American Stroke Association Honors Seven Heroes Redefining Life After Stroke
The American Stroke Association announces seven Stroke Heroes nationwide who are transforming post-stroke recovery through advocacy, caregiving, and community support.
The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, has announced the recipients of the 2026 Stroke Hero Awards, honoring seven individuals and groups whose work is reshaping what life after stroke can look like. The awards, presented each May during American Stroke Month, recognize survivors, caregivers, health care professionals, and community organizations that support people affected by stroke across the country.
Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the U.S., and many survivors face lasting physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges after leaving the hospital. This year's winners demonstrate how personal experience can become a source of strength for others, helping to navigate recovery through connection, education, and shared experience.
The honorees include Felicia Veasey of Summerville, South Carolina, who became her mother's full-time caregiver after a second stroke and created a public webinar on caregiver mental health. Lamont Causey of Detroit, who regained his ability to speak, swallow, and walk after a 2019 stroke, now shares his story to support survivors in under-resourced communities. Nasheel Joules of McKinney, Texas, recognized her husband's transient ischemic attack (TIA) symptoms and called 911, leading to prompt care; she and her husband now raise funds for the Association through an annual Christmas light display.
The Aphasia Recovery Connection, based in Leland, North Carolina, serves over 20,000 members by providing free aphasia support and education to reduce isolation among those with communication difficulties after stroke. Marina Ganetsky of Needham, Massachusetts, suffered multiple strokes at age 10 from a ruptured AVM and has since spoken at national conferences and written a book for children with brain injuries. Gabriela Raso of Missouri City, Texas, a physician who insisted on a CT scan that confirmed her own ischemic stroke, co-founded The Stroke Foundation to advocate for expanded access to therapies and resources. Stacie Barber of Peoria, Arizona, a physical therapist, documented her husband's recovery from a large bleeding stroke on social media, inspiring over a million followers.
Winners were selected by a panel of volunteer judges from the American Stroke Association, except for the Voters' Choice Award, which was determined by online popular vote. The awards highlight the many ways individuals and communities support survivors and caregivers through connection, advocacy, and shared experience.
For more information, visit Stroke.org/HeroAwards.