Phone: 314-828-8003

What Led Me Here
 
My name is Marion, and on September 13, 2023, at approximately 11:00 a.m., my daughter saved my life. She had been at the local YMCA that morning. Keep in mind, she was supposed to return to school earlier that week, but for whatever reason, she ended up staying home longer than expected.
 
That morning, I began feeling confused. My instinct was to simply sit down and rest, believing the feeling would pass. When the confusion didn’t go away, I called her, and she was surprised to receive the call inside the facility since she normally doesn’t get phone reception there. I explained that I wasn’t feeling like myself, and she immediately came home. When she arrived, her instincts told her something was wrong, so she called an ambulance. That decision changed everything.
 
While in the ambulance, the paramedics informed me that I was having a stroke. I later learned that it was a brain hemorrhage, and my blood pressure had reached 225/130. What made the situation even more surprising was that I did not have the typical symptoms commonly associated with a brain hemorrhage. I was admitted to the ICU, where doctors informed me that the next 24 hours would be critical to my survival. Thankfully, I responded well to treatment and was able to avoid a craniectomy. After four days in intensive care and 3 days in patient observation, I was later discharged to a rehabilitation facility, where the long road to recovery began.
 
A stroke is not just a medical event—it is a life-altering experience that impacts not only the survivor, but everyone around them. It brings physical challenges, emotional struggles, and a reality that few people truly understand unless they have experienced it themselves.
 
For many survivors, the emotional battle begins after the hospital and therapy sessions end. During rehabilitation, you are surrounded by therapists, staff, transportation drivers, and other survivors who are walking the same path. They become a part of your daily life and a source of encouragement. Then one day, it all ends. The transportation driver no longer comes. The receptionist who welcomed you each day is no longer there. The therapist you built a deep connection with tells you that this is your final session. Suddenly, the structure and support you relied on are gone. That is often when the emotional weight truly sets in. Many stroke survivors experience depression, isolation, and a deep sense of uncertainty about who they are now and what their future looks like. You begin asking yourself questions like:
 
1) Who am I now?
2) What does my life look like moving forward?
 
I have been there myself—and at times, I still am. 
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Through my own recovery journey and the conversations I’ve had with other survivors, I realized there is a significant gap in support services once survivors leave the hospital and rehabilitation facilities. While there are programs that help people eventually return to the workforce, there is very little support during the critical time in between.
 
In 2024, I founded the Stroke Survivors Network to help fill that gap.
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Our Mission

We are dedicated to supporting stroke survivors as they
rebuild their lives after a stroke. Many survivors return
home facing mobility limitations, balance issues, and
physical challenges that make everyday activities
difficult and sometimes dangerous.Our mission is to
help stroke survivors maintain independence by improving the safety and accessibility of their homes through community partnerships, volunteer support, and donations.

We proudly serve stroke survivors throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. Our healing starts with helping others.