It’s 11:00 AM on Tuesday, August 11, and only a few people have arrived for our annual SSA Summer Picnic. With 28 RSVPs, I begin to worry that perhaps only a handful will come. But gradually, more familiar faces appear—some we haven’t seen at meetings for quite a while and others who have only recently joined our stroke support group.... Read More
Recently, we published a blog post on Jenn Keeley, a young stroke survivor from our online support group. Jenn has written poetry about her experience, and we are grateful that she has shared two of her poems with us. If you missed the article about Jenn, click here. MAKE A WISH I wish I may, I wish I might not overthink... Read More
By the age of 27, Jenn Keeley had already survived two ischemic strokes. Today, at 44, she continues to navigate the lasting effects of those strokes, along with a seizure disorder and other health challenges. Yet despite the obstacles she has faced, Jenn’s story is ultimately one of determination, resilience, and rediscovering joy. Jenn’s first stroke occurred in October 2009.... Read More
When every second counts, the Comprehensive Stroke Center at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center is ready. A “Code Stroke” is more than just a call—it’s a rapid, coordinated response that can mean the difference between life and lasting disability. At the heart of this response is a specialized team known as the HyperAcute Stroke Team (HAST), trained to act fast and... Read More
A stroke can feel like an earthquake to the family system. Not only is the stroke survivor dealing with the physical, emotional, and mental fall-out, but the family may be worried about lost income, a reversal of roles for the parents, and a strain on adult relationships. Add children or grandchildren to the mix, and the situation becomes even more... Read More
Women suffer more from stroke than men. They are both more likely to have a stroke and less likely to get the kind of timely, high-quality treatment that leads to the best outcomes. Some of that is because women live longer and therefore have strokes at older ages, when it is harder to recover. But women also face additional risks... Read More
Memorial Care Long Beach Medical Center’s Comprehensive Stroke Center team educates students on stroke recognition and prevention after students see teacher suffer stroke When the bell rang, school proceeded like usual. However, unlike most days, the students at a local Long Beach high school, had a real-life health lesson. Right before their eyes, their teacher was experiencing what looked to... Read More
Just over four years ago, I had a crippling stroke and a heart attack that left me paralyzed on one side, with serious speech and vision deficits. Really, that was hard enough. But a year later, as I was still recovering, I was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. That was shocking and unbelievably stressful. But it is not that rare.... Read More
Life Before His Stroke Joel Block was born in 1948 in Chicago into a family of six — his parents, two older brothers and an identical twin brother. After growing up in nearby Skokie between 1953 and 1966 he moved to attend the University of Michigan. He served as the sports editor for the daily school newspaper. He also worked... Read More
Born in Paris, France, Nicolas De Gaulejac, just 18 years old and already an accomplished musician, embarked on European tours with his brother, also a musician. He earned his Master of Music degree from Agostini Private Drum School, France, and also studied at The Toulouse Conservatory in France. To further pursue his career, Nicolas moved to California and attended Musicians... Read More