Year One

One year ago today, our first Instagram post went live. By most measures, today would technically be considered BrainStorm's birthday. In reality, though, BrainStorm was born about six months earlier, in the first weeks after co-founders Erika and Paul first connected.

Our connection acted as almost a test subject for what would eventually become the purpose of BrainStorm. Paul was a recent stroke survivor in the very early stages of recovery, with no clear vision of what lay ahead, while Erika, although still a relatively recent survivor herself, had six months of recovery experience behind her. For Paul, Erika represented proof that meaningful rehabilitation was possible. For Erika, Paul was someone with a shared experience she could finally relate her own experience to. This ignited a friendship that had a fundamental impact on their healing and became something they wanted others to experience. They quickly recognized the gaps in post stroke care for young survivors and wanted to create a space where others like themselves could connect.

Since its inception, we have expanded from Instagram across multiple platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, and have grown to almost 3,000 combined followers. We have made nearly 300 posts relevant to the young stroke experience, with several garnering more than 30,000 engagements. We have highlighted personal experiences such as stroke anniversaries, recovery milestones, accomplishments, and personal struggles. Most of our content appeals to the shared experiences of survivors, often covering the lesser known realities of recovery, fighting isolation, providing hope through shared stories, increasing awareness, and educating both survivors and the public about life after stroke.

Recently we have created a blog where we are able to share more detailed thoughts and experiences. The blog has reached readership all over Canada, The United States and around the world, including Finland, Germany and India. Currently the blog is hosted on our own webpage www.brainstormchanges.com which is still under development. BrainStorm itself is continuing to expand with a planned podcast and more video content intended for our YouTube channel.

In the past year, through BrainStorm, we have been fortunate to connect with a growing number of healthcare organizations, rehabilitation professionals, researchers, and advocacy groups who share our belief that young stroke survivors deserve to be seen, heard, and better supported. We have been proud to build relationships with the Central East Stroke Network, Lakeridge Health, the Champlain Regional Health Network, and to contribute our lived experience to a translational research project at the University of Toronto. We have also had the opportunity to collaborate with BIOS Medical, a trusted Canadian provider of home healthcare and monitoring products, whose commitment to improving health outcomes aligns with our own desire to change the conversation around young stroke care. Together, these connections have opened doors to meaningful conversations about lived experience, education, awareness, research, and the future of stroke recovery while reinforcing the importance of ensuring survivor voices help shape the care and support available to those who follow.

These partnerships have also created opportunities to bring the voice of lived experience into broader conversations about stroke care. We are honoured to have been invited to speak at the 2026 Ottawa Stroke Summit this September, where we will share our personal recovery journeys, the story behind BrainStorm, and the importance of supporting young stroke survivors beyond the hospital walls. It is an opportunity we never imagined a year ago and one we hope will help continue the conversation about improving recovery, reducing isolation, and ensuring that survivor perspectives are represented alongside clinical expertise.

What began as two survivors trying to make sense of their own lives has slowly grown into something much larger than either of us imagined. Every message from someone who felt less alone, every survivor who found hope in another person’s recovery, and every family member who finally understood what their loved one was experiencing has reinforced why BrainStorm exists.

 "BrainStorm has never been about just two voices. It has always been about building a community where every story has the power to help someone else."

Although we are incredibly proud of what has been accomplished over the past year, it still feels like we are only at the beginning. There is so much more to build, so many stories left to tell, and countless survivors still searching for someone who understands what they are going through.

Along the way, we have also been incredibly fortunate to be joined by fellow survivors who have generously shared their stories, insights, and expertise with our community. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Andrea, Jan, Judy, Scott, Lerato, Linda, Emily and Jena. Your willingness to be open, vulnerable, and honest has helped countless survivors feel seen and understood, while reminding us that BrainStorm has never been about just two voices. It has always been about building a community where every story has the power to help someone else.

To everyone who has followed our journey, shared our content, told your own story, or simply taken the time to listen - thank you. BrainStorm has never just been about Erika and Paul. It belongs to every survivor, caregiver, family member, friend, and healthcare professional working toward a future where no young stroke survivor has to navigate recovery feeling isolated or misunderstood.

Here’s to another year of building community, challenging assumptions, creating hope, and proving that meaningful recovery is not only possible - it’s actually very likely.