The Stroke That Saved My Life

    My name is Joseph Borges, but my friends call me Joe. Today I turn 40 years old and in the last year of my 30s, I survived a stroke. August 4, 2016, I suffered a high blood pressure induced hemorrhagic stroke. My blood pressure was so high it caused a vessel in my brain to burst. I...

Acceptance Is My Key To Healing

The subject of acceptance isn’t the easiest thing for me, but my therapist suggested that I write about it and she’s been spot on so far with all of her suggestions so here we go.  I have had to flash accept a lot in my life. By flash acceptance I am referring to experiences in my life where...

The Birth Of The NeuroNerds

Post stroke, I've struggled with much of my normal day to days. Support is needed and having someone to talk to that understands what I am going through is very important.  Up until this summer, I struggled to find anyone who had gone through an experience similar to me that was remotely...

Joe Takes Flight!

So it has finally happened.  After 40 years on this earth I have finally traveled outside of the States.  I mean I’ve been to Mexico a few times, but I’ve never really traveled.  To be honest, I never thought I would ever make it out of my home country, but now here I am in...

What I Gained from Loss

I’m going to take some time to talk about loss.  Loss means so many different things to so many different people.  Someone can lose a cellphone and it may be the end of the world to them while someone else can lose a loved one and move on as if not much has changed.  For me, loss...

My Doctor Strange Moment & The Occupational Therapist Who Helped Fix Me

If anyone knows me, they know that I am a huge nerd.  Not like a nerd nerd, but a super cool awesome nerd. I’m a Star Wars junkie and a big superhero guy.  Comic book movies don’t normally make you think emotional movie that will bring tears to your eyes, but I was overcome with emotion...

My 2-Year Stroke-iversary Month

It’s been two years since my stroke - since I was given a second chance at life.  There really isn’t anything more impactful than almost dying to get you to take a step back and re-evaluate your life.  Two years of re-shaping who I am as a person; re-working the way that I think; the way...

Helping Others Through Helping Myself

I think I have been a helper most, if not all, of my life.  That seems like it would be a good thing, but it hasn’t alway been.  I would say that pre-stroke, the way I helped others was more for myself than for them.  I was miserable. I felt hopeless and lost. I didn’t know how to...

A Chance Meeting of Two Stroke Survivors

So the two years since my stroke have been the best two years of my life.  Each one  better than the last. The end of this last year was even better than I could have ever dreamed.  I emcee’d a culinary stage at an event called Live On Green in Pasadena where I was able to film a live episode of...

The Search For 30 Rock

So post stroke overstimulation is just my new normal.  It’s not something that I’ve ever had to deal with before, but it's now an everyday occurrance, sometimes every hour.  The overstimulation leads to me feeling completely overwhelmed. I just experienced one of those moments.  I made my way to...
The Search For 30 Rock

The Search For 30 Rock

So post stroke overstimulation is just my new normal.  It’s not something that I’ve ever had to deal with before, but it's now an everyday occurrance, sometimes every hour.  The overstimulation...

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Kim So Rocks

Kim So Rocks

Having gotten the opportunity to actually meet Kim and her husband, Derlis, in-person, I am so impressed by how far she has come in her recovery in such a short amount of time.  Kim suffers from...

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P Martin So Rocks

P Martin So Rocks

Thanks to learning FAST weeks before her stroke, P Martin was able to catch it quickly which is another reminder that educating yourself on the signs of stroke are so important.  Read P's account of...

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Joey So Rocks

Joey So Rocks

This is my first YouSoRock spotlight on a child stroke survivor and continuing with spotlighting stroke sruvivors for Stroke Awareness Month, I am so inspired by this young man's story.  Joey Devine...

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Bridget So Rocks

Bridget So Rocks

In this special Mother's Day YouSoRock Spotlight, we follow Bridget Chiovari's experience surviving a hemorrhagic stroke caused by an AVM.  This is a difficult ordeal to go through as an individual...

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Ella So Rocks

Ella So Rocks

Ella was 14 years old with dreams of being a professional soccer player when the most unexpected thing happened one day at school - she suffered a stroke.  Most people think strokes happen to older...

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Harry So Rocks

Harry So Rocks

Harry Leonard has photographed many fashion shows, but he'll never forget suffering a stroke while shooting Fashion Week last year. Read about how his love for photography and the support of his...

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Albert So Rocks

Albert So Rocks

As a boxer, Albert Liaw was used to fighting, but when he suffered a stroke, he had to face a new kind of fight for both his physical and mental health. Read about his recovery journey and...

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Courtney So Rocks

Courtney So Rocks

Courtney Gabrus was just getting her first taste of independence as a college student in Tampa when she was hit with an ischemic stroke. She was already an inspiration, having Muscular Dystrophy...

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Brian So Rocks

Brian So Rocks

Brian Paterson didn't know that he had an AVM let alone that he would have to undergo 3 craniotomies all before turning 50. Read about his recovery journey and how he copes with aphasia day to day....

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A Chance Meeting of Two Stroke Survivors

A Chance Meeting of Two Stroke Survivors

So the two years since my stroke have been the best two years of my life.  Each one  better than the last. The end of this last year was even better than I could have ever dreamed.  I emcee’d a...

read more
Ryan and Anna So Rock

Ryan and Anna So Rock

In early 2018, Anna and Ryan were a young, happy couple with there life just blossoming. They didn’t know that Ryan had a rare condition that would lead to him suffering a stroke, but through faith,...

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Thomas So Rocks: Part 1

Thomas So Rocks: Part 1

Thomas Mejia knew he had a brain abnormality 8 years ago, but due to lack of insurance, he left it unchecked. He never anticipated after those 8 years, he would not only find out he had one AVM, but...

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Maggie So Rocks

Maggie So Rocks

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...

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The Stromies So Rock

The Stromies So Rock

Final part of our Three Stromies Spotlight: Brought together through the common experience of suffering strokes at young ages, these three women are not only are thriving, but they’re helping other...

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Angie So Rocks

Angie So Rocks

Part 3 of our Three Stromies Spotlight: Angie Jorgenson has always maintained a strong sense of gratitude for all of the blessings in her life. Her faith and gratitude were put to the test when she...

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Tamsen So Rocks

Part 2 of our Three Stromies Spotlight:Before her stroke, Tamsen Butler was a fitness instructor and writer so losing her ability to walk let alone workout as well as her ability to communicate was...

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Sarah So Rocks

Part 1 of our Three Stromies Spotlight:Sarah Conaway thought her daughter was the only emergency when she took her into the ER late one night in February 2016, but never could've anticipated that...

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My 2-Year Stroke-iversary Month

It’s been two years since my stroke - since I was given a second chance at life.  There really isn’t anything more impactful than almost dying to get you to take a step back and re-evaluate...

read more

A Hidden Neurological Disability

Neurological disabilities can be most frustrating for the person suffering from it because non-sufferers say things like, "It doesn't look like anything is wrong with you!"  But there is...

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Nefre So Rocks

Nefre So Rocks

Brazil native, Nefretire Melo couldn't have imagined suffering a stroke at such young age while living in London.  Read about her miraculous recovery and positive attitude throughout her...

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Brisa So Rocks

Brisa So Rocks

Imagine feeling trapped in your own body with no way to communicate with the outside world.  This is how Brisa Alfaro felt at 4 years ago when she suffered a stroke which resulted in Locked-in...

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Hannah So Rocks

Hannah Derwent never expected to wake up from brain surgery having experienced a new medical issue to recover from aside from her benign brain tumor - a stroke.  Read about how she is facing...

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Emily (& Bethany) So Rock

Emily (& Bethany) So Rock

Young and carefree, Emily never could have anticipated having a stroke in her twenties.  Despite the incredible challenge of surviving such an ordeal, Emily is beating the odds through the...

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The Boy Who Lived and His Dog

The Boy Who Lived and His Dog

So I’m going to be sharing the story about my beautiful service dog, Stella.  After my stroke and an incident at the hospital, I began to suffer from PTSD and one of the side effects I started...

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Mimi So Rocks

Mimi So Rocks

At 22, Mimi Hayes was embarking on a career as a teacher in Denver, Colorado.  Never could she have imagined that 4 years later, she would be living in New York pursuing a very different career...

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What is Occupational Therapy?

What is Occupational Therapy?

Kaley Meister has been Joe's occupational therapist since completing in-home therapy shortly after his stroke.  She's made a huge positive impact on Joe's recovery journey.  Now she and...

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Tabitha So Rocks

In 2015, Tabitha Bailey was a newlywed with her first child on the way.  Everything was lining up perfectly in her life so she could have never anticipated that she would be faced with a brain...

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Jamie So Rocks

Jamie So Rocks

When most kids were concerned with homework, friends and sports, Jamie Coyle was faced with a life changing medical crisis.  At the age of 12, she suffered a stroke.  Read about her unique...

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Benjamin So Rocks

Benjamin So Rocks

At 27, Benjamin Buchanan didn't think that continuing to smoke and engage in the practice of "dabbing" while smoking could actually have any seriously negative health affects on his body.  His...

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Nich & Jamie So Rock

In 1999, at 18 years old, Nicholas Sorensen suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was ejected during a rollover car accident.  While his accident left him with the loss of his best friend...

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Lauren So Rocks

Lauren So Rocks

Every dancer relies on that almost-magical connection between their mind and body to authentically express their truth. But what happens when a brain injury severs that important tie? Read how Joe's...

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What I Gained from Loss

What I Gained from Loss

I’m going to take some time to talk about loss.  Loss means so many different things to so many different people.  Someone can lose a cellphone and it may be the end of the world to them...

read more
Joe Takes Flight!

Joe Takes Flight!

So it has finally happened.  After 40 years on this earth I have finally traveled outside of the States.  I mean I’ve been to Mexico a few times, but I’ve never really traveled.  To...

read more
The Birth Of The NeuroNerds

The Birth Of The NeuroNerds

Post stroke, I've struggled with much of my normal day to days. Support is needed and having someone to talk to that understands what I am going through is very important.  Up until this...

read more

San Diego Comic Con 2017 Wrap-Up

As another exciting Comic Con has come to a close, it is now time to process all of the awesomeness that was announced.  Whether you’re a fan of Marvel or DC, a fan of film or TV, or a fan of...

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Acceptance Is My Key To Healing

The subject of acceptance isn’t the easiest thing for me, but my therapist suggested that I write about it and she’s been spot on so far with all of her suggestions so here we go.  I have had...

read more
The Stroke That Saved My Life

The Stroke That Saved My Life

    My name is Joseph Borges, but my friends call me Joe. Today I turn 40 years old and in the last year of my 30s, I survived a stroke. August 4, 2016, I suffered a high blood pressure...

read more

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Valley Village, Ca 91607

Email

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