Son of a Bricklayer
May 1st, 2024 Post on Know Stroke Blog- by David Dansereau
Throughout my 17 years of stroke advocacy work, May 1st has always had special meaning. On May 1st 2007 I woke up at Mass General Hospital (MGH) in Boston to a clear head for the first time in almost a year since my stroke the year prior. The heart surgery procedure at MGH that day corrected a congenital heat defect that was believed to be the cause of my stroke at 39 years old.
Earlier today while I was out on my morning run, I was reflecting on what the month of May has meant to me. -David Dansereau, Stroke Survivor
Today, May symbolizes stroke awareness month in the US and every year since my stroke I’ve continually pushed for more stroke prevention programs as well as better survivor and caregiver education + recovery resources. Still awareness opportunities, early intervention and educational opportunities in our hospitals, schools and communities they serve are limited or non existent depending on your zip code. Improved behavioral economics, sustainable funding and coordinated stroke prevention, awareness and aftercare efforts are needed. This could help bright minds, young and old know stroke at a critical time when needs are greatest.
Most efforts in the US are championed by stroke survivors and caregivers providing free support resources, and it is a heavy lift to sustain like the “FREE” bricks you see in the photo above. I found these in my neighborhood early this am and had to stop for this photo.
As the son of a bricklayer you never pass up free bricks, especially if they are brick pavers. I thought to take them home a few at a time, (and perhaps run with them like Rocky) considering I was on the last mile from home, but that was a crazy idea.– David
Instead I restarted my timer and resumed my workout. Then I jumped in the SUV when I got back home and picked them up.
All 92 of them!!
There’s probably well over 92 volunteer led stroke support groups in the US as well as many many more individual stroke survivors and caregivers that are championing the heavy lift of trying to provide free support services and hope for survivors. I know we’ve had a handful of them on our Know Stroke Podcast over the years. Personally, I also know the heavy lift well as does my podcast co-host.
Back to my Run
Imagine if I had just one survivor champion with me on my run earlier this morning for each of those bricks. We each could have picked up just one of those bricks and carried it back together. It would not have been so hard under this pretend scenario and we theoretically could build a better stroke support pathway with those pavers. We could also scale stroke recovery much faster to reach more zip codes, maybe even for free.
This intercollaborative effort needs more than celebrity and athletes’ stroke stories receiving headline news in May reviewing the stroke warning signs then reminding us again next May.
Here’s just one recent post for May highlighting a few of the celebrities that are connected with stroke.
Stay Tuned
May is just beginning and ‘stroke awareness month’ always lifts my game up to power play intensity and with it my BDNF and my running miles too!
[Sidebar] My brain wants to figure this solution out with a better stroke recovery game plan. That’s what I’ve been reflecting on and writing about for the past year. If you want to know more, please reach out to me on this blog or connect with us on the Know Stroke Podcast.
How can you help?
Learn about my new book project and get updates-
https://www.know-stroke.org/know-stroke-book
post by David Dansereau
Takeaway-Imagine if a few of those bricks were carried by celebrities and athletes too. They are always welcome to join in with the heavy stroke lift that survivors and caregivers push through every day.