“When my stroke happened,

I felt very left behind. I never

want to feel like that again.”

Stacie Broek.

”I am [a] mother of three children, wife, business woman, and now stroke survivor.”

When it hit, it didn’t just take her control, it took her identity.

Following her stroke, Stacie was unable to remember her name, her address or the names of her children. Despite the challenges that she was forced to face, Stacie chose not to wither away, but to be resilient and blossom as “Stacie 2.0”.

Her path to recovery is lined with outstanding achievements, which include authoring a book and delivering a keynote speech for the WHO (World Health Organization).

Along her journey, Stacie has been inspired by her three children and supported by her husband, Johan, who has been a constant and reliable care partner – from recognizing the initial signs of her stroke, to being right by her side as she handed in the final draft of her book. Stacie, now a published author with a book detailing her post-stroke journey to recovery, has risen to become an advocate, fighting for person-centered care and equitable treatment for all stroke survivors. Every achievement is a victory, but also a reminder of how much she once lost – and how easily it could all slip away again with another stroke.

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

"That I'm strong and powerful, but at the same time there's so many other things that are more powerful than me. The power of my family, the power of my friendships, the power of collaboration."

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

“When I sent my second draft of my book to my editor, Johan told me… that the doctors told him that I would never read or write again due to my severe aphasia.”

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

"It's an amazing opportunity and I feel very blessed. But it's also reflective for me, because my journey, my story is just one perspective. And this year there will be over 12 million people who will experience a stroke.* And my voice is just one of many.”
 

^{*Data taken from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021}

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

“With one out of four adults experiencing a stroke, and we know that a second stroke is [often] more damaging than the first one, it behooves us as a community to pay attention to this and to fight to reduce this risk.”

What are your hopes for the future?

“I hope that more and more people know the signs of stroke, like Johan did, thank God. And that they know the risk factors that… are associated with 90% of strokes.”

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.