““Pop!” My life was forever changed by a simple ‘pop’ noise, which emanated from my neck and sounded like a firecracker going off. That was how it seemed. In reality, the pop I heard was probably no louder than a pencil eraser gently dropping on a table. But it was very real, and it meant I was having a stroke.
It all began in early August 2020 with a simple headache. Headaches were nothing new to me, having suffered from migraines my whole life. It was just a bad day. But this headache was different. It wasn’t going away. Normally, my migraines subsided after taking painkillers, vomiting, or laying in a dark, quiet room for several hours. Up to this point, I had this routine down to a science. However…
The never-ending headache from hell eventually started spreading down into my jaw region. The pain began getting unbearable, and was completely unchartered territory for me; the duration of it, the location – it simply wouldn’t quit!
Being a ‘man’s man’, I didn’t believe in going to a doctor or emergency room. Being in the USA and not having health insurance probably skewed my decision making. It’ll eventually pass, I thought. About eight days (and lots of agony) later, I finally broke down and went to the emergency room.
After a battery of tests and a head X-ray, the physicians found nothing alarming and sent me home, with a MRI scan scheduled for three weeks down the road. Sadly, I never made that appointment. My stroke happened six days later. Incredibly – the initial headache aside – having a major ischemic stroke due to a vertebral artery dissection wasn’t painful to me at all. After the infamous ‘pop’ noise, I felt a warm sensation drift throughout the right side of my body. I didn’t know I was having a stroke at that precise moment, but I obviously knew something was very wrong.
It wasn’t until about two minutes later, when my right leg gave out and I collapsed to the ground, that I put two & two together. I also lost the function in my right arm, and my vision became blurry. Thank goodness my girlfriend was home, as she called emergency services and helped to keep me calm. I can still vividly remember laying on our cold tile floor telling her that I didn’t want to die.
Our son (who was 11 at the time) crouched down next to me, holding my hand. The thought of not seeing him again raced through my mind.
An ambulance soon arrived, and I was quickly ushered inside on a stretcher. I felt ‘woozy’, but still had all of my wits – probably too many, as I commenced badgering the people trying to help me with questions like; “Am I going to live?”, “Are you going to give me any needles?” – (I HATE needles!).
Beyond everything, I was terrified. I couldn’t control my right side, and thoughts of being paralysed or living in a wheelchair forever were bouncing around in my head. Fortunately, we made it to the hospital in a flash, and I was immediately hooked up to what seemed at the time like a thousand tubes and machines. A short while later, a doctor came up to me and confirmed that I was having a stroke. I remember being very confused by this, as he specifically used the word “was”, not “did”. I asked if he spoke mistakenly, but he repeated; “No, you’re having a stroke right now!”
He then explained that they would administer tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), to thrombolyse the clot and they’d monitor how I responded.
That moment marked a new chapter in my life. The tPA worked, and I became a stroke survivor. I recuperated in that hospital for seven days before being transported to one of the top rehabilitation centres in the world. It was the same place that nursed Christopher (Superman) Reeve back to life after his horseback riding accident.
To put it mildly, my team of therapists are like angels to me. I was admitted as a hoyer-lift only patient, which meant I needed a mini crane to be lifted in & out of bed. Five short weeks later, before being discharged, I was able to walk again (barely) with the assistance of a quad cane – all because of them.
In-between those five weeks was a LOT of pain and struggle; therapy was twice a day, six days per week. I literally had to relearn everything: how to dress, bath, use the bathroom, stand. I felt like a helpless child all over again, but I knew I had to do it. And I did. Then reality hit…
I returned home.
I was welcomed back by a very loving partner, but one who was ill equipped to deal with the 24/7 care required of a recent stroke patient. I was tired all of the time, moody, depressed, suffering from vertigo, and admittedly, was more than a handful to put up with.
It didn’t help matters that our relationship had already been fractured before my stroke, and while my girlfriend provided the best attention she could during my time of need, the cracks between us eventually became wider under this life-changing situation. There were many, many big fights.
About a year and a half after my stroke, we mutually agreed that it was time to separate and I soon hit rock bottom; mentally, physically – all of it! Even my weight ballooned to almost 250 pounds. I had given up on out-patient therapy by this point, and my walking (more like hobbling) was beyond poor. I relied on a walker or mobility scooter to get around when accomplishing most of my daily tasks.
I honestly didn’t know if I had the physical ability to live on my own after the break-up, and the prospect of that frightened me. But I also knew that I needed a fresh change – a new start. If I was going to be a stroke SURVIVOR, I needed to fight with everything I had.
By this time, I was beginning to lose my mind from having to sit inside of the house on a constant basis, due to my impaired walking. I couldn’t enjoy so many of the things I did previously. I decided that if I was going to have a fresh start, it needed to be a BIG one. Something that shook me to my core and challenged me. I wanted to feel alive again.
As I’ve always loved camping, I began researching the nomad lifestyle. This is a community of people who live out of their cars and travel across the United States. After much planning, purchasing a car, and having it adapted for left foot driving, on a wing & a prayer, I finally hit the road. I’ve been living as a full-time nomad for almost one year now, and I love it. I truly feel reborn. The freedom, the challenge, the adventure, the stories…my life has been enriched in many incredible ways.
Throwing myself into the unknown, and being forced to keep pushing ahead each day in spite of my physical limitations, helps keep my mind sharp & my body active. I travel back home every month or two and spend quality time with my amazing son, who will be 14 this year.
In addition, I have met a wonderful woman online and we’re now dating. I’ve also started physical therapy once again and my walking has progressed by leaps & bounds. I’m finally confident enough to walk outdoors without a cane, something which I was frightened of for years. Lastly, I was able to lose 60 pounds due to healthier eating choices, and I’m currently down to 190. I still have about 15 more to go, but Rome wasn’t built in a day.
The reason I shared my story here is simple…
If just one single person is inspired by my journey, and it helps get them through the challenges of post-stroke life, I will be overjoyed.
Nobody wishes for a stroke. However, like so many other obstacles that are thrown our way in this world, it’s how you handle these obstacles that truly matters. Meet them head on and overcome them, one by one. It CAN be done. I’m once again leading an independent, rich, meaningful life. In time, you will too. We are stroke warriors. We are still alive. Don’t take that precious gift for granted.
If you’re interested in following my adventures as a nomad, have any questions about me, or perhaps in dealing with post-stroke life, please visit my blog and send me a message. It would be an honour meeting my fellow warriors.”
There are 100,000 strokes in the UK each year with 1 in 4 happening to somebody of working age or younger. Different Strokes aims to promote independent stroke recovery and help these younger stroke survivors reclaim their lives.
Different Strokes is delighted to announce the return of its Glasgow Peer Support Group, providing a welcoming space for working-age stroke survivors, their families and
On Saturday 18th July, over 100 people gathered in Northamptonshire to mark 30 years of Different Strokes. Reclaiming Life After Stroke The day opened with
Free Webinar | Wednesday 22 July | 11:00am When someone you love has a stroke, life can change in an instant. Partners, spouses and family
During June we hosted a Community Event in London at the offices of Bolt Burdon Kemp.
Different Strokes is pleased to be partnering with specialist medical negligence law firm Fletcher’s Solicitors to offer a free online webinar for stroke survivors, families and carers.
Mike Caines Wins Different Strokes’ Outstanding Contribution Award 2026 For the past 14 years, Mike Caines has been a quiet constant behind Different Strokes. He
