokes Adaptive Cycling Facebook 
• Spoke Fighting Strokes - 501c3
• Spokes Fighting Strokes Facebook

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

As a way to celebrate Dan rolling through our hometown of Bend, OR this week, we are reposting Dan Zimmerman's story and interview from September of 2024.

Today we welcome Dan The-Trike-Man Zimmerman who suffered a series of strokes due to Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT).

About four years after his last stroke, Dan woke in the middle of the night and vowed to get his life back on track.  And that he did.  Dan found freedom, community, and purpose through trike riding, a passion that has since fueled his recovery and empowered him to help others on similar journeys.

In this episode, we’ll hear how Dan transformed his life, founding the nonprofit ‘Spokes Fighting Strokes’ to share how trike riding can speed recovery and save lives. This is a story of survival, rediscovery, and purpose.

Dan’s Suggested Resources:

• Azub Trikes 
• Catrike Recumbent Bikes
• Cycle Con 
• Dan Zimmerman Facebook 
• Spokes Adaptive Cycling Facebook 
• Spoke Fighting Strokes - 501c3
• Spokes Fighting Strokes Facebook

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today, we welcome guest Natalie Shao to share her story that begins with a surprise diagnosis just weeks before college and unfolds across two decades of life-altering transitions. From the shock of discovering a cerebral AVM at seventeen to navigating the aftermath of brain surgery, hemiparesis, and epilepsy, Natalie’s journey is one of heartbreak, resilience, and self-discovery.

Join us as she reflects on the emotional tools, hard-won insights, and quiet triumphs that have carried her through—from regaining independence to mentoring fellow survivors—and how she now draws on those lessons to face each new chapter with courage and purpose.

Natalie's Transition Techniques:

1. Double your time
2. Focus on your breath
3. Prepare ahead
4. Honor your own pace
5. Know your rights
6. Cultivate confidence
7. Use your support network

Community Conversation Prompt:

• What helps you shift from “managing” life to “living” life?

Guest Mentioned Resources:

• Shirley Ryan Ability Lab Life Center

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Today, we welcome guest Natalie Shao to share her story that begins with a surprise diagnosis just weeks before college and unfolds across two decades of life-altering transitions. From the shock of discovering a cerebral AVM at seventeen to navigating the aftermath of brain surgery, hemiparesis, and epilepsy, Natalie’s journey is one of heartbreak, resilience, and self-discovery.

Join us as she reflects on the emotional tools, hard-won insights, and quiet triumphs that have carried her through—from regaining independence to mentoring fellow survivors—and how she now draws on those lessons to face each new chapter with courage and purpose.

Natalie's Transition Techniques:

1. Double your time
2. Focus on your breath
3. Prepare ahead
4. Honor your own pace
5. Know your rights
6. Cultivate confidence
7. Use your support network

Community Conversation Prompt:

• What helps you shift from “managing” life to “living” life?

Guest Mentioned Resources:

• Shirley Ryan Ability Lab Life Center

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, we welcome guest Brad McKenzie to share his powerful and vivid stroke recovery story filled with life-threatening urgency, deep peace, resilience, and the pursuit of connection and purpose. We dive into ways small acts of kindness illuminate unique paths toward trust and create a foundation for strength to move forward.

Join us as Brad shares how these quiet moments of connection became turning points on the journey.

Community Conversation Prompts:

• What moment of peace has surprised you in recovery?  And how do you reconnect with it?
• What helps you find your voice again?

Guest's Mentioned Resources:

• Sarah Bellum's Bakery and Workshop
• ResilientSeed Healing Farm

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, we welcome guest Brad McKenzie to share his powerful and vivid stroke recovery story filled with life-threatening urgency, deep peace, resilience, and the pursuit of connection and purpose. We dive into ways small acts of kindness illuminate unique paths toward trust and create a foundation for strength to move forward.

Join us as Brad shares how these quiet moments of connection became turning points on the journey.

Community Conversation Prompts:

• What moment of peace has surprised you in recovery?  And how do you reconnect with it?
• What helps you find your voice again?

Guest's Mentioned Resources:

• Sarah Bellum's Bakery and Workshop
• ResilientSeed Healing Farm

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, we welcome Chuck Toeniskoetter, a well educated businessman, philanthropist, and family man.  In the year 2000, life was moving fast for Chuck, but on a December afternoon, his world changed in an instant.  Confused as the signs of stroke appeared, his luck took over.  The ski patrol nurse on duty knew just what to do.  Chuck received proper and timely care, which improved the outcomes of his recovery.  Within the next couple years he worked to regain abilities while also co-founding a life saving foundation.  Today, Chuck Toeniskoetter shares how his experience inspired him and the Stroke Awareness Foundation to establish Certified Stroke Centers in Santa Clara County, obtain ambulance redirection for stroke victims to Certified Stroke Centers, and raise stroke awareness.

Community Conversation Prompts:

• What role does helping others play in your own recovery journey?
• What lessons from your stroke journey do you share most often with others?

Suggested Resources:

• Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke
• Stroke Awareness Foundation of Santa Clara County, CA
  • Sign up for the Fight Stroke Walk on May 4th
  • Find the Nearest Stroke Center App

Know the Signs, Save a Life - BEFAST

B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination

E – Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

F – Face: Facial drooping or uneven smile

A – Arms: Weakness or numbness in one arm

S – Speech: Slurred speech or difficulty speaking

T – Time: Time to call 911 immediately

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, we welcome Chuck Toeniskoetter, a well educated businessman, philanthropist, and family man.  In the year 2000, life was moving fast for Chuck, but on a December afternoon, his world changed in an instant.  Confused as the signs of stroke appeared, his luck took over.  The ski patrol nurse on duty knew just what to do.  Chuck received proper and timely care, which improved the outcomes of his recovery.  Within the next couple years he worked to regain abilities while also co-founding a life saving foundation.  Today, Chuck Toeniskoetter shares how his experience inspired him and the Stroke Awareness Foundation to establish Certified Stroke Centers in Santa Clara County, obtain ambulance redirection for stroke victims to Certified Stroke Centers, and raise stroke awareness.

Community Conversation Prompts:

• What role does helping others play in your own recovery journey?
• What lessons from your stroke journey do you share most often with others?

Suggested Resources:

• Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke
• Stroke Awareness Foundation of Santa Clara County, CA
  • Sign up for the Fight Stroke Walk on May 4th
  • Find the Nearest Stroke Center App

Know the Signs, Save a Life - BEFAST

B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination

E – Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

F – Face: Facial drooping or uneven smile

A – Arms: Weakness or numbness in one arm

S – Speech: Slurred speech or difficulty speaking

T – Time: Time to call 911 immediately

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke we spotlight guest Chris Wilder from Los Gatos, CA.  Chris learned to play the guitar in his teens.  In addition to his passion and diligent work ethic, he credits his fellow musicians as teachers and co-creators.  He learned at a young age what it feels like to work with others toward a common goal.  Chris has dedicated much of his professional life to non-profit organizations and was the Executive Director of the Valley Health Foundation in Silicon Valley when he suffered a stroke in 2021.  He now applies his life-lessons to stroke recovery.  Throughout his story, Chris discusses the importance of facing difficulties, connecting with supportive friends, and dedicating time to a purpose.  His story is entitled, “Part of Something Greater.”

Mentioned Resources:

• Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke
• Stroke Awareness Foundation of Santa Clara County, CA
  • Sign up for the Fight Stroke Walk on May 4th
  • Find the Nearest Stroke Center App
• Valley Medical Foundation
• Valley Medical Center
• Legally Blue
• San Jose State University Occupational Therapy Program
• Golf 4 Life: Balancing Life After Stroke
• Headspace Meditation App

Community Conversation Prompts:

• How do you stay motivated in difficult times?
• In what ways do you join with others to work toward something greater?

Know the Signs, Save a Life - BEFAST

B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination

E – Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

F – Face: Facial drooping or uneven smile

A – Arms: Weakness or numbness in one arm

S – Speech: Slurred speech or difficulty speaking

T – Time: Time to call 911 immediately

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke we spotlight guest Chris Wilder from Los Gatos, CA.  Chris learned to play the guitar in his teens.  In addition to his passion and diligent work ethic, he credits his fellow musicians as teachers and co-creators.  He learned at a young age what it feels like to work with others toward a common goal.  Chris has dedicated much of his professional life to non-profit organizations and was the Executive Director of the Valley Health Foundation in Silicon Valley when he suffered a stroke in 2021.  He now applies his life-lessons to stroke recovery.  Throughout his story, Chris discusses the importance of facing difficulties, connecting with supportive friends, and dedicating time to a purpose.  His story is entitled, “Part of Something Greater.”

Mentioned Resources:

• Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke
• Stroke Awareness Foundation of Santa Clara County, CA
  • Sign up for the Fight Stroke Walk on May 4th
  • Find the Nearest Stroke Center App
• Valley Medical Foundation
• Valley Medical Center
• Legally Blue
• San Jose State University Occupational Therapy Program
• Golf 4 Life: Balancing Life After Stroke
• Headspace Meditation App

Community Conversation Prompts:

• How do you stay motivated in difficult times?
• In what ways do you join with others to work toward something greater?

Know the Signs, Save a Life - BEFAST

B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination

E – Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

F – Face: Facial drooping or uneven smile

A – Arms: Weakness or numbness in one arm

S – Speech: Slurred speech or difficulty speaking

T – Time: Time to call 911 immediately

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, we welcome Grace Tsang. On October 30, 2021, her friends spotted the signs of stroke—slurred speech, a drooping face—and got her the swift, comprehensive care that saved her life and improved her outcome. But healing didn’t stop there. Grace shares how choosing gratitude and a new perspective helped her rebuild not just her body, but her outlook. Join us as she reflects on the lessons that continue to shape how she lives today.

Community Conversation Prompts:

• What perspective shifts helped you rebuild physically and/or emotionally after stroke?
• How has the experience of stroke reshaped your approach to self-care and wellness?

Guest's Suggested Resources:

• Emotional Guidance Scale
• Mountain View Transcendental Meditation Center
• Grace Tsang LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook
• Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke
• Stroke Awareness Foundation of Santa Clara County, CA
  • Sign up for the Fight Stroke Walk on May 4th
  • Find the Nearest Stroke Center App

Know the Signs, Save a Life - BEFAST

B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination

E – Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

F – Face: Facial drooping or uneven smile

A – Arms: Weakness or numbness in one arm

S – Speech: Slurred speech or difficulty speaking

T – Time: Time to call 911 immediately

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, we welcome Grace Tsang. On October 30, 2021, her friends spotted the signs of stroke—slurred speech, a drooping face—and got her the swift, comprehensive care that saved her life and improved her outcome. But healing didn’t stop there. Grace shares how choosing gratitude and a new perspective helped her rebuild not just her body, but her outlook. Join us as she reflects on the lessons that continue to shape how she lives today.

Community Conversation Prompts:

• What perspective shifts helped you rebuild physically and/or emotionally after stroke?
• How has the experience of stroke reshaped your approach to self-care and wellness?

Guest's Suggested Resources:

• Emotional Guidance Scale
• Mountain View Transcendental Meditation Center
• Grace Tsang LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook
• Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke
• Stroke Awareness Foundation of Santa Clara County, CA
  • Sign up for the Fight Stroke Walk on May 4th
  • Find the Nearest Stroke Center App

Know the Signs, Save a Life - BEFAST

B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination

E – Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

F – Face: Facial drooping or uneven smile

A – Arms: Weakness or numbness in one arm

S – Speech: Slurred speech or difficulty speaking

T – Time: Time to call 911 immediately

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, we welcome guest Carmine Indindoli who shares the journey of relearning how to walk, talk, and live with intention, drawing inspiration from his love of gardening, family, and fellow survivors. Through patience, persistence, and community, he found healing and growth, not just in the soil, but within himself.

Community Conversation Prompts:

• How do you incorporate therapy (physical, occupational, cognitive, speech, etc.) into activities you enjoy?
• How has sharing your story or listening to others' stories helped your healing process?

Suggested Resources:

• Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke
• Stroke Awareness Foundation of Santa Clara County, CA
  • Sign up for the Fight Stroke Walk on May 4th
  • Find the Nearest Stroke Center App

Know the Signs, Save a Life - BEFAST

B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination

E – Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

F – Face: Facial drooping or uneven smile

A – Arms: Weakness or numbness in one arm

S – Speech: Slurred speech or difficulty speaking

T – Time: Time to call 911 immediately

Click here to sponsor a stroke survivor on their seven week reflective story crafting journey.

Join us on Instagram and Facebook and Youtube.

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth