Stroke 101: When the Wasteland Changes the Rules

Medicine can explain what a stroke does to the brain. Living through one teaches you what happens afterward, when medications, fall precautions, blood pressure management, and adaptation become everyday life.

Level 1,000 and Learning Grace

A gaming milestone, a new obsession with 3D printing, and a reminder that recovery from stroke, grief, and PTSD is rarely a straight line. Sometimes the hardest lesson isn't healing—it's learning to give yourself grace.

Shoulder to Shoulder With Mortality

Getting older means realizing death is no longer something that happens to “other people.” After surgery and reflection, I find myself thinking about mortality, regret, and the strange comfort of finally being honest about what hurts — and what doesn’t.

Reflections from the Opera

A quiet afternoon at the opera turns into a reflection on grief, rumination, and the long shadow of regret. Sometimes, healing looks less like triumph and more like showing up for yourself one small outing at a time.