Thanks to Ralph Preston of StrokeBuddies for making this event available on replay from his live Zoom event on July 21, 2026.
In this replay of my presentation with Ralph Preston of Stroke Buddies now on Youtube entitled PFO Closure After Stroke, David Dansereau, Physical Therapist, Author, Stroke Buddies 166 I discussed my personal journey with a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) and my advocacy work in the stroke community as well as my new book, Closure After Stroke.
We had a great discussion and actually ran long with all the great questions. I encourage you to watch the replay, and have indexed a few of the key themes with time stamps to help you jump to areas of interest.
Key themes include:
The PFO Journey: My experience having a stroke due to a PFO (a hole in the heart) and the subsequent closure procedure. I emphasize that while a PFO is common, it can be a significant, often overlooked, cause of cryptogenic strokes (0:26-1:07, 20:52-21:30).
Advocacy and Recovery: I share my transition from a clinician to an advocate after my stroke. I highlight the lack of adequate post-stroke support and resources, leading me to co-found initiatives like the Know Stroke Podcast and write my book, Closure After Stroke (1:36-1:55, 38:29-40:22).
Community Importance: Throughout the meeting, Host Ralph and I stress that a supportive community is the “secret weapon” for recovery. We discuss the disconnect between large, profit-driven organizations and the actual needs of survivors on the ground (40:50-41:34, 1:38:03-1:38:10).
Lifestyle and Nutrition: Drawing on my background in nutrition and as a physical therapist, I promote a holistic approach to recovery, focusing on movement, consistency, and a clean diet (the “three Fs”: fiber, fat, and fluids) to support long-term brain health and energy (1:07:45-1:10:40).
My Mission:
My work is driven by my commitment to giving back to stroke support organizations, with proceeds from my book and educational efforts supporting the community in perpetuity until the American Heart and Stroke Association gets the message and steps up with much more than the current “anemic 3%*” of their billion dollar budget to stroke aftercare.
*Ralph’s research data presented in this discussion
Highlights with mentions from my new book:
In this video I explain that my Closure After Stroke serves as a personal account and educational resource focused on my recovery journey following a stroke caused by a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) (06:58-08:04).
Key themes covered in the book include:
PFO Awareness and Closure: My experience discovering the heart defect after my stroke and the process of undergoing a closure procedure (18:58-20:52).
Recovery and Rehabilitation: The strategies I used to regain strength and mobility, including his philosophy on movement, consistency, and the use of tools to monitor progress (34:50-35:46, 48:43-49:33).
Advocacy: I address the lack of resources for survivors and his call for better systemic support, including his experiences with the American Heart and Stroke Association (38:49-41:34, 48:58-49:05).
Guidelines: My book includes specific chapters on exercise and recovery guidelines that were missing when I was initially recovering (54:42-54:48, 113:37-114:02).
For added questions and answers I missed live, here’s my answers:
Great news!
I’m ahead of schedule on print release dates (originally September 28th)!
I have received and reviewed both paperback and print copies and will be announcing new release dates and special pricing before September 28th official book launch. Reminder: Kindle version out now for instant download!
Video announcement with details later this week!
