BEYOND
STILNESS
Stories after Stroke
Our mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.
The Problem
Someone in the United States suffers a stroke every 40 seconds. Stroke is also a leading cause of serious long-term disability in this country. There are nearly 7 million people in the U.S. living with the effects of stroke (UTMB Health). Stroke survivors report loss of identity, purpose, and connection in recovery. Our team is working to address that.
Our Approach
Beyond Stillness assists stroke survivors in crafting and sharing their recovery stories through the lens of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope. We’ve found that in sharing our recovery stories, we both support and inspire listeners on their recovery journey.
Your Story
Sharing your stroke recovery story makes a difference. We believe that as part of the stroke community, you are more than supportive, you are inspirational.
“Not only are stories how we make meaning out of life events, they are how we connect with other people and form relationships.”
— Strong Story Lab
A Moment of Pause
for Storytelling and Reflection
Each Beyond Stillness guest meets with Molly via Zoom once a week for an average of seven weeks to craft their story. During the final meeting, they record their story and interview for publication on the Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke Podcast and Radio Show.
Episodes are posted weekly anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, etc) and air throughout the week on Stroke Warrior Radio.
In 2005, Molly Buccola. Beyond Stillness Founder and Host, suffered a stroke due to venous sinus thrombosis. A clot the size of a whole pinky forced blood into both hemispheres of her brain. When she woke from the coma, her left side was paralyzed. Molly’s family served as caregivers as she relearned to walk, eat, bathe, on and on. Once she regained enough abilities to hide the effects, she tried to “move on” with her life. Now she knows, stroke survivors never fully “move on.” They move beyond.
Molly found that stroke offers a powerful, life-changing, shift in perspective. She founded Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke to offer pause for storytelling and reflection. Ultimately, Beyond Stillness is a welcoming environment that reveres the movement beyond stroke’s paralysis. Still moments unite humanity and divinity.
In an interview, Molly shared, “I’m inspired by each and every stroke survivor I meet. I have found a stroke community and our conversations and connections are purposeful. Every story is unique yet there are beautiful threads of insight and growth that tie our community together. Together we cultivate hope. Together we thrive beyond stillness. We are more than supportive. We are inspirational.”
Testimonials
Connect with Us
Would you like to share how a guest’s story impacted your own recovery? Are you interested in crafting your own stroke recovery story or nominating an inspirational stroke survivor in your life to do so? Or maybe you have questions or comments. We’d love to hear from you!