I Became My Own Recovery Coach: How a Spinal Stroke Transformed My Life and Purpose
- anadeenikte
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
From paralysis to progress—how I created my own healing framework and why I’m now sharing it with others.
The Beginning: A Life-Altering Moment
Two weeks after becoming completely paralyzed from a spinal artery stroke, I moved my right ankle. Just a subtle motion—up and down—but it changed everything.
At that moment, I realized something profound: I had been coaching myself back to life.
The Gap in the System
During my recovery, I was fortunate to work with some of the best in the field—physical therapists, occupational therapists, physiatrists, internal medicine doctors, nutritionists, nurses, and neuropsychologists. Each played a vital role and had their own agenda for my recovery.
But despite this incredible team, I still felt something was missing. There wasn’t anyone who could help me process the experience holistically.
As a healthcare manager and occupational therapist, I knew what recovery should look like on paper—intensive therapy, structured rehab, and a strong interdisciplinary team. But emotionally and mentally, I felt lost.
I longed for a guide.Someone to help me navigate the chaos of early recovery.Someone to connect the dots.Someone to see me, not just my diagnosis.
Searching for a Recovery Coach
So I searched online for a physical rehabilitation recovery coach—someone who could support me through the emotional, physical, and mental challenges of paralysis.
What I found instead were life coaches, business coaches, and healers... but nothing that matched my reality.
That’s when it hit me: the coach I was looking for... was already inside me.
From Therapist to Patient to Mentor
As an occupational therapist, I’d spent years guiding clients through life-altering conditions. They used to say things like, “You’re the best teacher I’ve ever had.”
Now I was applying the same tested and trusted methods to myself—setting goals, adapting strategies, pushing boundaries, and staying mentally engaged with my recovery.
And it was working.
First my right ankle moved.
Then the left.
Then my knees.
My hips.
My core.
And finally—I was up and walking.
Even my care team was amazed—not just by the recovery, but by the speed of it.
More Than Just Rehab
This wasn’t just about completing therapy sessions or checking boxes on a care plan. This was something deeper:
✅ A mindset✅ A structure✅ A strategy✅ A belief system grounded in clinical knowledge and lived experience
I was creating and living a recovery framework—one that addressed the whole person, not just the symptoms. And the results were undeniable.
Why I’m Sharing This Now
Recovery and physical rehabilitation can be overwhelming—physically, mentally, and emotionally. It can shake the very foundation of who you are.
As a spinal cord stroke survivor, I’ve lived through those darkest days. I know what it feels like to question your body, your future, and your identity. But I also know that with the right mindset, support, and strategy—healing is possible.
That’s why I’m sharing my recovery framework:To offer guidance, encouragement, and real-life tools to anyone facing one of the hardest seasons of their life.
Every day still brings new challenges—but it also brings new hope.
And now, I’m here for you.
If you or someone you love is recovering from a spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, neurological condition, or major musculoskeletal trauma—and you're feeling lost, overwhelmed, or stuck—please know this:
👉 You don’t have to do this alone.👉 You don’t just need more appointments—you need a guide.👉 You need someone who understands the system and has lived it from the inside out.
Let’s Build Your Comeback Together
Want to learn more about my recovery framework or work together?Let’s connect.This journey may have started in a hospital bed—but it doesn’t end there.
You are capable of more than you imagine. Let’s reclaim your story—together.
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