Maggie was 33-years old with a bright future ahead of her when the unexpected occurred and she suffered a sudden stroke. Read about how she is creating a new, bright future for herself by turning tragedy into triumph through art, theater and film.
Maggie performing with Denver’s Phamaly Theater Company post-stroke.
My name is Maggie Whittum and I am 37 years old. I grew up in the mountains of Colorado hiking, horseback riding, camping, and snowboarding. I studied drama in college and lived and worked abroad for many years. I wanted to be a professional actor and director. I fancied myself to be exceptionally independent and capable, vibrant and full of grace, ambition, and vivacity. My career was going well and I was in graduate school. I was engaged and planning to start a family.
THEN…
Christmas Day 2014, I had a stroke at age 33. Very unexpectedly, a cavernous angioma in my brainstem started to hemorrhage (I didn’t know it was there). Horrendous things ensued – left-sided paralysis, facial paralysis, extreme visual impairment, a ventilator, two acute care hospitals, weeks in the ICU, brain surgery, five weeks in a rehab hospital. That was early 2015 – I would end up needing three more major surgeries in 2015. So, my 2015 was full of a lot of hospitals and doctors and therapy and… hope…and fear.
I had to permanently withdraw from my graduate program and my engagement fell apart. I moved back to Denver in early 2016 to be closer to my family. After 14 months, I finally started working again – doing part-time administrative work for a friend of mine from home. Life is completely different than I ever thought it could be.
Maggie’s vision post-stroke.
I continue my therapy and doctors’ appointments and I am coming to grips with what my long-term issues are. I endure intense chronic pain (constant burning, freezing, and numbness in my left side). My vision is extremely impaired – I can’t drive, reading is difficult and watching live theatre, sadly, is quite unpleasant. My left side is uncoordinated and shaky, so no typing, and I can’t walk very well, let alone run or skip or jump. My face is still paralyzed, so I’m not conventionally “pretty” anymore.
I’m searching for some way forward in all of this. I have gotten involved Denver’s Phamaly Theatre Company, which exclusively casts actors with disabilities. Additionally, I am trying to produce a documentary film about my experience entitled The Great Now What. I started creating art pieces to try and describe what my physical and emotional state is now. The picture you see is one of my old acting headshots, reimagined to convey my shattered sense of self. You can see more of my artwork on the film Facebook page.
The title of the film mirrors the state of my life… Now what?? I’m not really sure. I’m trying to figure it out.
To continue to follow the Maggie’s journey, follow her at @maggiewhittum on Instagram and follow the making of her documentary film at Seed&Spark. Connect with more stroke and brain injury survivors on the YouSoRock Facebook Support Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/yousorock.
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