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Hi, I’m Tania. |
My 2-Minute Stroke Story for Go Red for Women
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My Stroke. My Recovery. My Story.
What Happened
On August 8, 2020, my life changed forever. I woke up feeling fine, and after about 15 minutes awake, I saw a blinding light in my right eye - like a crack of lightning. I immediately felt unsteady and thought I might be having a migraine. Not soon after, I couldn't locate my left arm, and shortly afterward, I collapsed onto the floor while standing. I did not know I was having a stroke. In the ER, doctors favored a complex migraine. Processing the chain of events from that morning is ongoing. After spending a week in the ICU to raise and regulate my blood pressure, I spent another week in the hospital and then experienced new symptoms. They found bleeding. After a quick encore in the ICU and a confirmed hemorrhagic conversion, I spent the rest of the month in hospital, followed by a short stay at an acute in-patient rehabilitation hospital. As I'm typing this, I wonder if that means I had two strokes.
What I Learned
An echocardiogram in the ICU showed I had a PFO (patent foramen ovale) - a hole in my heart that didn't close the way it should have after I was born. In November 2020, I had surgery to repair the hole, which dramatically reduced my risk of another stroke. Do you know what's cool about that? I watched the entire surgery. The bloodwork for surgery revealed a clotting disorder - Antiphospholipid (AN-te-fos-fo-LIP-id) syndrome, which is a condition that can cause blood clots to form in arteries and veins #bloodthinnersforlife.
I'm Lucky. And Grateful.
“You’re lucky.” That’s what nearly every medical professional has said—lucky to have my sight, avoid worse deficits, and simply be here. I don’t feel lucky to have had a stroke, but I am deeply grateful for the healing journey, the people who walk it with me, and the lessons it continues to teach. About 20% of people have a PFO, and fewer than 2% of those experience a stroke—I’m in that slim margin, and I’m here for a reason: to live fully and help others along the way.
→ Read Blog Reflections
Embracing Imperfection
Recovery isn’t linear. I’ve learned to embrace the beauty in imperfection — whether in art, movement, or daily routines. Each small win is meaningful, and noticing these moments has been central to my healing journey.
Six Years Later
I’m often asked to measure my recovery on a scale from 0 to 100%. I’ll never be the exact person I was before my stroke—and that’s okay. I’ve seen the images of my brain; I understand what changed. What matters most is that I am working toward being 100% of who I am capable of being now. On August 8, 2026, I will mark six years since my stroke. I remain committed to becoming the strongest, most present version of myself. Tania 2.0 isn’t about loss—she's about growth, resilience, and doing meaningful, beautiful things in this next chapter.
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On August 8, 2020, my life changed forever. I woke up feeling fine, and after about 15 minutes awake, I saw a blinding light in my right eye - like a crack of lightning. I immediately felt unsteady and thought I might be having a migraine. Not soon after, I couldn't locate my left arm, and shortly afterward, I collapsed onto the floor while standing. I did not know I was having a stroke. In the ER, doctors favored a complex migraine. Processing the chain of events from that morning is ongoing. After spending a week in the ICU to raise and regulate my blood pressure, I spent another week in the hospital and then experienced new symptoms. They found bleeding. After a quick encore in the ICU and a confirmed hemorrhagic conversion, I spent the rest of the month in hospital, followed by a short stay at an acute in-patient rehabilitation hospital. As I'm typing this, I wonder if that means I had two strokes.
What I Learned
An echocardiogram in the ICU showed I had a PFO (patent foramen ovale) - a hole in my heart that didn't close the way it should have after I was born. In November 2020, I had surgery to repair the hole, which dramatically reduced my risk of another stroke. Do you know what's cool about that? I watched the entire surgery. The bloodwork for surgery revealed a clotting disorder - Antiphospholipid (AN-te-fos-fo-LIP-id) syndrome, which is a condition that can cause blood clots to form in arteries and veins #bloodthinnersforlife.
I'm Lucky. And Grateful.
“You’re lucky.” That’s what nearly every medical professional has said—lucky to have my sight, avoid worse deficits, and simply be here. I don’t feel lucky to have had a stroke, but I am deeply grateful for the healing journey, the people who walk it with me, and the lessons it continues to teach. About 20% of people have a PFO, and fewer than 2% of those experience a stroke—I’m in that slim margin, and I’m here for a reason: to live fully and help others along the way.
→ Read Blog Reflections
Embracing Imperfection
Recovery isn’t linear. I’ve learned to embrace the beauty in imperfection — whether in art, movement, or daily routines. Each small win is meaningful, and noticing these moments has been central to my healing journey.
- Creative expression has been meditative, revealing subtle reflections of my mood and mindset.
- Mindfulness and community have provided grounding, support, and perspective.
Six Years Later
I’m often asked to measure my recovery on a scale from 0 to 100%. I’ll never be the exact person I was before my stroke—and that’s okay. I’ve seen the images of my brain; I understand what changed. What matters most is that I am working toward being 100% of who I am capable of being now. On August 8, 2026, I will mark six years since my stroke. I remain committed to becoming the strongest, most present version of myself. Tania 2.0 isn’t about loss—she's about growth, resilience, and doing meaningful, beautiful things in this next chapter.
→ Subscribe for Updates
Milestones & Recovery: 2026 → 2020
2026 – Expanding Impact
- Selected as a Go Red for Women NYC Class of Survivors, continuing advocacy for women’s heart and stroke health.
- Attending the International Stroke Conference as a participant and panelist, sharing insights from personal experience.
- Planning my future CycleNation NYC ride to support stroke awareness, brain health, and community engagement.
- Continuing to integrate art, mindfulness, and storytelling into recovery, advocacy, and connection with others navigating life after stroke.
- Selected as a member of the Go Red for Women Class of Survivors, raising awareness about stroke in women.
- Served on the Patient Engagement in Science and Research Subcommittee for the American Heart Association, contributing as a patient representative to scientific guideline development and ensuring the patient perspective is included in research and care standards.
- Returned to Denver on the five-year anniversary of my hospital release to ride in CycleNation, celebrating recovery and advocacy.
- Continued creative and advocacy work through storytelling, art, and public speaking.
- Became a LoveYourBrain ambassador, supporting and connecting with retreat participants.
- Spoke publicly about my journey through platforms like Beyond Stillness, deepening public connection and advocacy.
- Began showing my art publicly, embraced life as an artist, and created my home studio.
- Engaged with community and peers, highlighting the importance of awareness and shared experience in recovery.
- Spoke publicly about my journey through platforms like Beyond Stillness, fostering understanding and raising awareness.
- Created my Concussion Sketchbook, exploring the perfection of imperfection after a mild concussion reconnected me with creative work.
- Raised awareness during Stroke Awareness Month for the first time on Instagram, sharing insights and resources.
- Shared my story on The Moth, fostering understanding and connection.
- Continued mindfulness practice through LoveYourBrain programs and attended my first retreat in Maine.
- Launched this blog to share my journey, insights, and recovery with others.
- Began training my service dog, Stevie, in January 2022, embracing new challenges and responsibilities.
- Became a Mindset Facilitator for LoveYourBrain, stepping into a role that required trust in myself and my voice.
- Learned patience, persistence, and the power of partnership — while also discovering the confidence to take risks and explore new possibilities
- First steps toward independence with small daily victories.
- Noticed moments of progress that built confidence and momentum.
- Visual and auditory processing affected; left-side mobility and sensation impaired.
- One month in the hospital and acute rehab; began early rehabilitation and learning to navigate daily life again.