There is quite possibly nothing more alarming and disorienting than waking up in the ICU after an emergency surgery with absolutely no idea where you are and what happened. Unfortunately for me, this was my reality upon waking up from a brain surgery following an AVM rupture in late May of 2017. Put simply, this is suboptimal, I remember thinking. I went for a run the other day and now suddenly I can’t move at all — where do we go from here?

Bouncing back from the devastating stroke that nearly took my life has been no walk in the park. Throughout my own journey with recovery, community has been everything. Connecting with others has helped me to better understand that we are not alone nor do we have to go through a traumatic experience in isolation. It wasn’t until I opened myself up to connecting with other survivors that I realized the power and impact a bond with others who understand can have.

I am thrilled to continue connecting with others by joining the CIONIC team as Community Engagement and Advocacy Manager! Previously I worked as a reinsurance underwriter and most recently as a client relations specialist in the luxury fashion industry. I authored a book on my stroke recovery journey, and have spent the past five years building community through my Instagram, @maddistrokeofluck. I enjoy sharing my journey on the power of mindset and turning obstacles into opportunities, and have spoken at various schools to physical and occupational therapy students, support groups, and even at the World Health Organization in Geneva last year!

One of my greatest joys pre and post-stroke is travel, and in May of 2024, I hosted a trip to Bali for my community. I brought together a group of survivors to experience the beautiful temples, Monkey Forests, and pristine beaches. This trip to Southeast Asia was a fantastic opportunity to further build and connect with my stroke community.

As a hemiplegic stroke survivor, I suffer from foot drop, and I actually wear the Neural Sleeve myself on my daily journey to hit 10,000 steps!

I am eager to build on my advocacy experience by joining the CIONIC team. I can’t wait to meet everyone and share the joy of mobility with our community. Step by step, it keeps getting better. Onward!