In 2015 -16, I established Stroke Recovery Foundation to improve post-stroke lifestyles and outcomes. In retrospect, while that mission stands today, and I believe its greatly needed, that mission is a bit like motherhood. When I described it to seemingly interested folks, the more astute ones quickly followed up with the question – “Bob, just how are you going to fulfill that mission – what are you going to do? You aren’t a physician, a researcher, or a medical person.” Truth be told, I barely passed chemistry.
I thought, that’s a darn good question. But I do have one big advantage – Like many of you, I am a survivor and “I walk the walk.”
Looking around the stroke landscape I saw others focused on general stroke awareness, and some others on prevention and knowing the signs of a stroke, the so-called FAST warning signs. I realized, that all those efforts were super important and I salute them. We stroke survivors need to do more in that area. Much more!
But there needs to be more and so I determined to look at other countries for clues of what to do. Twice now, I have attended the Canadian Stroke Congress as a media representative and Poster presenter and more recently, the UK Stroke Forum in Liverpool where I again was a Poster presenter.
I got some ideas!
