Loretta Sharp Gray was a passionate teacher before she decided to become her life partner’s primary caregiver after he had a stroke. Now she’s still educating people — about stroke.

In 2016, Loretta’s life partner, Paul Smith, fell into a coma after having a right hemorrhagic stroke. He wasn’t expected to live. After 40 days, he awoke from the coma, paralyzed on the left side of his body. Weeks later, he slipped into a second coma, after which Loretta became his court-appointed legal guardian. Paul was placed in a skilled nursing facility because he required extensive care.

Loretta was still working as a teacher when Paul entered the facility. Each time she visited Paul, she could see he was depressed, and she worried about his quality of life. Paul had no interest in interacting with fellow residents, and he frequently asked if he could go home.

Loretta eventually retired from teaching so she could bring Paul home and become his primary caregiver. The nursing facility staff initially discouraged the idea, but Loretta was determined, and they helped her set up home health services. Two months after Loretta retired, Paul moved in.

Becoming a caregiver required Loretta to take on many new responsibilities. The home health team offered this grandmother extensive training and education, enabling her to provide Paul round-the-clock care. He also receives community services and periodic visits from his primary-care doctor and nurse practitioner.

Loretta has found new ways to teach, by educating the public about stroke and advocating for patients. As a virtual conference presenter, she discusses ways caregivers can best care for stroke survivors and engage in self-care.

She also shares stroke information on social media, helping her followers understand how to recognize stroke symptoms and how to reduce the risk of stroke. And as a volunteer with the American Heart Association’s STEM Goes Red for Girls, she’s interacting with students again. The program educates local students about heart health, stroke, CPR and careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Thanks to his forethought, planning and persistence, Dr. Kimon Bekelis provides the patients at the Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center at Good Samaritan on Long Island lifesaving care. His dedication to health equity led to the creation of the center, which has helped fill a void in care on the underserved South Shore of Long Island.

While researching stroke patient outcomes on Long Island, Dr. Bekelis discovered disparities based on race, income level and geography. His findings showed that preventable deaths and disability were more common among underserved populations and people of lower socioeconomic status, who didn’t have access to proper acute stroke therapy.

Dr. Bekelis lobbied for the development of the multi-million dollar Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center so all patients on Long Island could have equal access to lifesaving stroke care. The only comprehensive stroke center on Long Island’s South Shore, patients receive treatment, regardless of their demographics or their ability to pay for care.

The stroke center has expanded inclusive access to high-quality stroke care on Long Island. It’s helped close gaps in care, improving outcomes among underserved patients on the South Shore.

Throughout his career, Dr. Bekelis has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to health equity. He’s motivated by the core belief that everyone deserves an equal chance at the best possible health outcome. He uses his research to bring awareness to inequities and to support policy changes that improve equitable access to high-quality care. He has also worked to translate his research findings into on-the-ground changes based on evidence-based care.

Dr. Bekelis’s passion for serving his community expands beyond acute stroke care. He has implemented screening programs and stroke-prevention education initiatives in disadvantaged communities to provide knowledge and resources to at-risk individuals. He has also recruited a diverse team of specialists, nurses and support staff at the Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center to provide culturally competent care and more inclusive treatment.

Although the South Shore’s stroke outcomes have improved, Dr. Bekelis continues to conduct research, treat patients and provide community outreach to lead to even greater patient outcomes.

The Centre for Neuro Skills has been a leader in the stroke and brain injury rehabilitation field for more than 40 years. Its facilities provide outcome-based treatment to patients in seven locations across Texas and California.

Each patient at the Centre for Neuro Skills receives a personalized treatment plan that focuses on therapeutic rehabilitation and disease management services. Patients work with specially trained staff to relearn life skills after a stroke or traumatic brain injury. Their strides help them regain their independence and improve their quality of life.

The Centre for Neuro Skills has partnered with the American Heart Association on several occasions to help bring awareness to local communities about stroke. Members of the Centre for Neuro Skills’ executive leadership team have been involved with American Heart Association Heart & Stroke Walk events in Austin, Texas, and Bakersfield, California, in recent years.

Physicians and rehabilitation therapists at the Centre for Neuro Skills often work with local and national media to educate the public about stroke on national recognition days, like World Stroke Day, or during Stroke Awareness Month. The clinic’s providers also talk about the importance of stroke rehabilitation, risk factors that affect stroke survivors and the prevalence of stroke among underrepresented groups. They also discuss tips for stroke prevention and causes, and the importance of post-acute care for stroke patients.

Patients who have been treated at the Centre for Neuro Skills sometimes share their stories with the news media. They also visit the clinic locations where they received rehab treatment to discuss their experiences with current patients. They’re always eager to talk about the ways rehabilitation therapy has helped improve their lives, inspiring patients and staff alike.

On her first day of 7th grade track practice, in 2021, Reegan Lueken suddenly felt dizzy, so she sat down. When she tried to get back up, she realized her legs weren’t working. Her father rushed to the school and brought Reegan to the emergency room, where she learned she’d had an ischemic stroke. She was only 12 years old.

Doctors gave Reegan medication to break up the blood clot that caused the stroke, then airlifted her to a children’s hospital, where surgeons removed the clot. When Reegan woke up, she couldn’t move the left side of her body. She spent most of the next 11 days in the intensive care unit, where she had a second stroke.

Once her condition stabilized, Reegan was transferred to an inpatient rehabilitation therapy facility. She met with physical and occupational therapists daily for 36 days. They helped her relearn skills she’d taken for granted, like walking or picking up items with her left hand. By the time Reegan was ready to go home, she could walk, climb stairs, move her left arm and grasp with her left fingers again.

Returning home was an adjustment. Reegan was glad to sleep in her own bed, but she had to accept the fact that when she needed to move her left side, she had to think about it; it no longer happened automatically. Meeting with physical and occupational therapists continued to boost her progress, and a life coach has helped her cope with the emotional aspects of recovering from a stroke during adolescence.

Today, Reegan is a resilient 10th grader who recognizes that every day is a gift. She studies hard and is on her high school’s honor roll. She relearned how to ride a bike, works as a hostess at a local restaurant and recently completed her first community college course.

Reegan decided to share her stroke story through the American Heart Association. Her mom, Maria, had been an AHA volunteer years before Reegan’s stroke. (Maria survived an aortic aneurysm when Reegan was a newborn.) By letting people know she had a stroke as an athletic preteen, Reegan hopes to help them understand that it’s possible for anyone to have a stroke anytime, regardless of age or health status.

Twelve years ago, Craig Northcutt fell off an ATV while it was moving at high speed, and his head hit the ground. He wasn’t wearing a helmet. The injury caused a brain bleed that led to an ischemic stroke, and he nearly lost his life.

Immediately after the accident, Craig was able to talk to his best friend James, who was with him. Moments later, Craig started having trouble breathing, then became unresponsive. James called 911 and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Craig was airlifted to a hospital, where he received an emergency craniotomy.

For the next three months, Craig recovered from his traumatic brain injury and stroke as an inpatient at different hospitals. The injuries severely impacted his speech, vision, cognitive abilities and ability to walk.

After three months of recovery, Craig was ready for inpatient rehabilitation therapy. Wearing a protective helmet, he arrived at the Centre for Neuro Skills in Dallas in a wheelchair. At first, Craig was hostile and refused to participate in therapy, not understanding why he needed it. Slowly he built relationships with the center’s staff, who helped him realize that therapy would help him recover so he could return to the job he loved.

For nine months, Craig devoted himself to intensive neurorehabilitation. His physical therapist helped him strengthen his body, and doctors helped correct his vision. He relearned how to speak fluidly and fully regained his cognitive abilities. He began walking with a cane, which he no longer needs.

Less than a year after his accident, Craig returned to work for his Native American tribe, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, where he helps tribal nation members develop their career skills and find employment. He’s celebrating his 30-year work anniversary.

Craig also visits high schools in Oklahoma and Texas to urge ATV riders to wear helmets, and to talk about traumatic brain injury and stroke. He has distributed more than 200 helmets to high school students to promote safety. He also shares his story with stroke survivors to help them find the motivation to recover.

Rick Hoeg’s hemorrhagic stroke in December 2022 was one of the most traumatic moments of his life. It soon became a teachable moment as well.

Instead of quietly recovering out of the spotlight, Rick chronicled his recovery on social media. He created a nine-part YouTube series about stroke warning signs, treatments and prevention strategies, which he shared with his 100,000-plus viewers.

Rick began shooting the videos while he was still in outpatient rehab being treated by physical, occupational and speech therapists. He featured his rehabilitation therapists in several episodes. Rick says his stroke recovery was the most difficult challenge he ever faced, but he rose to the occasion. The stroke affected his entire left side, and some doctors believed he might never walk again. But when he was released, he was proud to be able to walk through his front door.

Rick’s grit and determination on camera had a powerful effect on the people who watched his progress. Many viewers got in touch to say that they started thinking differently about their own strokes and recovery experiences because of Rick’s response to his circumstances. He’s flattered, but he doesn’t think there’s anything remarkable about his dedication to his recovery. “If I can do it, so can you,” he says.

Rick was happy that his videos got such an enthusiastic response, but he wanted to do even more. He wanted to give back to the health centers where he received lifesaving treatment. Rick concluded his YouTube series with a fundraiser that featured special guests, including his brain surgeon. The effort raised $30,000 and has benefited the hospitals that treated Rick. Today he’s still educating viewers about stroke, and he visits the hospitals that saved him to remind health care professionals that what they do matters.

“I’m incredibly grateful and honored to receive this award. This recognition gives me hope that the stroke recovery content we create at Post Stroke will continue to empower survivors in their recovery journey!” – Elyse Newland

Watch Elyse’s YouTube video

Elyse Newland changed her career path after her grandmother had a warning stroke called a transient ischemic attack (TIA) in 2019.

While in rehabilitation, Elyse’s Nanny didn’t receive high-quality, stroke-specific therapy. And no one explained to the family the cause or impact the TIA would have on her life.

As a health care professional in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Elyse found the incident highlighted the lack of resources and fractured continuation of care for patients after rehab. She also discovered it wasn’t an isolated incident. So she set out to change things.

Shortly after the attack, Elyse studied to become a Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist. She then started a public education campaign aimed at improving the lives of survivors, families and caregivers via YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. And her blog at elysenewland.com has a free eBook titled, “The Stroke Recovery Pocket Guide,” that can be downloaded as a PDF or moved to smartphones, tablets and Kindle.

Her simplified content breaks down evidence-based therapies for stroke survivors in videos and writings at no cost to recipients. The response has been strong. In just a year, her YouTube channel, which contains 58 videos to date and is updated weekly, has more than 5,000 subscribers and more than 345,000 views. Her Instagram also is growing with more than 900 followers for her 240 posts.

Elyse also has expanded her practice beyond her state’s borders. She is licensed and has a teletherapy private practice in Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Oregon and California. And just this year, to reach even more people, Elyse has started a nonprofit, Post Stroke.

“We are honored to receive this award on behalf of our partnered barbers and stylists who work daily to make a positive difference in their clients' lives. We are continually encouraged by their dedication to our mission of improving minority health outcomes, like stroke, and we look forward to spreading that mission to as many communities as possible.” – Andrew Suggs, CEO of Live Chair Health

Watch Andrew’s YouTube video

Like many Black people, Andrew Suggs got knowledge and support in a barbershop while growing up on the South Side of Chicago.

Trusted pillars in the community, many barbers and hairdressers are positioned to educate Black men and women about health. That’s important because distrust and discrimination are two of the most common reasons why Black people are less likely to go to the doctor.

After graduating from college and working for a Fortune 100 firm, Andrew learned his father had a heart attack and congestive heart failure. This led Andrew to discover more about health inequity among Black people, who have higher rates of stroke and deaths from stroke than any group in the U.S.

In 2017, Andrew launched Live Chair Health, an organization based in Columbia, Maryland that equips barbers and hairdressers with blood pressure monitors and health information for their clients to lower their risk of stroke and other conditions. Live Chair Health shops are mostly in Maryland, but some are as far away as New York, California, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

The organization regularly holds events with free health screenings and its online program encourages participants to track their blood pressure, weight and physical activity.

Live Chair Health also spreads the word about the importance of regular primary care visits and has compiled a directory of trusted, culturally sensitive health care professionals. Enrollees in the online program earn credit toward free haircuts at participating shops, which earn cash for enrolling their clients.

“On behalf of pediatric stroke families worldwide and the board of IAPS, we are honored to accept the Group Heroes award! We are grateful for the recognition this brings to the babies, children, and teens impacted by stroke. These warriors and their families are the true heroes!” – Mary Kay Ballasiotes, International Alliance for Pediatric Stroke, Executive Director

Watch the IAPS YouTube video

Many people, including some health care professionals, don’t realize that children can have strokes. Yet, stroke is one of the top 10 causes of death among children in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association. Early diagnosis is critical and can dramatically affect outcomes.

That’s why the International Alliance for Pediatric Stroke, led by parents of affected children, has for the past decade raised awareness and provided support for families shocked by a life-altering diagnosis.

Under the leadership of Mary Kay Ballasiotes, the organization advocates for pediatric stroke to professional societies and state and federal governments.

For families, the IAPS has created and distributed educational materials, including a pediatric stroke fact sheet, video series and a Pediatric Stroke Family Tool Kit with a Spanish translation.

The organization’s website allows families to share their stories and gain inspiration.

The IAPS also organizes an annual online Pediatric Stroke Awareness Campaign in May, reaching more than 60,000 people on Facebook and Twitter.

"I am truly honored and very grateful to receive this award; it means so much to me. I will do my best to continue to promote awareness to all that a kid can have a stroke too. Pediatric stroke survivors, be brave and know you are not alone, we are here for each other, for real. With love, support, determination and hard work, we can all be heroes of our own story." – Kyler Lewis

Watch Kyler’s YouTube video

In 2020, William Kyler Lewis, 15, was riding in the car with his mom in College Station, Texas, when he suddenly turned to her confused.

His head hurt, he was sick to his stomach and his vision was blurred. Soon, he couldn’t remember anything for more than a few seconds.

After his mom rushed him to the pediatrician, he got a shot and was told to go home. Instead, his mom drove 1½ hours to a children’s hospital in Houston. Nurses there thought Kyler had taken drugs, but his mom insisted no, he was not that type of kid, and something was very wrong. A CT scan revealed Kyler had an acute spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage from a brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) that he unknowingly had when he was born. A brain AVM is a condition that is not inherited. AVMs are a random occurrence due to a gene malfunction in utero where a mass of arteries connect directly to veins.

Kyler received lifesaving external ventricular drain (EVD) surgery to control the fluid build-up in his brain. After the stroke, memory and neuro fatigue became a big problem. Kyler has undergone radiation and chemotherapy and takes medication for epilepsy, headaches, dizziness, weakness and tremors.

Yet, Kyler is inspiring many. He uses local news, community functions and social media to educate the public that a child can have a stroke, too. He also organizes walks to highlight the importance of recognizing the symptoms of a pediatric stroke.

Kyler’s Facebook group, “A Cure for Kyler,” his CaringBridge page and YouTube channel educate and inspire pediatric stroke survivors by documenting his recovery.

His video, “Being You after an Aneurysm/AVM Rupture,” and his family’s Facebook page, “AVM Alliance: A Cure for Kyler and Friends,” share stories of other hemorrhagic stroke survivors and educate people about symptoms and conditions.

"I am humbled and grateful to be honored with the 2022 Survivor Hero Award. This has been a pivotal point in my life to dedicate my focus, first-hand experience, and commitment to helping the challenges of stroke worldwide.” – Deb Shaw

Watch Deb’s YouTube video

The root cause of Deb Shaw’s three strokes in 2016 and 2019 was never discovered, but they fueled a new purpose for her life. For her recovery journey, Deb employed a myriad of methods in addition to occupational and physical therapy. They included neuro acupuncture and acupressure, aquatic therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, health care virtual reality and balance classes.

She combined her therapy experiences and passion, becoming an advocate for stroke survivors. Deb decided sharing what she had discovered could be very helpful for stroke survivors.  She founded and is the CEO of Champion the Challenges, a California nonprofit in which she motivates people to pursue her 3 Ps of a successful recovery: Patience, Positivity and Practice.

Deb also mentors dozens of stroke survivors via calls and video conferences. And she’s an inspirational speaker for stroke support groups, hospitals and rehabilitation centers.

Last year, Deb was the co-chair and master of ceremony for the Golf 4 Life Event with the Pacific Stroke Association. She organized a panel of three stroke survivors to speak with the group of more than 175 attendees.

Deb also volunteers with several public and private companies, and leading universities innovating technology for stroke survivors. She has helped with hands-on practical applications, hardware and software testing, along with packaging and survivor usage guides.

Deb believes everything in life happens for a reason, and her life purpose is to help stroke survivors champion the challenges that accompany having a stroke.

“This Stroke Hero Award provides an opportunity to share my pediatric stroke story to a larger audience.  As a survivor, I feel a responsibility to share my story to as many people as possible to raise awareness for pediatric strokes. The more people my story reaches, the more parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers, coaches, and medical professionals will remember that seemingly healthy kids and teens have strokes.” – David Moskowitz

Watch David’s YouTube video

David Moskowitz was playing lacrosse at school when he noticed that the right side of his face was tingling. David and his teammates jokingly questioned if he could be having a stroke, but they didn’t believe it. David was a healthy, active 17-year-old. But it was no joke. 

In the emergency department, David easily passed various medical examinations. His parents questioned if David was having a stroke, but they were told it was very unlikely and he was sent home. David’s symptoms worsened, and during an MRI the next day, doctors realized he was experiencing a stroke caused by a brain bleed.

David was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital where he stayed for nearly a month fighting for his life. He lost complete mobility of the right side of his body; his left side was severely weakened and his vision was compromised. David was diagnosed with an inoperable arteriovenous malformation (AVM) from an unknown genetic disorder called hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. When David was stable enough to undergo radiosurgery, he did and was then moved onto the neuro trauma unit.

David's road to recovery had just begun. He went through months of grueling therapies, finally regaining his mobility, strength and vision. Shortly after leaving the hospital, David received his acceptance letter to the University of Cincinnati, College of Nursing. His dream of returning to the PICU to work with his nurses and help other critical kids was beginning.

Today, David is completing his BSN and nursing co-op in the same PICU, learning and working alongside some of the same nurses who helped save his life. David shares his stroke survivor story to remind the public that stroke can happen at any age, even in healthy kids and teens. He also reminds people about the importance of knowing F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech and Time) to recognize and react to the symptoms of stroke.

“Prior to our daughter having her stroke at only 8 years old, I didn't even know the signs of a stroke, let alone that they could happen to a healthy child. We will continue to educate people about the signs of a stroke and that they can happen to anyone at any age,” Jill Veach.

Watch Jill’s YouTube video

On what Jill Veach thought would be an ordinary day in July 2017, her daughter, Claudia, suddenly could not walk or talk and had a severe headache, right arm weakness and facial drooping. An ambulance arrived quickly and the paramedic shared his initial diagnosis with Jill: “I believe your daughter is having a stroke.” Jill replied, “but she’s only eight years old!” He said, “anyone with blood pumping through their veins can have a stroke.” Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center quickly confirmed the paramedic’s suspicion, and Claudia was diagnosed with Focal Cerebral Arteriopathy, a condition where blood vessel inflammation leads to a narrowing of a major artery in the brain.

When Claudia left the hospital, Jill took on her new role as a stroke survivor’s caregiver with tenacity and grace. She balanced administering daily medications and taking Claudia to doctor’s appointments and tests with her regular day-to-day demands of family and work. Nearly three years later.

Claudia has made a full recovery, and together, Jill and Claudia are working to raise awareness of pediatric stroke in their community. Jill reconnected with the hospital that treated Claudia asking how she could help raise awareness. This led to participation in the International Pediatric Stroke Study and filming an educational video for the hospital and participating in a news story on Claudia’s stroke. Jill has also written a blog for the International Alliance for Pediatric Stroke, is active in the Greater Cincinnati Stroke Consortium and is always looking for opportunities to share the warning signs of stroke.

Jill’s determination knows no bounds. She is now inviting friends and family to walk in the American Heart Association’s Heart Mini-Marathon & Walk in honor of Claudia as part of the team “Claudia’s Crusaders.”

"The choir members are truly amazing, and they inspire me with their positive attitudes, good humor, and tenacity. I can't think of a better way to honor them!” – Karen McFeeters Leary, Director 

Watch the Aphasia Choir of Vermont’s YouTube video

Making inspiring music together is the Aphasia Choir of Vermont’s goal. While helping its members express themselves more freely through singing, the group also educates the community about communication disabilities and provides a supportive community for stroke survivors with aphasia.

Karen McFeeters Leary, a retired speech-language pathologist and singer/songwriter, started the group and has directed it for six years, growing it from 22 members to more than 50. The first aphasia choir in Vermont, the group includes stroke and traumatic brain injury survivors, family members, caregivers, physical therapy assistants, speech-language pathologists and University of Vermont students studying communication sciences. They rehearse for months during the spring to prepare for their annual performance in June for National Aphasia Awareness Month, and they also take time to highlight members’ victories and support each other.

The concert attracts more and more people every year, with the 2019 performance entertaining nearly 600 attendees. The music ranges from Broadway hits to Motown classics, including pieces where members play instruments such as kazoos and a one-hand adapted guitar. Choir members also educate the audience about aphasia, including tips for communicating with someone who has aphasia.

The Aphasia Choir of Vermont’s members may struggle with aphasia, but when they make music together, they communicate in a beautiful and inspiring way.

“Our group has worked very hard to make stroke education and awareness a focal point in our rural communities of eastern Kentucky, and I am very honored that our efforts have been recognized by the American Stroke Association," Keisha Hudson, coordinator/leader.

Watch the Hazard Stroke Survivor and Caregiver Support Group’s YouTube video

Since 2015, this diverse group of stroke survivors, caregivers, family members and healthcare professionals has been working to increase stroke awareness and provide stroke education to all ages. They have made it their mission to ensure that prevention education is offered and quality services are available for everyone affected by a stroke. Their passion is palpable, and their commitment is strong.

A traditional support group with monthly meetings featuring camaraderie, support and education by local experts, they also actively work to raise stroke awareness in under-resourced rural eastern Kentucky — a region with one of the highest stroke rates in the nation — through outreach efforts, local radio and TV appearances and stroke screening events.

They have worked with city and county officials to establish proclamations for stroke awareness for several years. For American Stroke Month last May, the group educated over 600 elementary, middle and high school students about the signs and symptoms of stroke, stroke prevention and how to become advocates within their communities. In October 2019 they hosted their first stroke lunch and learn for World Stroke Day, where they performed 50 stroke risk screenings and were featured in a local news story. The Hazard Stroke Survivor and Caregiver Support Group works relentlessly to make a positive impact on members’ lives and their community.

"Pediatric stroke is one that is not often talked about and I’m glad that I can use the voice that was given back to me to raise awareness and educate about stroke,” Gracie Doran.

Watch Gracie’s YouTube video

Ten-year-old Gracie Doran was surfing when she had a stroke caused by a brain stem bleed. Surgery saved her life, but she was in a coma for several days and woke up partially paralyzed. Then she began her recovery journey. In inpatient rehabilitation, Gracie relearned how to eat, speak and walk, relying heavily on the discipline and determination she’d developed as a competitive dancer to help her persevere. After rehab, she continued with years of therapy and had three more brain surgeries. Though she still faces challenges, including loss of the use of her right hand and a speech impediment due to facial paralysis, Gracie doesn’t let anything stand in the way of her goals.

In the 10 years since her stroke, Gracie has dedicated herself to helping others and raising awareness as an American Heart Association volunteer and advocate. She speaks at Heart Balls, Go Red luncheons and Go Red STEM events, telling audiences, “I had a stroke, the stroke does not have me.” She has been a panelist at the White House Health Care Summit and participated in the You’re the Cure Lobby Day on Capitol Hill.

Gracie also started a dance company, the Rising Stars, for children with disabilities. They’ve been dancing for seven seasons and are an all-inclusive group, allowing siblings to participate as well. Gracie is now in college working toward a master’s degree in social justice and leadership. She hopes to go to law school and pursue a career as an advocate for stroke and people with disabilities.

Mark is very honored and grateful for this award voted on by his peers. His testimony continues daily and he gives all the glory to God and his amazing support system in his family and friends.

Watch Mark Kincaid’s YouTube video

The above quote was a collaborative effort from Mark and his wife, Tonya, since he still struggles with aphasia and apraxia.

Over a decade ago, Mark Kincaid experienced a catastrophic ischemic stroke at age 42 due to undiagnosed high blood pressure. Doctors predicted that Mark might not survive surgery to treat the stroke, and if he did, he would live the rest of his days in a vegetative state.

But Mark defied the predictions as soon as he woke up from surgery. After weeks of intensive inpatient therapy, he began regaining some of his cognitive and physical abilities, and after three months in hospitals, he was finally able to go home.

Mark continued working hard on his recovery, almost always doing double what was recommended. By playing brain games and doing speech therapy activities, Mark continued to improve his cognitive and communication skills, although he still struggles with expressive aphasia and apraxia to this day. His stroke heavily impacted the right side of his body, so his therapy included using a leg brace and electric stimulation units for his leg and arm.

Mark joined his local stroke support group and has been an active member for years. He regularly participates in stroke education activities in schools, helps provide stroke awareness education at local events and works with a rehabilitation center to help patients learn to cope with the aftermath of a stroke. Mark also helps educate graduate students at Eastern Kentucky University on the stroke survivor experience and works to achieve local and national recognition for Stroke Awareness Month and World Stroke Day.

Mark’s undeniable fighting spirit helps make him a great role model for stroke survivors.

Read Mark's story: Given a grim prognosis, stroke survivor proved doctors wrong