Stroke Survivor of the Month - March / April
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Nick Milivojevich
Orangevale, CA

I didn't know anything about strokes, like most people, and I didn't have anyone to help me make this life-altering adjustment. I spent one month in the hospital and another in a rehabilitation facility. After a year of rehab, I was able to return to work, but there were definite signs of residual deficiencies such as problems organizing my thoughts and finding the right words to say. However, I'm grateful for the positive effects of the stroke too, such as a redefined sense of humor. I tell people that it takes me two hours to watch "60 Minutes"! Another helpful asset has been regular attendance at a stroke support group in my area where I can talk to other survivors and share experiences.

There's also a new sense of purpose that has been established for me. I've become an active advocate for stroke awareness and education. One day I was standing in line at the post office, and I realized that I was staring at a poster for the breast cancer awareness stamp. I thought that a similar stamp would be a great way to raise awareness about stroke and increase funding for stroke research. But it's not a simple process.