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I write for my recovery. I write to get my words back. I write to give you a glimpse inside my mind. The mind of a survivor.
stroke recovery
It’s all up to you.
Invisible Disabilities
You can’t see them, but they are there.
Your Village
It takes an entire village to raise one survivor.
The Power of You
Each day, you wake with the choice.
must read
The Power Of Shared Experiences
During the intense weeks of preparation, I couldn't help but feel the passion growing within me. It led me to some introspection—why this unwavering dedication to making this project meaningful and impactful?
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You can have someone in the right postcode who does nothing to aid their recovery. Conversely, you can have someone in the wrong postcode who is socially and mentally thriving. The difference lies in their support and personal determination.
Stroke recovery is most definitely an uphill-both-ways (and sometimes backwards!) slog. From the afflictions it leaves, to the emotional scars it imposes on loved ones, it is not for the weak of heart. But there is good news…
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Stroke recovery is most definitely an uphill-both-ways (and sometimes backwards!) slog. From the afflictions it leaves, to the emotional scars it imposes on loved ones, it is not for the weak of heart. But there is good news…
I know that my anger has caused pain, ripped away relationships and left scars. A gaggle of therapists, countless friends and acquaintances (and my very own sister) can attest to this. So, that leaves me considering the question, “Should I get mad or get even?”
From the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, to the ever-evolving political and environmental landscapes… they remind me of life's fragility.
It makes me think, how can we, as a community, grapple with everything life throws at us? How can we be resilient now?
The vision is simple yet powerful: to provide a safe space where anyone can learn about Stacie’s experience with stroke, from the comfort of their own home and in their own time. By offering this perspective, the platform becomes a valuable resource for stroke survivors and caregivers looking to navigate the recovery journey.
During those intense weeks of preparation, as we delved into a sea of questions from my mailing list, friends, family, and even those generated by AI, I couldn't help but feel the passion growing within me.
It led me to some introspection—why this unwavering dedication to making this project meaningful and impactful?
5 Things I Learned From Trail Running (that very serendipitously have everything to do with stroke transformation!)
To my friends, I always give the advice “Don’t be so hard on yourself!” or “Speak to yourself, the way that you would to a friend.” So why is it so hard for me to take my own advice? Why is it so hard to forgive ourselves?
I’m Stacie, a stroke-surviving writer and advocate.
I help survivors find their perfect, awesome selves.
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These books have been cornerstones of my journey, helping me to better understand my mind, my body, and my spirit. They’ve guided me through the hardest moments and inspired me to keep thriving. I hope they’ll be just as meaningful to you.
You can have someone in the right postcode who does nothing to aid their recovery. Conversely, you can have someone in the wrong postcode who is socially and mentally thriving. The difference lies in their support and personal determination.
I know that my anger has caused pain, ripped away relationships and left scars. A gaggle of therapists, countless friends and acquaintances (and my very own sister) can attest to this. So, that leaves me considering the question, “Should I get mad or get even?”
I don't know what would have happened if I would have gone to a rehabilitation facility, instead of recovering from home. Would I be this far in my transformation? Further? Would I have written a book? Would I be able to speak? What I do know about my transformation is that it would not be possible without Passion-Based Therapy.
Read on to find out more.
The simple definition of recovery is a return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength. I suffered a multitude of set-backs from my stroke. From non-fluent aphasia, agraphia, emotional regulation disorder, impaired cognitive functions, sensory integration disorder to right-sided hemiparesis. I have spent the better part of the last year and a half working on my recovery.
But I’m not there yet.
I have been there.... where you are…. slogging thru the days. It has taken me a long time to understand that without finding your recovery groove, your sweet spot, your true passion, you can get lost in a never-ending mountain of to-dos.
I have become a master of the black or white. There are no in-betweens for me. You either see a well-put-together master of disguise or a shockingly, unraveled woman coming apart at her seams. I am definitely broken.
After suffering a life-changing event, here are 7 steps I found to help mend the broken fences of my soul.
3 Steps to finding your stroke-recovery mojo:
#1 Take a Break
#2 Reconnect with Your Goals
#3 Set Yourself up for a Win
It sounds simple, right? To put it into action, to get back your stroke-recovery mojo or to just get you re-focused on your path read along.
As I sit here, I’m celebrating 52 weeks of pain. One solid year of learning everything from how to walk and how to talk. However, this milestone, encapsulates my life’s starting point. It is like everything has been brought, suddenly, to life and I'm celebrating my one year birthday.
Now the hard part began…
I wanted to have my rehabilitation my way. No cookie cutter approach, please!
I can remember those months, after surviving my stroke, as some of hardest, darkest days I have ever experienced in my life. To say the simplest of words cost me an extraordinary amount of effort. I would like to share with you these listening tools that enhanced my recovery, expedited it and made it more pleasurable.
From a stroke survivor’s tool box, written for you.
Scared because this world has shown me that it is a big, dark creepy place, one where bad things happen to unsuspecting people. I am not saying that this is a rational thought, but it is my fear, one which I try to manage every day.
With all of the mental tennis going on in my head, it strikes me that I have another few lessons to re-relearn.
When I hit my first stroke anniversary in February, I had feelings of elation.
I had made it so far!
Then the weeks passed by and I could feel my steam lessening with each day, trudging up the slippery slope of my recovery. I found it was work that was beneath me, in some ironical way.
As I sit here, I’m celebrating 52 weeks of pain. One solid year of learning everything from how to walk and how to talk. However, this milestone, encapsulates my life’s starting point. It is like everything has been brought, suddenly, to life and I'm celebrating my one year birthday.
You might have never realised what it takes for someone suffering the results of a stroke to ‘fit-in’ with her normal life. Things which I could do automatically pre-stroke can cause a slight moment of panic for me now. Maybe you can identify with some of my stroke-isms… because, let’s face it, sometimes we all have strokey moments.
And other stories which I shouldn’t laugh about, but do.
When it comes down to it, there’s not much funny about the situation. I suffered a stroke after an internal carotid artery dissection.
But, I was one of the lucky ones. Surgery could fix me.
I have to level with you. I have been holding back some secrets.
Although it’s satisfying, in one way, to lead you down the path that I’m doing my best and fighting the good fight, its not in the true spirit of honesty.
The fact is that I have many good days, but they come with a twist. They are laced with the drug of my bad behaviour and then my dimmer switch comes on, full blast.
Now the hard part began…
I wanted to have my rehabilitation my way. No cookie cutter approach, please!
Come, let me entertain you with a good story that starts with a rather seemingly typical, “normal” female and ends with me cursing at my husband in a sea full of umbrellas, blaming my stroke for “its bad behaviour”.
Let me set the stage for you, shall I?
You can have someone in the right postcode who does nothing to aid their recovery. Conversely, you can have someone in the wrong postcode who is socially and mentally thriving. The difference lies in their support and personal determination.
Stroke recovery is most definitely an uphill-both-ways (and sometimes backwards!) slog. From the afflictions it leaves, to the emotional scars it imposes on loved ones, it is not for the weak of heart. But there is good news…
I know that my anger has caused pain, ripped away relationships and left scars. A gaggle of therapists, countless friends and acquaintances (and my very own sister) can attest to this. So, that leaves me considering the question, “Should I get mad or get even?”
From the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, to the ever-evolving political and environmental landscapes… they remind me of life's fragility.
It makes me think, how can we, as a community, grapple with everything life throws at us? How can we be resilient now?
The vision is simple yet powerful: to provide a safe space where anyone can learn about Stacie’s experience with stroke, from the comfort of their own home and in their own time. By offering this perspective, the platform becomes a valuable resource for stroke survivors and caregivers looking to navigate the recovery journey.
During those intense weeks of preparation, as we delved into a sea of questions from my mailing list, friends, family, and even those generated by AI, I couldn't help but feel the passion growing within me.
It led me to some introspection—why this unwavering dedication to making this project meaningful and impactful?
5 Things I Learned From Trail Running (that very serendipitously have everything to do with stroke transformation!)
Last month marked my fourth stroke anniversary. I was extremely flattered, elated and, yet, really calm to reach that point. I had a quiet celebration of life with my tribe.
Through a hell of a lot of work, I’ve gotten here– because I didn’t let anyone tell me that I couldn’t. It leaves me wondering about our decisions… because we each have a choice to make…
To my friends, I always give the advice “Don’t be so hard on yourself!” or “Speak to yourself, the way that you would to a friend.” So why is it so hard for me to take my own advice? Why is it so hard to forgive ourselves?
I don't know what would have happened if I would have gone to a rehabilitation facility, instead of recovering from home. Would I be this far in my transformation? Further? Would I have written a book? Would I be able to speak? What I do know about my transformation is that it would not be possible without Passion-Based Therapy.
Read on to find out more.
During those intense weeks of preparation, as we delved into a sea of questions from my mailing list, friends, family, and even those generated by AI, I couldn't help but feel the passion growing within me.
It led me to some introspection—why this unwavering dedication to making this project meaningful and impactful?
The simple definition of recovery is a return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength. I suffered a multitude of set-backs from my stroke. From non-fluent aphasia, agraphia, emotional regulation disorder, impaired cognitive functions, sensory integration disorder to right-sided hemiparesis. I have spent the better part of the last year and a half working on my recovery.
But I’m not there yet.
I have been there.... where you are…. slogging thru the days. It has taken me a long time to understand that without finding your recovery groove, your sweet spot, your true passion, you can get lost in a never-ending mountain of to-dos.
After suffering a life-changing event, here are 7 steps I found to help mend the broken fences of my soul.
I wish someone had clued me in on these: 3 self-advocating TIPS on how to MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR STROKE RECOVERY. (Especially the first one.)
My wedding picture caught my eye today. It left me wondering, had we known the future, we would have still gotten married….
These books have been cornerstones of my journey, helping me to better understand my mind, my body, and my spirit. They’ve guided me through the hardest moments and inspired me to keep thriving. I hope they’ll be just as meaningful to you.