Saj’s first blog post, January 15th 2016 Seven years ago LAS founder Saj went online and started sharing the journey of his stroke recovery. Since then Life After Stroke has become a non-profit organization; a forum for other young stroke survivors to share through guest posts; and a provider of services for other survivors, such as our monthly Support Group. Last year LAS expanded its membership to include stroke survivors over 40. Life After Stroke has taken a new step and is now a registered charity. Donations are now tax deductible. Everyone at LAS is looking forward to the new ways we can ..read more

A stroke can happen at any age. Even in young children and teenagers. At Life After Stroke, we have built a community of young stroke survivors. In the month of May, we would like to raise awareness on stroke in a pediatric population. Current rates for stroke in children are 1 in 2,500 among newborns, defined as age 0 to 28 days, and 2-5/100,000 among children aged 28 days to 18 years. A stroke can occur in a child due to many reasons. Modifiable stroke risk factors for adults such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure may not typically be the culprit of a stroke in childr ..read more

When LAS launched in 2020, our goal was to fill a void in support and advocacy for young brain injury survivors (YBIS) as a means to bridge a gap in available supports by age and stage in life. This was referenced specifically in our initial documentation. As we have grown and evolved as an organization, we have learned and flexibly adapted to the needs of our members. This means pivoting as needed to accommodate our participant demographic. Hence, going forward we are open to membership by any stroke survivors between 18 to 40 years of age or 41 to 65 years of age. Internally, the age ranges ..read more

World Stroke Day falls on October 29th every year. World Stroke Day is a reminder that when someone is having a stroke: time = brain. A matter of minutes can shorten one’s recovery time following a stroke and save one’s independence. Here at Life After Stroke, we know very well that strokes do not discriminate. A stroke is life changing and can occur at any point in one’s lifetime. At Life After Stroke, we aim to not only support the community of young stroke survivors, but we also aim to raise awareness about stroke on a global level. On World Stroke Day, we would like to remind you how cruci ..read more

In late 2020, I was on a path to desperately find some well-deserved enlightenment. I had a great job and was slowly clawing my way up the career ladder and thought that the more hours and tasks I took on, the more people would count on me and make me feel valued. To me, If I felt “needed,” I would find joy. In my spare time—not that I had much—I would try to connect with my children (ages 21, 12 and 10). I would do what I could to be a good, fun parent, but it never felt like enough. I never felt enough, and I became deeply depressed. To try and combat this, twice a week, with just a little o ..read more

Stroke has been typically seen as a disease that affects older adults. Unfortunately, this means that young stroke survivors are not adequately represented in rehabilitation programs, including stroke support groups. At Life After Stroke, we offer monthly support groups that are tailored towards young stroke survivors. Here, we talk about some of the benefits of support groups. Mental and emotional health Share similar difficulties, and worries that are more unique to younger adults Share coping strategies Being in a group with those with similar experiences, can help one feel less lonely, i ..read more

While ischemic strokes are the most common stroke type among brain injury patients, another type of stroke is considered deadlier. A hemorrhagic stroke, also known as a brain bleed, occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and causes bleeding (a hemorrhage) into the surrounding brain tissue, thereby disrupting the brain’s normal function. Causes of Hemorrhagic Stroke Typically, a hemorrhagic stroke occurs when the walls of a blood vessel are weakened and cannot withstand an increase in the pressure of blood flowing through. One of the more commonly seen causes of a brain bleed is a ru ..read more

You may have heard the term ischemic stroke pop up within the acquired brain injury space before. However, the actual causes, symptoms and treatments of this type of stroke are generally not as common knowledge. An ischemic stroke occurs when there is a disruption of blood flow to the brain. As a result, the blood cannot carry oxygen to parts of the brain, which is critical for brain tissue to survive and function. What Causes an Ischemic Stroke? An ischemic stroke can happen if a blood clot blocks or narrows a blood vessel going to the brain. The formation of a blood clot can be due to many ..read more

Brain injuries can range from minor to strikingly life-changing in nature. Acquired or traumatic brain injuries can be particularly jarring given the abrupt nature and the profundity of the potential impacts on one’s physical, psychological and societal well-being. In addition, the range and severity of these effects depend on the type and extent of the underlying brain pathology. Although the clinical presentations and symptoms may vary across the patient population, the first step in reintegrating back into society is learning to cope with the after effects. In this post, we will briefly dis ..read more

Good news! We are extending the Life After Stroke (LAS) Fitness Challenge to June 15th, 2021 and we have sweetened the pot with a brand new top prize. https://lifeafterstroke.life/2021/06/06/las-fitness-challenge/(opens in a new tab) What is the Life After Stroke Fitness Challenge? The LAS Fitness Challenge is a campaign launched to get young stroke survivors, family members, friends, care givers, etc. moving and raising money for young stroke survivors. Participants committed to 5-20 minutes of daily physical exercise throughout May, while fundraising to hit a personal donation goal they set ..read more