“Recurrence is the biggest

fear. Am I going to have

another stroke?”

Kevin Nakawatase.

“I’m Kevin, a husband, a survivor, and I know the fear of wondering, if the next stroke will be the one I don’t come back from.”

On Christmas eve, he felt a dull ache in his arm and an overwhelming heat. By Christmas Day, Kevin was paralyzed on his left side.

Kevin’s stroke came without warning 10 years ago – no slurred speech, no face drooping, and it left him in a hospital bed staring into uncertainty.

Although the stroke had knocked him down, Kevin knew he wouldn’t let it keep him there. With a glass-half-full perspective, sharp humor, and the unwavering support of his wife, Franca, Kevin got to work, tirelessly reconstructing his life.

Today, he’s not only a survivor – he’s an advocate inspiring hope in others and proving that light can emerge, out of even the darkest of days. Still, every twinge, every unfamiliar ache, brings a moment of doubt – an unshakeable reminder that the life he rebuilt could change in an instant, just as it did that Christmas Eve. 

What memory from your stroke has left the strongest impression on you?

“The biggest memory I think for me is just getting through from point A to where I'm at today. And all the things that I've had to live through, all the friends and family that have supported me through all this. My wife has supported me as well through, you know, 10 years of stroke.”

What milestones have stood out to you along your recovery journey?

“The first year is the scariest in terms of your whole thought process. The one big thing is, ‘am I going to have another stroke?’ It was a big sigh of relief, saying ‘thank God, I got past that first year without anything happening’.”

How does it feel to make your story visible through this campaign?

“This has been the icing on the cake, being here and talking to you guys about my journey. I haven't been a big part of the community, but as I've gotten along in the last couple of years it's become a bigger part of me.”

What emotions or thoughts come up when you think about the possibility of a second stroke?

“I think for most people, recurrence is the biggest fear factor. Yes, you can get out of it the first time, you can recover. But you don't know what's going to happen a year from now, 2 years, 10 years.”

What are your hopes for the future?

“I just want to continue to do whatever I can to help people [get] better. I got better through a lot of hard work, and I want them to do the same. To help them learn what [will] make a big difference for them and how they can get to where they need to be.“

Making the invisible visible: Unveiling the unseen struggles of stroke survivors

Every stroke survivor has a story. It’s often one of trauma, resilience, and unwavering determination. But while survivors try to endure and rebuild, the fear of another stroke lingers. It’s a burden shared by their care partners, a quiet fight against the unpredictable.

Six brave stroke survivors, alongside their care partners, have opened their hearts and lives to share their journeys. Their stories reveal not just the weight of uncertainty, but also the hope and humanity that keeps them moving forward. Their experiences and emotions were transformed by visual artists into six works of art. Each piece tells a highly personal story.

“Making the Invisible Visible” invites us to recognize what’s hidden and take action to prevent what’s preventable. Because secondary stroke deserves a second look.