About Me
Hi, my name is Julianna, a survivor and inspirer. I suffered a ischemic stroke on May 4, 2022 and a grand mal seizure on October 29, 2024. I was 44 at the time of my stroke. As the time of my stroke I was married, had 3 children (ages 11, 14 and 18) and property manager of all the medical offices of a local hospital.
On Wednesday May 4, 2022 my life came to a screeching halt. My husband woke up found me shaking and moving uncontrollably, I could not talk, I could not understand what was happening and could not respond to my husband or daughter. They called and ambulance and they took me to the local hospital and then medevac me to Mayo Clinic. I spend 5 nights there (I could not speak, walk and barley understand what people were saying). I was released to Brooks Rehabilitation Center and for 3 weeks and began walking, talking and started to communicating. My daughter was graduating high school at the end of the moth and i wondered if I was going to make it. I pushed myself so hard physically and emotionally and I made it to her graduation. After being released from inpatient at Brooks I then was referred to out patient speech, occupational and physical therapy. I worked my but off to learn to speak and move. I suffered from Aphasia, a language disorder that affects the ability to communicate, and still do have a hard time thinking of the word I want to say, trouble typing and writing.
I am inspired to start a place to connect survivors with healing companions, guides in Mental & Emotional Wellness as well as Therapists of Whole Self.
To hold space for transformation — empowering stroke survivors to not only recover, but to awaken to a deeper sense of meaning, belonging, and inner light.
To guide stroke survivors on a path back to their inner light — helping them rediscover their voice, their strength, and the power that never left.
