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Welcome to maddistrokeofluck

Sharing stories and strategies of success in recovery.

Check out my new book – Fast Fwd: The Fully Recovered Mindset

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    Hungryroot Meal Prep for a Stroke Survivor

    February 3, 2024 by

    Ding! My  timer goes off and I remove the perfectly cooked burger patties from the skillet and place onto a lightly toasted bun. Dinner is served, thanks to Hungryroot groceries! 5 Reasons Why I Love Hungryroot as a Stroke Survivor: If you are also interested in simplifying your day-to-day routine, you can sign up for… Read more

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    Masquerade at the Hotel Chantelle

    September 25, 2023 by

    This weekend I was invited to be a cohost for a masquerade-themed open bar event with OneRoof NYC at Hotel Chantelle in the Lower East Side alongside some other Instagram creators. It was a really neat opportunity that piqued my interest, although I admittedly had no idea what to expect going into it. Nonetheless, in… Read more

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    Happy Sunday – I have an EXCITING announcement!

    September 18, 2023 by

    What if I told you we had the opportunity to take our little community offline, to meet in real life at a cool destination anywhere in the world – like Italy, Thailand, Ecuador, or France? You’d say I’m crazy, right??  Well, I’m serious. I want YOU to come travel with me in 2024. I am… Read more

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    Fast Fwd: A MaddiStrokeOfLuck Community Event

    September 5, 2023 by

    Obstacles are opportunities. As many of you know this sentence has been my mantra for the past six years, ever since I suffered a massive hemorrhagic stroke that left me completely paralyzed on the left side. My mission is to find a new path forward and reinvent myself in the face of tragedy and challenge,… Read more

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    We All Fall Down Sometimes

    August 23, 2023 by

    We stroke survivors know that recovery ebbs and flows. Every recovery journey has its highs and lows. But take it from one survivor when I say that I will not let the fear of (literally) falling prevent me from taking the leap. Last month, I was invited to speak at the World Health Organization (WHO)… Read more

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    Saying “I do”

    June 19, 2023 by

    This weekend I got to see one of my dearest friends walk down the aisle and say “I do” to a lifetime of love and happiness with her best friend. Really a very special experience. My friend and her boyfriend – forgive me, husband – are a true love story. Here are two extremely intelligent, driven… Read more

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    One small step for man

    March 23, 2022 by

    “Ugh,” I groan as I drop the block from my rather tenuous left-handed grasp. I’ve been struggling for the better part of the hour-long therapy session with a weak hand that won’t cooperate. How long will it take to accomplish such a simple task? How many more repetitions stand between me and and regaining a… Read more

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    The End of an Era // New Beginnings

    June 27, 2021 by

    I realize it’s been some time since I updated my blog. In my defense, the past few months have been CRAZY. Tomorrow I’ll be beginning a new job, and I just signed the lease for my first apartment. That’s right, I’m finally moving out! Big changes involving my career and independence are happening and I… Read more

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    The Long and Winding Road

    November 30, 2020 by

    There’s a first time for everything, right? Ever since my stroke, I have faced a lot of firsts:  my first time standing up from a wheelchair, my first steps, my first time moving my left arm. The list goes on.  A couple of months ago I found myself facing yet another first: my first foray… Read more

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    Let’s Talk Stroke!

    August 28, 2020 by

    I recently had the pleasure of sharing my stroke rehabilitation journey on the show, Let’s Talk Stroke. In the interview, Jerry and I discussed all things recovery and my new book, Fast Fwd: The Fully Recovered Mindset. Click the link below to watch the episode, and don’t forget to order your copy of Fast Fwd!… Read more

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    It’s not just for wrinkles

    August 21, 2020 by

    This week I am thrilled, practically bouncing off the walls at my doctors´office. “Christmas came early this year,” I joyfully exclaim to my doctor. “I’m getting my Botox injections!” ___________________________________________________________________ For all the skeptics out there, let me explain. Every three months, I go see my doctor, a specialist in brain injury medicine, for injections… Read more

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    Mother Knows Best

    July 8, 2020 by

    As much as I hate to admit it, my mom is (almost) always right. Since I had my stroke, I’ve been living back home with my parents, undergoing all sorts of intense rehab and taking baby steps towards independence. My ultimate goal is to reach a point where I can move out and live successfully… Read more

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    Fast Fwd publication!

    April 13, 2020 by

    And just like that, my newest book, Fast Fwd: The Fully Recovered Mindset, is published and out there in the world. April 9th was my 25th birthday, and what a way to celebrate with the publication of my latest book! I have spent the past nine months working on a book about my experience with… Read more

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    Four weeks or four years?

    April 4, 2020 by

    It’s absolutely crazy to think that the last blog post I wrote was right before s$!t hit the fan in mid-March. The last time I published a post, I had gone out to a brewery in Brooklyn to celebrate my friend’s birthday. Then I went to a Celine Dion concert. So much has changed since… Read more

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    What a time to be alive!

    March 8, 2020 by

    This weekend has been a whirlwind of unexpected yet worthwhile festivities. My original plan was to go visit my dad out in Seattle this past weekend, but with the recent developments with the coronavirus, I decided to just stay home so I wouldn’t have to self-quarantine. Although I was upset that I would not be… Read more

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    Go Bulldogs!

    February 13, 2020 by

    I thought that by heading down to Georgia for the weekend I would be escaping the cold weather and snow in the Northeast, but turns out I was just ditching my mild Northeast winter for snow in the south. On February 7, I flew out of Newark to Atlanta to enjoy a weekend with one… Read more

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    2019: The Year in Review (and new 2020 goals!)

    December 28, 2019 by

    As the year 2019 draws to a close, I have been taking some time to reflect on the major milestones of the year. There was the trip to Miami in February, where I had the pleasure of seeing Greg successfully finish the World Marathon Challenge (7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents), and where… Read more

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    Fast Fwd: The Fully Recovered Mindset

    December 9, 2019 by

    “Are you ready? It will just be a little prick,” my physiatrist warned. “Thanks for the heads up,” I joked. Prick, and the needle penetrated my left trapezius. My doctor turned the switch on the funny little contraption sitting in front of us, which started to hum faintly. “This is how we figure out where… Read more

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    A new Thanksgiving tradition

    November 30, 2019 by

    Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. My mom’s side of the family drives up to our house in Chatham from Maryland, and we all celebrate Thanksgiving together. I love spending time with my family and enjoying a delicious meal. My dad fries a turkey outside and smokes another (and it’s delicious!). My… Read more

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    Mind the gap

    November 3, 2019 by

    This past weekend, I hit another major milestone. I took the subway by myself for the first time post-stroke. Which may not seem like a huge deal, but trust me, it is. And, in retrospect, is probably still not the safest thing for me to do, but I needed to prove to myself that it… Read more

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    London calling

    October 22, 2019 by

    I woke up in a cold sweat the night before my flight to London. There was a lot on my mind: what if I couldn’t manage traveling on my own? What if I got lost in the city and couldn’t find my way back? Since having a stroke, I had never traveled anywhere without my… Read more

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    They tied the knot!

    October 8, 2019 by

    The 5th of October, 2019 began for me like any typical Saturday morning as of late: breakfast, weight bearing, get dressed, chug some coffee. Except it wasn’t any typical Saturday morning, because today one of my very dearest friends was getting married. It felt like Christmas; I was so excited for this day, and couldn’t… Read more

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    Use it or lose it!

    September 23, 2019 by

    The huge bucket of ice water sits across from me, filled to the brim. It’s my first of three weeks at the Taub Clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and I have no idea what I’ve gotten myself into. My occupational therapist for the next few weeks returns with what appears to be… Read more

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    My Story: Part 1

    September 7, 2019 by

    Sometimes life is great, everything is going your way, and you feel on top of the world. When I graduated from Georgetown University in May of 2017, I felt like I could do anything. I walked down Healy Lawn the morning of May 20th to receive my diploma and reap the fruits of a rigorous… Read more

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    Welcome to maddistrokeofluck

    September 7, 2019 by

    Hi, my name is Maddi. In this journal I share my journey with stroke rehabilitation, in the hopes that by sharing my experience I can empower and inspire others to find ways to repurpose their lives in the face of hardship. I hope that by sharing my biggest takeaways and learnings with you, I am… Read more

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