I grew up in a place where illness touched nearly every home, and hardship was part of daily life. As a child, I watched friends, neighbors, and loved ones face disease with incredible bravery, often without access to proper care. Those moments taught me how much strength people carry within them, even in the face of uncertainty.

One memory still stands out clearly. A neighbor, a woman full of warmth and resilience, collapsed one evening. It was a stroke. In an instant, her ability to move and speak was gone. Her family, shocked and unprepared, did their best, but they felt powerless. I remember standing there, wishing there had been someone to guide them through those first overwhelming hours and the long recovery that followed.

That experience awakened something within me. It became part of the reason I chose medicine, not just to treat illnesses, but to stand beside people in their most difficult moments, to help them find a way forward when the road ahead seemed unclear.

Through the years, I’ve walked alongside many stroke survivors. Each journey is unique, yet all share one truth: recovery is never easy, but it is always possible. While the path may feel uncertain at times, there is always someone who can offer you a steady hand and guide you on your path to recovery.