The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, has announced the winners of its annual Stroke Hero Awards, honoring seven individuals and groups whose actions are redefining what life after stroke can look like. Recognized each May during American Stroke Month, the awards spotlight survivors, caregivers, health care professionals, and community organizations that support people affected by stroke through connection, education, and shared experience.
Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the U.S., and many survivors and families face significant challenges after the hospital stay ends. Life after stroke often involves navigating lasting physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges, as noted on the association's website (Effects of Stroke). This year's honorees demonstrate how personal experience can become a source of strength for others.
The winners include Felicia Veasey of Summerville, South Carolina, who became a full-time caregiver for her mother after a second stroke and organized a public webinar on caregiver mental health. Lamont Causey of Detroit, who regained his ability to speak, swallow, and walk after a 2019 stroke, now shares his story to support survivors in under-resourced communities. Nasheel Joules of McKinney, Texas, recognized as a B.E. F.A.S.T. Hero, acted quickly when her husband showed stroke symptoms, leading to prompt treatment for a transient ischemic attack (TIA); she and her husband now raise funds for the association through an annual Christmas light display.
The Aphasia Recovery Connection in Leland, North Carolina, serves over 20,000 members by connecting people with aphasia—a common post-stroke condition affecting speech and language—to free support and education. Marina Ganetsky, a 15-year-old from Needham, Massachusetts, survived multiple strokes from a ruptured AVM at age 10 and now speaks at national conferences and wrote a book for children with brain injuries. Gabriela Raso of Missouri City, Texas, a physician who insisted on a CT scan that confirmed her stroke, co-founded The Stroke Foundation to advocate for expanded access to therapies and resources.
Stacie Barber of Peoria, Arizona, a physical therapist, refused to accept her husband's dire prognosis after a large bleeding stroke and guided his recovery, sharing their journey with more than one million social media followers. Winners were selected by a nationwide panel of volunteer judges from the American Stroke Association, except for the Voters' Choice Award, which was chosen by online popular vote.
These stories highlight that stroke can happen at any age and recovery looks different for every person. The awards recognize the many ways individuals and communities are supporting survivors and caregivers through connection, advocacy, and shared experiences. For more information, visit Stroke.org/HeroAwards.
