Global Call To Action: Stroke Rehabilitation

There is a huge "real" need for stroke survivors to have continued physical therapy after their insurance has covered their (usually very limited) physical therapy sessions.
It’s an important time for fitness professionals to step up and gain stronger knowledge in the physical rehabilitation with stroke survivors. This need is worldwide!

I know this because I have helped survivors worldwide and heard their struggling stories. I've personally heard their human desire to get their bodies back to movements for everyday life. This includes things such as: walking, arm and hand function, balance, cognitive skills, stability, driving and much more!! Hundreds of thousands of survivors are seeking desperately for proper care and guidance.

I have been asked by stroke survivors and caregivers worldwide for help. After I published my first book in 2017, "THE STROKE OF AN ARTIST, THE JOURNEY OF A STROKE SURVIVOR AND A FITNESS TRAINER", I began getting contacted from all over the world for help. I wanted so badly to help them all.

I even received calls and messages from some personal trainers who had a Survivor client. I was to a big surprise to how some reacted. For example, one trainer after spending an hour sharing knowledge and telling him to seek out more education beyond the one-day certification he had. He responded with "So basically" he tried to sum up in one sentence how to train a Survivor. And he had it all covered. I thought, wow that Survivor's recovery is determined by this trainer’s ego and lack of listening skills. Most trainers that I took the time to talk too wanted a quick answer to full body stroke recovery.  They did not want to take the time needed to extend their knowledge.

I decided to begin a Stroke Recovery support group via private Facebook group page (visit resource page for info).

There is over 3200 members. It breaks my heart, but it keeps me constantly motivated to do what I can to help them and try my best to educate fitness professionals.

It is wonderful to have such a gathering from all over the world in this stroke recovery support group. It is serial and fascinating.

Everyone is so kind and supportive in the group to one another. They encourage and try to help each other so much.

• Israel,
• Europe,
• Switzerland,
• Australia,
• Canada,
• UK,
• Africa,
• Great Britain
• Vietnam,
• New Zealand,
• Scotland,
• Philippines,
• Fiji,
• Ireland,
• Indonesia,
• Micronesia,
• Mumbai,
• Maharashtra,
• Turkey,
• many States in the United States.

I know how real the urgent need is for fitness professionals to gain real knowledge to help survivors get their lives back.

I decided to help get the Survivors and caregivers educated since finding the professionals to help them sucked.

I then wrote my book, "STROKE RECOVERY, WHAT NOW? WHEN PHYSICAL THERAPY ENDS BUT YOUR RECOVERY CONTINUES"

Around this time Lisa Dougherty with the Medfit Foundation contacted me to be on the Education Advisory Board and write the Stroke Recovery and Exercise CEC course. I was very excited to have a platform to reach professionals to educate them to bring more care needed to survivor.  Fitness professionals and physical therapists must continue their education way beyond the basics of getting their original certification, license and credentials.  Hundreds of survivors have shared with me their struggles to find great care. The stories blow my mind and frustrated me tremendously.

Here is one recent story.

A 54-year-old female Survivor who lives 3 hours away from me, was so excited and filled with hope again after we met in my support group and reading my books and watching my videos. She began to get hand movement back and decided to go find a Physical therapist again. She searched out, asked questions and found someone who "appeared" and "sounded" like they had the knowledge and expertise to help her. She was excited sent me a private message and told me what the therapist said. It sounded good. This therapist spoke the neuro words and things that were impressive.
This Survivor shared in the support group how excited she was and tagged me thanking me for helping her feel hope again. Everyone was proud of her and encouraging her. I was thrilled.
A few days ago, she sent me a message that after her 5th session with this therapist, the therapist told her that she had never worked with a stroke Survivor before and can't help her.  She told me that she has gained more knowledge  from me and gained more recovery then 5 sessions with this therapist.

This upsets me so much. She deserves great care and real help. All stroke survivors do.  Now she has wasted 5 insurance paid PT session and 5 co-pays. That is not okay!  I have hundreds of stories like this and some are worse.

CALL TO ACTION: To all fitness professionals and therapist:

Please don't fake your knowledge and experience to gain a client. Don't just talk the talk. Put the time and effort in to continue your education. Have integrity and a heart of passion and honesty in your work.  This can mean another human being may walk or not walk again  This can mean another human being can hold a fork in their hand again or not.  This may mean someone can go back to work or never again.

And so much more!!!

In the case of the Survivor, who was an artist, in my first book, "Dear Stroke You Suck", it meant he would paint again or not. He did paint again😃

Survivor are encouraged and try to believe
Never Give UP!!
Don't Quit!

But they need to have educated professionals they can trust to join their personal stroke recovery team.

And the fabulous 54-year-old stroke Survivor refers to me as "Gods Stroke Angel"
That makes my heart feel warm and fuzzy. ❤