Obstacles are Opportunities if we choose to see them that way – Missing Luggage in Vietnam

“Xin chào,” I greet the receptionist at Hoiana New World Hotel and Resort in Hoi An, Vietnam. “I need to check in to my room but we have a slight issue. My luggage did not make my connection from Taipei so I don’t have any of my belongings.”  Yes, my worst nightmare realized. After an

Fast Fwd: Disability Dialogues, Interview 1: Find Your Success, Disability ≠ Failure

Name: Miqdad   Location: Maysan Governorate, Iraq   Governorate of Mesan   “Today I am studying a BSC in Business Administration and excelling in my studies.  I have many friends who love and respect me and who I also love and respect.  My disability is related to movement and is concentrated in my right hand.  I do most

The End of an Era // New Beginnings

I realize it’s been some time since I updated my blog. In my defense, the past few months have been CRAZY. Tomorrow I’ll be beginning a new job, and I just signed the lease for my first apartment. That’s right, I’m finally moving out! Big changes involving my career and independence are happening and I

The Long and Winding Road

There’s a first time for everything, right? Ever since my stroke, I have faced a lot of firsts:  my first time standing up from a wheelchair, my first steps, my first time moving my left arm. The list goes on.  A couple of months ago I found myself facing yet another first: my first foray

Oktoberfest 2020: The greatest adventure to never happen

¨Prost!¨ I exclaimed, clinking my stein of beer against those of my friends and the random German guys we had acquired as friends for the afternoon. I was in a state of absolute bliss. My trip to Munich turned out to be an unexpected collision of friends from many different walks of life, and I

Facebook Live conversation with stroke survivor, speaker, and author Paul Cummings

On September 7, 2020 I had the honor of being a guest on the podcast of fellow stroke survivor Paul Cummings. We chatted about my new book, Fast Fwd: The Fully Recovered Mindset, and the importance of a positive attitude in transforming the trajectory of your recovery. You can watch our interview here. Connect with

Let’s Talk Stroke!

I recently had the pleasure of sharing my stroke rehabilitation journey on the show, Let’s Talk Stroke. In the interview, Jerry and I discussed all things recovery and my new book, Fast Fwd: The Fully Recovered Mindset. Click the link below to watch the episode, and don’t forget to order your copy of Fast Fwd!

It’s not just for wrinkles

This week I am thrilled, practically bouncing off the walls at my doctors´office. “Christmas came early this year,” I joyfully exclaim to my doctor. “I’m getting my Botox injections!” ___________________________________________________________________ For all the skeptics out there, let me explain. Every three months, I go see my doctor, a specialist in brain injury medicine, for injections

Fast Fwd publication!

And just like that, my newest book, Fast Fwd: The Fully Recovered Mindset, is published and out there in the world. April 9th was my 25th birthday, and what a way to celebrate with the publication of my latest book! I have spent the past nine months working on a book about my experience with

Four weeks or four years?

It’s absolutely crazy to think that the last blog post I wrote was right before s$!t hit the fan in mid-March. The last time I published a post, I had gone out to a brewery in Brooklyn to celebrate my friend’s birthday. Then I went to a Celine Dion concert. So much has changed since