Inspiring People
Megan Timothy: "Let me die laughing!" — When Megan Timothy had a stroke as the result of aneurysm, she was sent to a state mental hospital. Her only words were “chicken” and some obscenities. Her amazing recovery, from learning to speak and read again to bicycling 12,000 miles around the United States, is sure to inspire you.
Life is at the Curb - John Kawie, Stroke Survivor — You have to be passionate to risk falling flat in front of a roomful of strangers, and John couldn't shake his desire to make people laugh. He called the show "Brain Freeze."
Yvette Fields, A Blessed Survivor — Even after suffering a series of strokes in 2002, Yvette feels blessed to be alive and has a greater purpose. She says "I have learned and now I live.” Read Yvette's story and blog as she strives to live her life to the fullest.
Mark Acevedo — When Mark Acevedo had a stroke, he didn't call 9-1-1. He didn't have to. A fire captain in Ventura, Calif., he was already with the emergency response unit, fighting a wild-lands fire, when his left leg gave out and his speech started to slur.
Nicki James (Petrelli) — Recognizing the signs, even when they're not divine! A previously undetected heart defect caused Nicki to have a stroke while at church. Today, Nicki is an avid runner and participates in events in the Houston area to raise money and awareness to help stop stroke.
Catherine Romero — Catherine's stroke transformed her from a healthy athlete to a woman with severe disabilities. Now, not only is she a volunteer for the American Heart Association, she recently completed a triathlon.
Sarah Abrusley — She was a a 29-year-old nonsmoking vegetarian and ballerina who worked out four hours a day when she had a stroke. This survivor calls her stroke a gift. Read her story to find out why.
Rod McLean — For ten years after his stroke he anguished over his poor self-image, constantly comparing himself to himself before the stroke. His attempts to change that negative viewpoint caused him to realize how screwed up he was. He felt as if he were fighting to keep from sinking in quicksand.
Young Survivors
Oliver Michael, Infant Stroke Survivor — Strokes can happen to the very young, even infants. Oliver Michael suffered both an ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke within his first 24 hours of life.
Erik Dornbush, Teenage Stroke Survivor — Less than a month before his thirteenth birthday, he'll never forget the day that changed his life forever.
Locked-in Syndrome
Mikey Dee, Stroke Survivor — Mikey's stroke damaged the ventral pons in his brain stem. This severe and rare kind of stroke left Mikey locked-in. Following the stroke, Mikey's friends got together to see what they could do to help.
Kristi O'Donnell, Stroke Survivor — Kristi had a massive brain stem stroke that caused her to be locked in at age 30.
This content is reviewed regularly. Last updated 09/24/09.
