20’s

W hat are your biggest challenges/residual effects? Being restricted from usual activity, i.e. exercise and driving. Gaining back my balance.

W hat was something that kept you going during your stay in the hospital that might encourage others? Don’t give up. I could have laid in bed and cried and thought I had no hope for recovery, but that’s the easy way out. Fight for your health! Fight for yourself!

What keeps you going now?

The drive to have a healthy fulfilled life. I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel on Nov. 4 and I’m not ready now! So I keep pushing to be a healthy and happy me!

What advice would you give someone recovering from a stroke now?

To not give up and to look for support in the ones around you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or feel like a burden to those close to you. They’re there because they love you and want you to be with them a lot longer!

How old were you when you had your stroke? 25

• Date of your stroke? 10/1/15
• What general area do you live in? Silver Spring, MD
• Type of Stroke? TBI Bleed
• Any known reasons for your stroke? My stroke was due to complications during a brain surgery to remove a brain tumor. The tumor’s blood vessel burst and bled into the surrounding areas of my temporal lobe.
• What were your symptoms? The only symptom of my slowly growing brain tumor was 7 years of simple seizures that my primary care physicians mistook for “migraines”.  On the night the tumor was discovered I had a one grand mal seizure.
• Were you administered TPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) within the first 3-5 hours of your stroke? No
• Where did you go for in-patient rehab?
  University of Maryland Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital – 3 weeks
• Where did you go for outpatient rehab?
  Upper Chesapeke Medical Center (Bel Air, MD) and currently National ional Rehabilitation Hospital (Wheaton, MD)

W hat are your biggest challenges/residual effects? Left-Sided Hemiparesis. I walk independently now but fine motor coordination recovery of left hand is ongoing. Left peripheral blindness (hemianopsia).Spasticity (Tone) in my left sided muscles fight against my ability to move freely. Occasionally I will lose my train of thought while I’m telling a long story.

W hat was something that kept you going during your stay in the hospital that might encourage others? I’ve learned that recovery is WHEN not IF. Like many, I was nervously told by doctors that a full recovery is not guaranteed, that the window for recovery can be from 6 months to 1 or 2 years only….but many had the same final sentiment: “There is really no definite answer. Every individual is different.”
I’ve learned to decipher that sentiment as hope. Therapists don’t always want to get your hopes up just in case your battle is harder than average. I originally decided that I should begin researching how to thrive with one hand….I had zero finger movement for two and a half months. Until, one day at Outpatient….they wiggled in the hands of my occupational therapist. It was the most joyful day! I learned that OUR BODIES HEAL. With or without intensive intervention, our brains WANT to heal and ever so slowly, they will. We still must help the process and never give up our efforts to relearn…but trust that our bodies are helping in their own special ways.

What keeps you going now?

My independence keeps me motivated. I grieved the loss of my independence most when I was still considered a “fall risk” and unable to move about without supervision. In 25 years I never needed such help and it was a blow to my very identity to lose it. Ever so slowly I achieved goals that gave me back a little piece of my freedom. I took my first step without my cane to my mother’s arms and we laughed. I shuffled through my kitchen slowly and I made my own breakfast for the first time again. I wasn’t afraid to try a new activity. My body had doubts but my heart said “you can do this!”  I became charged with the joy that only regaining my independence piece by piece could bring. I entered a competition with myself. And I began winning! I couldn’t stop, I wouldn’t stop and I still can’t stop!

What advice would you give someone recovering from a stroke now?

The difference between denying your diagnosis and DEFYING your diagnosis is YOU.  You can be the individual that defies the doctor’s statistics. It takes a positive and resilient attitude. It takes an attitude that boldly declares, “I’m not settling for living a life that I’m not in control of!” It will get brutally hard at times and it is okay to grieve what your stroke took from you – but you must come out even stronger knowing that though you must be patient, your brain is healing every day. The more you believe and commit to being your brain’s personal trainer and coach, the more rewarding you will find the inevitable recovery to be. You can do it. You are in control and you can fight against all odds to regain your life. Never give up! – “Diamonds are just pieces of charcoal that handled stress  exceptionally well”.

How old were you when you had your stroke? 29

• Date of your stroke? 3/22/2016
• What general area do you live in? Berrien Springs , MI
• Type of Stroke? Cerebellar infarction, due to a dissection of the vertebral artery, which caused an ischemic stroke.
• Any known reasons for your stroke? The day before, I tried to do a one-armed handstand balancing on a kettle bell. I fell and hit my face against the kettle bell, hyper-extending my neck and dissecting the vertebral artery (inner layers of artery stuck together, inhibiting blood flow).
• What were your symptoms? I had no symptoms for about 24 hours. The next morning after working out, my neck began to hurt really bad. About 4 hours later, I got extreme vertigo, quickly followed by nausea and vomiting. Within an hour of the onset of those symptoms, I lost control and feeling on my entire left side, that’s when we knew it wasn’t food poisoning or the flu, but something more serious. At that point, I couldn’t stand or walk, so my husband and a coworker carried me to the car, and we drove to the ER.
• Were you administered TPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) within the first 3-5 hours of your stroke? Yes
• Where did you go for in-patient rehab?
  After leaving the ER at Lakeland Hospital in St Joseph, MI, they transferred me to their ICU (because of the TPA), and I was there for about 24 hours. During that time, I saw a speech therapist (but my speech was unaffected, so that didn’t help much), an occupational therapist, and a physical therapist, all of which worked there in the hospital. Then I spent a night in a “regular” hospital room to recover. The next morning I saw the physical and occupational therapists again. I was discharged that day (two days after my stroke).
• Where did/do you go for outpatient rehab?
  I live and work on at Andrews University, and we have an excellent Physical Therapy program. I was able to do rehab for free with a neurological PT that teaches in the program, since I was willing to let students work with me for a class they were taking. I did that for about 3 months, and it definitely made a huge difference. I also have a close friend who is a PT, who would come over and work with me and give me different exercises to practice on my own.

W hat are your biggest challenges/residual effects? My vision, balance and coordination were the biggest areas affected. Getting around was the first big challenge. About a week or so after getting home, the headaches got really bad. I was able to get stronger pain killers and after about a month, the headaches went away completely, which was awesome! For a long time, my vision was a problem. Things wouldn’t stay very steady (visually) when I would move around, but that eventually stopped. I still see double in a certain area on of my left eye, but my vision in general is still improving. Sometimes I feel visually “overwhelmed” when I’m moving around or in a crowd of people. I also got occasional vertigo from things like sit ups, lying flat on the floor or tipping my head backwards, but that has basically gone away now. Now the most consistent reminders of my stroke are the tingling in my left fingers, dryness in my left eye, and that my left eye doesn’t open as wide as the other one. But these are such minor things and I feel so blessed because of that!

A ny therapy tips you picked up during your time in therapy that might help others? All of the physical therapy I got was amazing, but I only did that a couple of days a week, so it was really what I did on my own time that made the biggest difference. Besides just practicing the things I learned in therapy, I reincorporated CrossFit, Zumba and yoga into my schedule as I was able. CrossFit helped me get my strength back, but also helped me get back some of the coordination I’d lost. Zumba was also excellent for coordination and agility, since there are a lot of movements you do when dancing that you wouldn’t do in your every day life. And yoga was great for my balance and flexibility, since I was often very stiff and tight from not moving as much. Now I’m back to CrossFitting 5 days a week and doing Zumba and yoga at least once or twice a week. Also, I noticed during my PT sessions that some movements or positions might be really difficult, or even induce vertigo, but if I did them again, they would become easier, more comfortable or the vertigo would stop. I started challenging myself little by little to test out those uncomfortable positions (like leaning backwards for example, or doing sit ups). Now they’re no problem!

What is something quirky/fun about yourself?

I help at my local church, I’m a CrossFit coach (CFL1), I love to cook and eat, and I have two rescue dogs.

P ost recovery, what is something you have learned that might encourage others?The human body and the brain are so amazing! I don’t feel like my body let me down when I had a stroke, I feel like it’s showed me how incredibly God made me and reminded me to take the best care of my body that I can. I was very fit before the stroke, and that has REALLY helped with my recovery. Other stroke survivors that I’ve met are amazed at how far I’ve come. Even two months after my stroke, many people couldn’t tell I’d had one. I was passionate about fitness and health before, but now I tell people that fitness can literally save your life (not just lengthen it). And as long as you’re alive, it’s never too late to start a fitness journey! I also take every opportunity I can to teach people about strokes and make sure they know how to recognize the signs and symptoms. I knew NOTHING about strokes before I had one. Hopefully the information I share can help someone else. But most importantly, my whole experience was just a huge reminder of how good God is. He brought so much positivity and joy to my life out of it. I think that’s the biggest miracle of all.

T ell us about your tattoo on your wrist! 2016 was a big year for me: had a stroke, finished grad school, turned 30 and now I’m starting my dream job in a couple of weeks. I feel like I’m capable of just about anything right now, and I wanted a visual reminder of that for when I forget 🙂 I was so excited to find you guys after my stroke. I think what you’re doing is so important, and I LOVE explaining what the symbol means.

While this stroke has strengthened my spirit, it’s also softened my heart. God has really used this experience to make me a more sympathetic and thoughtful person, and this heart pop is also an homage to that.

What’s your favorite motivation song?

I heard the song “Alive” by Sia a couple weeks after my stroke, and that meant a lot to me for obvious reasons! Also, “This Too Shall Pass” by OK Go.

How old were you when you had your stroke? 28 & 33

• Date of your stroke? 7/26/10 & 5/30/16
• What general area do you live in?  South Whitley, IN
• Type of Stroke? Ischemic both times
• Any known reasons for your stroke? Moya Moya disease complicated by use of Yaz in 2010 and then by sepsis in 2016.
• What were your symptoms? Right sided weakness, facial droop, & slurred speech
• Were you administered TPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) within the first 3-5 hours of your stroke? Yes
• Where did you go for in-patient rehab? Rehab hospital in Fort Wayne
• Where did you go for outpatient rehab? KCH

What are your biggest challenges/residual effects? Some days just getting out of bed is hard,  but I had to stay at it for my hubby and wonderful kiddos.

What is something you have learned that might encourage others? One day at a time… sometimes a minute at a time,  is all you can worry about. Don’t sweat the small stuff either

What is your motivation song? 

How old were you when you had your stroke? 23

• Date of your stroke? 6/12/2016
• What general area do you live in? Huntsville, AL
• Type of Stroke? Left Carotid artery dissection
• Any known reasons for your stroke? They have no idea why I had my stroke.
• What were your symptoms? A couple months before my stroke I had experienced mild vertigo, loss of taste and smell, and weakness to my right side. During my stroke my right side went completely paralyzed, I couldn’t speak while I was paralyzed. When I was able to move again I was able to speak but I made no sense. I knew instantly that I was having a stroke when I put my left hand over my face and smiled. Only the left side was smiling. During my stroke and even on the way to the hospital I was very calm.
• Were you administered TPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) within the first 3-5 hours of your stroke? I don’t know what that is.
• Where did you go for in-patient rehab? I was at the Huntsville hospital.

W hat are your biggest challenges/residual effects? My entire right side is in sensory shock. Basically just constant pain. I can’t really feel heat or cold much. I’m in constant outlook to keep my head safe from harm. If I get hit in the head, neck, or fall I have to immediately get to the hospital to get checked.

W hat is something you have learned that might encourage others? I have learned that if you have been given a second chance. Take it and run with it. I lived by one percent, and I’m going to make that one percent worth it.

What’s your favorite motivation song?

Destiny’s Child – Survivor

How old were you when you had your stroke? 24

• Date of your stroke? 05/23/2010
• What general area do you live in?  Shawnee, KS
• Type of Stroke? Ischemic brain stem stroke
• Any known reasons for your stroke? Dissected vertebral artery from chiropractic manipulation.
• What were your symptoms? The day before – leading up to my stroke I had dizziness, dots in my vision, tingling sensation in my face, nausea and vomiting, when I had my stroke I had tremors in my legs, I lost sensation and strength on both sides of my body ( I went limp) and slurred speech.
• Were you administered TPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) within the first 3-5 hours of your stroke? Yes
• Where did you go for inpatient rehab? Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago now The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
• Where did you go for outpatient rehab? Shawnee Mission Medical Center
• What are your biggest challenges/residual effects? Chronic fatigue. Overstimulation. Vertigo. Headaches.

Post recovery, what is something you have learned that might encourage others? 

Your life is what you make of it. Yes, I had a plan for my life that did not involve having a stroke. Yes, I had a stroke that tossed most of those plans out the window. Yes, I have residual effects that interfere with day to day life. However, I am a big advocate for making the most out of any situation. I had to make new plans. New plans that fit my life post-stroke. I accepted my new limitations and quit hanging onto the past because I knew I couldn’t go back. I wanted to move forward and own my stroke not let it own me. I also have an amazing husband who has helped me along the way.

Any therapy tips you picked up during your time in therapy that might help others? 

Work hard. Never give up. Be persistent. Even though recovery is tough and not much fun, therapy is there to make you stronger and to get you as independent as possible. If you don’t put your full effort in you won’t reach your full potential.

What is something quirky/fun about yourself?

Obviously, I have a weird obsession with orange popsicles. I LOVE lattes. And sometimes I say weird things in my sleep.

How did you hear about NOPW?

I started it silly!

Follow NOPW on instagram HERE!

What is your motivation song? 

How old were you when you had your stroke? 29

• Date of your stroke? 07/03/2016
• What general area do you live in?  Waynesboro, Pennsylvania
• Type of Stroke? Ischemic Stroke
• Any known reasons for your stroke? No, not yet!
• What were your symptoms? I was at work and began to feel very distant and disoriented, It took me fifteen minutes to tie an apron around my waist which so lasted realized after being educated was probably because of weakness in my arm.
• Were you administered TPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) within the first 3-5 hours of your stroke? Yes
• Where did you go for inpatient rehab? Wellspan Surgery and rehabilitation hospital
• Where did you go for outpatient rehab? Wellspan Adams Health Center
• What are your biggest challenges/residual effects? I’ve lost mobility in my left side, I’ve begun to see improvements in my leg my but my arm is still very much paralyzed. I no longer have any inflection in my voice.

Post recovery, what is something you have learned that might encourage others? 

Celebrate the tiny improvements they make up the big gains!

What is something quirky/fun about yourself?

I’m a quirky/fun person in general! I went to culinary school. Cooking is my passion and my favorite hobby!

Any therapy tips you picked up during your time in therapy that might help others? 

Just keep pushing, if you keep your mindset strong the body will follow.

How did you hear about NOPW?

From Instagram! 

Follow Monica on instagram HERE!