Hand In Hand

Kate Elizabeth is a stroke survivor and Habilitation professional who had a stroke at 10 years old, resulting in left-side paralysis. She continues to pursue her desire for personal independence and to find unique ways to achieve two-handed tasks with one hand. Kate is an author and speaker with a message of hope, and a way out of suffering, for stroke survivors and disadvantaged people. Now 40, Kate has achieved acceptance and is a real stroke survivor. At the same time reigniting her road to recovery. Kate is a mother to 3 children, 4 yr old twin boys and 5 yr old girl. She is an independent traveller, movie goer, regular attendee at kids parties and currently lives in Newcastle. Last year Kate decided it was imperative to share her knowledge of living one handed to help the millions of stroke survivors and people living with limited arm movement out there. She felt it was her experience and unique knowledge that could heal many lives around the world. Kate published her book Beyond Stroke: Living

November 13, 2013 was a day like any other day, sunny and cool. After eating the usual oatmeal breakfast, Ron Hawk went to his wife's office and sat down on couch while she worked. He hadn't been feeling well, and tried to get up after a few minutes. He fell forward on a large exercise ball that was blocking his way. He got up again, and stumbled to his office. His wife was concerned and followed him. He tried to focus in and couldn't see her. When he said, "Oh, there you are!" She became concerned and called 911. He was having a stroke. He made his way out of his office and stumbled as if drunk. While his wife was on the phone with 911, she tried to get him to answer a few simple questions, but he was only babbling. He laid down on the bed and would not get up. He said he just wanted to sleep, and his wife and two EMT's could not get him up. They had to call for Sheriff's deputies to come assist them. There were 3 deputies and 2 EMT's surrounding his bed when he finally rose from the bed and walked out of

Stroke Association Of Kenya was established in the year 2015 because of the need to tackle stroke which is becoming more common around the world. Its founder Evans was a pharmacist before his stroke. What happened to him not only changed his life but also the stroke care in his country. Determined to turn his personal experience into something that can benefit many others, he created the organization aimed at raising awareness and offers lessons on preventive and rehabilitation measures. Evans and his team have been able to do this successfully for the past three years overcoming many constraints. Stroke Association Of Kenya is a non profit organization and is entirely led by survivors, It is a platform for survivors speak in one voice. Since its birth, the organization has moved swiftly to make a change. Survivors want their voice heard. They want to lead a meaningful life after stroke. Providing help has been the mission of the Stroke Association of Kenya. Listen to Evans introducing his organization

Gillian's was a physiotherapist and exercise instructor. She is now working as a ‘ ‘science translator’ in the University of Newcastle’s Stroke Recovery Research Group, at Hunter Medical Research Institute (Newcastle, Australia). Gillian’s main work is identifying people with stroke in the local community willing to take part in research studies and signing them up. She loves her job. She enjoys getting to stay in touch with local people who have had strokes and linking them with researchers who are working hard to solve their problems. Those questions about getting back into life after a stroke! She manages the group’s social media accounts - search for strokebrainprc [say “stroke brain P R C”] on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and moonlights as a research assistant and university teacher. The rest of the time she’s busy riding bikes, mucking about with her kids and trying to figure out how to make our city an easier place to live regardless of your health or disability.

Ellie is aged 22 and suffered a stroke in August 2016, Ellie had gone in for surgery to hopefully stop her seizures but unfortunately the surgeon clamped blood vessels as he went into the brain and cut off the blood supply. When Ellie awoke from the surgery she was paralysed down her left side. Ellie spent 3 months in rehab and worked every day to ensure she didn't come home in a wheelchair. She has physio twice a week and acupuncture once a week, and is working so hard to get back to her old self and enjoy life. She is working hard so one day she will use her left arm and hand again!

Dan Ridge is a retired entrepreneur and stroke survivor. In 2008, he founded the CATO Services, a business to handle recruiting. Since 2007, he has been the Consultant and Chief Star Gazer (Visionary) for a talent acquisition and retention consulting firm that helps clients identify the state of their hiring and retention process and helps them move from where they are now to where they want to be and helps them achieve some level of improvement in their process. 3 years ago, Dan suffered a stroke. Unlike other survivors, his speech and mobility has been left intact. Stroke did damage to his vision. At the beginning, Dan had no one to compare to. But after knowing more and more survivors, he realized how lucky he was. He also developed a deep appreciation of how strong survivors are. “They are in wheel chairs. They have lost their speech. But they keep trying. Some get something back in 10 years. They still want to do things.” Dan wants to set up a business to recruit 4-5 stroke survivors and teach th

Our guest this week is Sarah Belson who has over 20 years’ experience working in international development, supporting local organisations to set up, deliver community activities and engage in advocacy. She has worked with the World Stroke Organization (WSO) for nearly 3 years and loves her job; she finds working on stroke awareness and support globally a much more equalising way to engage in international development. Stroke knows no borders, it is a global problem, not restricted to one area of the globe, and we therefore need to address this globally in collaboration and partnership with others.

In 2010, when Debra was a professor at Stanford, she suffered a severe stroke. she lost all movement of her right arm and leg; even worse, Debra lost all ability to communicate. While Debra won her struggle to survive, much of her identity – as a Stanford professor, a speaker and writer, an athlete, a mother and a wife – was taken from her. Debra’s mind was working but she was trapped inside a broken body, unable to do what she used to do. And maybe even worse, Debra couldn't tell anyone what she was experiencing. ​​ With hard work and a lot of help Debra regained enough mobility to again be independent, and have recovered some ability to speak. But she has come to accept that she will never again have all the capabilities she once had. ​​ Seven years later, Debra is still slowly recovering more of her abilities and is continuing to rebuild her identities. She has found few resources to help with the emotional piece of this journey, and has heard the same from many of her fellow survivors. That is why she

Years ago, Anne was working as a medical scheduler for the Oregon Health & Science University. She learned how hard it is for stroke survivors. Once discharged, the support is weak. Most survivors leave hospitals in a wheelchair. She wanted to do something to change. Anne quit her job. With the support of her husband, started forming the Backstrokes Support Group. A group that uses community music to help survivors recover. She found a professional musician to help. Today, Backstrokes has really grown to include 3 groups. They are reported by major local and national TV stations. In 2017, Anne and her team won the RAISE Award by the National Stroke Association. Listen to Anne and her group tell you their remarkable and fun journey.

In 2003, when Manny Gigante was 29, he suffered a stroke. He was playing paintball as a referee and suddenly felt weak. Manny tried to drive a stickshift car back home 10 miles away from where he was playing. He had no idea how he made it home. By the time he opened the door, Manny lost the strength in his leg and collapsed. Manny’s wife rushed him to the Emergency Room. Before the stroke, he was a network engineer and technology consultant in the Silicon Valley. He worked so hard that his working hours sometimes exceed 23 hours a day. After stroke, Manny spent 2 years in a wheelchair. In 2005, Manny lost his son due to an accident. Although he was supported by his wife and three other kids, Manny found it hard to adjust to this sequence of tragedy. He disconnected himself from his old friends and even family members. Manny sank into deep depression. However, he later realized there were so many things to be grateful for. Instead of playing sports with his kids, he could coach them to be better huma

On Nov 16, 2016 Susan Grimstead suffered a severe stroke. She did not feel well that day, and went upstairs after dinner to rest before she noticed something seriously wrong. She was rushed to hospital in ambulance. Since then her life has completely changed. Before stroke, Susan was always on the go. A lot of her time was spent with her 90 year old dad and my family. She would see them 4 out of 5 days a week. She never stayed at home during the day and spent most of her time out and about, specifically bargain shopping. The stroke left Susan with aphasia and numbness on the right. She learned how to drive with left foot pushing accelerator. She has been fighting to keep her on speech therapy. Susan has found it really hard to get information to help survivors recover. Susan’s family did a lot of research after her stroke and found a program in Chicago that was specific for Aphasia patients. The program is offered by Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. In April 2017, she went to the program, which helped her mor

Lucie Legaare is a champion Latin and Ballroom dancer in her category from Quebec. But do you know that she suffered a stroke at the age of 27. Doctors said she would not be able to walk again and would remain blind for the rest of her life. She She has not only fully recovered from her stroke, but also earned her MBA and started her own business, CHANGE Pyramid Solutions. The business offers training to Healthcare professionals on the benefit and practice of self-healing. Lucie owes her amazing recovery to the great power of self healing. She discovered her own method including meditation and sound therapy. Our body has a great potential to heal itself. Let Lucie tell you how she got it done.

If you are looking for an example how people successful turn stroke into an inspiring story of personal transformation and empowerment, look no further. July 17th, 1997, 5 day after her son turned 3, Julia Fox Garrison’s life changed forever. She was only 37 years old. A massive hemorrhagic stroke nearly took her life. According to Julia, she literally died on the operation table. Undeterred, Julia refused to give up. She has not only recovered amazingly but also taken on a new mission for her life. Julia has a lot to say and lessons to share about humor, inner strength, and self-determination. Harper-Collins published Julia’s best-seller Don’t Leave Me This Way (or when I get back on my feet you’ll be sorry). The book was selected for the top 7 Must Read books for anyone pursuing a nursing career. It also won the Applied Association of Therapeutic Humor (AATH) award for furthering their mission—humor in medicine, and was previously recognized by Reader's Digest as 'Today's Best Nonfiction'. Since the

Dr Gary Steinberg and his team in Stanford has made a breakthrough discovery on stroke. After stroke, brain circuits are not dead but dormant. Injecting adult stem cells could awaken them resulting in dramatic recoveries. Stem cell therapies are offering a lot of hope to stroke survivors. There are many Americans who are willing to pay to get into the trials, could not get in, despite their willingness and ability to pay. Frank Plemons is one of them. Frank works as a Dell sales coach. He is an avid biker. Years ago, when biking with friends, Frank ran into an accident which nearly killed him. He suffered a head injury which led to a stroke. Frank is otherwise very strong and healthy. In the rehab, Frank did everything he can. He worked hard and achieved what was considered a wonderful recovery. However, Frank found the condition unacceptable. As a father of 4 year old son and a wonderful husband of a very supportive wife, Frank went on a journey to look for ways to restore himself. Frank has been followi

Stroke does not discriminate. It happens to everyone, even very young kids. Laurel Fontaine is a survivor who lives in North Attleboro, MA. She suffered a massive stroke at age of 11. Laurel staid in two hospitals for 4 months. Doctors said she would never walk or talk again. Undeterred, Laurel's parents enrolled her in Melodic to Nation Therapy in Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 2009.In this process, her mom gave up her job to take care of Laurel. Her twin sister accompanied Laurel to the therapies. When she was first admitted, 23 people from her family went to visit her to wish her well. Many people donated to pay for Laurel's therapy. The efforts paid off. She was very successful that rehab. Laurel is working now. Today, Laurel will share her stories.

After experiencing severe TBI from a auto accident, Deborah Schlag knew she needed to reach out to help others through the process of recovery by restoring hope and be the example - life after TBI may not be what you had envisioned - it can be better, taking you places, meeting people you never dreamed, living a happy, healthy life. Her award winning book Becoming the Healer The Miracle of Brain Injury is packed full of helpful ideas for those going through medical trauma and those who care for them. She has since moved to North Carolina where she founded Awakenings: Center for Inner Healing & Empowerment - a non-profit spiritual retreat & healing center as well as developing healing tools like Pocket Change to help others with positive change in a fun and easy way. You may contact Deborah through the center at borah@AwakeningsCenterNC.com or through her facebook page.

Maureen Harrington is currently writing a book about the role of resilience and neuroplasticity in stroke recovery. The stories of survivors, caregivers, therapists and medical professionals show the way to, not only survive, but thrive post stroke. After over twenty years in journalism (TIME and PEOPLE magazines, Reuters and The Denver Post among others) Maureen found a passion project in the stroke community. She had first-hand experience with stroke. Her mother had a mild stroke with good recovery, but her paternal grandfather died from an aneurysm in his early thirties. "Stroke has always been a shadow hanging over my family". Listen to this interview. Mareen will discuss her unique book project, and how she connects to survivors and what she has learned about neuroplasticity and stroke recovery.

Dr Elizabeth Ann Lynch is an accomplished researcher for stroke. She is now a research fellow at the very famous Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. She is specifically focused on improving health service delivery, particularly making rehabilitation more available to many survivors. Liz is also working to help researchers integrate new findings into new stroke rehabilitation programs. In this interview, Dr Lynch will share her perspective on in today's delivery. "We need to make it access to rehab more equitable" she told us. Dr Lynch started her career as a therapist. She is now working hard to connect research with the survivor community. Listen to Dr Lynch who provides a unique perspective about today's stroke care delivery and its challenges.

This episode is rebroadcast of a WBUR interview released on Nov 30, 2017. A neurosurgery team led by Dr Gary Steinberg has made a groundbreaking discovery: after stroke, the brain circuits went dormant instead of dead. Injecting adult stem cells into the brain can resurrect these circuits. In this interview with WBUR, Dr Steinberg discusses the discovery and their first clinic trial. The team is now running the second clinic trial which will end in 18 months. The result offers lots of hope to stroke, TBI, spinal cord injuries and other injuries.

In 2010, when Debra was a professor at Stanford, she suffered a severe stroke. she lost all movement of her right arm and leg; even worse, Debra lost all ability to communicate. While Debra won her struggle to survive, much of her identity – as a Stanford professor, a speaker and writer, an athlete, a mother and a wife – was taken from her. Debra’s mind was working but she was trapped inside a broken body, unable to do what she used to do. And maybe even worse, Debra couldn't tell anyone what she was experiencing. ​​ With hard work and a lot of help Debra regained enough mobility to again be independent, and have recovered some ability to speak. But she has come to accept that she will never again have all the capabilities she once had. ​​ Seven years later, Debra is still slowly recovering more of her abilities and is continuing to rebuild her identities. She has found few resources to help with the emotional piece of this journey, and has heard the same from many of her fellow survivors. That is why she