All Survivor Stories

Portrait: Sophia image

Portrait: Sophia

When I was 25 years old, I suffered a cardiac arrest, as my heart went out of rhythm due to a complication called long QT syndrome. I had to have a pacemaker and an ICD implanted as my heart was in great danger of going into cardiac arrest again.

 

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Portrait: Valerie image

Portrait: Valerie

I was attacked while at work. I had just been acknowledged companywide for the work that I had done within the community. During the attack my head flew back, and everything went white.

 

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Portrait: Antonio image

Portrait: Antonio

Antonio Iannella is a writer and published author. In this excerpt from his memoir, Antonio writes about the impact of stroke. Left paralyzed from the neck down, he navigates the shocking reality of recovery in a foreign country, grappling with the physical, emotional and psychological toll. Through humor, vulnerability and raw honesty, he reflects on the meaning of ‘normality’ and the long road to healing, highlighting both the struggles and the unexpected moments of grace that come with redefining life after a traumatic event. 

 

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Portrait: Kyle image

Portrait: Kyle

My name is Kyle and I am from a small town on Vancouver Island in Canada. I am a brain injury survivor and part of a marginalized group that has not voiced or spoken out as much as needed.

 

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Portrait: David image

Portrait: David

In October 2013, after an evening out, I awoke from sleep with a bad headache and feeling sick. I didn’t know at the time, but I was having a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

 

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Portrait: Adam image

Portrait: Adam

I was 15 when my injury happened on December 2, 2005. I collapsed and fractured my skull while out with my family, which was caused by multiple blood clots and bleeds on my brain and skull.

 

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Portrait: Deya image

Portrait: Deya

My name is Deya. My stroke story starts when I was 28-year-old Dispensing Optician and Practice Manager at an independent opticians in Leicester. I remember sitting and having a really bad headache, one like I've never had before.

 

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Portrait: Laura image

Portrait: Laura

My name is Laura Renner, and I’m a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse and author. I’m sharing my journey of surviving and recovering from a traumatic brain injury, hoping my story can inspire and support others walking a similar path.  

 

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Portrait: Nazia image

Portrait: Nazia

My name is Nazia, and my brain injury story began at age 45 when I suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm (subarachnoid hemorrhage) and cerebral vasospasm.

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Portrait: Valeriia image

Portrait: Valeriia

My name is Valeriia. I’m a passionate linguist who has recently moved to Berlin. Just a short time ago I was unexpectedly diagnosed with a cerebellar stroke (ischemic stroke in the cerebellum), caused by a tear in one of the arteries in my neck.

 

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