WEBVTT
00:00:04.701 --> 00:00:10.492
Hello and welcome to Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke.
00:00:11.157 --> 00:00:16.664
Thank you for tuning in to our Illuminated Stories After Stroke series.
00:00:17.615 --> 00:00:31.114
Each of our illuminated storytellers dedicated seven weeks to reflect, reframe, and reclaim their experiences in our Illuminated Storyteller workshop.
00:00:32.064 --> 00:00:43.685
They helped each other craft their stories about a spark moment that shifted them toward a newfound sense of purpose, connection, and hope.
00:00:44.689 --> 00:00:48.164
Your support makes stories like these possible.
00:00:49.421 --> 00:00:57.481
Join us in empowering stroke survivors through intentional reflection, storytelling, and community engagement.
00:00:58.436 --> 00:01:06.864
Thank you for joining us for Brad McKenzie's illuminated story entitled Kindness Lights the Way.
00:01:08.278 --> 00:01:20.561
So this is me and then Adeline and Stuart, and they're in-- Adeline's in eighth grade and Stuart's in fifth grade, and we're cross-country skiing.
00:01:21.213 --> 00:01:29.534
And it's COVID, and when we actually got out and we felt so alive.
00:01:29.704 --> 00:01:32.852
Um, I really like the mountain.
00:01:33.456 --> 00:01:38.430
Um, it's a place that I, I, I can connect with.
00:01:39.033 --> 00:01:48.760
Um, and that day I could feel like the cool breeze and, uh, the snow flickering down.
00:01:48.840 --> 00:01:54.503
Um, but, I started to, um, b- black out.
00:01:54.992 --> 00:02:02.277
And, uh, I-- That TV screen kind of represents what I was seeing.
00:02:02.308 --> 00:02:05.161
I was seeing, um, a, a light.
00:02:05.635 --> 00:02:22.787
Uh, and, uh, what happened as I was reaching for my phone, but I, uh, to call for help, but my, uh, hand went limp, and my right side, and I fell down.
00:02:23.729 --> 00:02:34.043
And I, uh, looked back at my kids, and there was no one else around except for my two kids.
00:02:34.597 --> 00:02:54.486
And they, um, um… And so anyways, that light was, um, I don't know where it, it appeared, and this voice said, " Come with me.
00:02:55.143 --> 00:03:04.354
Your kids are fine." And I felt this deep, deep sense of peace, like, um, like a million times over.
00:03:04.354 --> 00:03:11.532
I can't describe how, um, like it's… I can't.
00:03:11.578 --> 00:03:24.361
Uh, but, um, and the love I felt and I, like, like I was in the perfect place, and I didn't wanna get out.
00:03:25.347 --> 00:03:27.466
I think, two weeks later.
00:03:27.467 --> 00:03:47.293
And we, uh, it… Me and we, uh, my wife drove us, uh, up to see Adeline and Stuart, who Molly, uh, was my mother-in-law, and Bruce were watching.
00:03:47.793 --> 00:03:50.427
And, um, but I couldn't talk.
00:03:50.688 --> 00:03:54.156
I couldn't, uh, really walk.
00:03:54.543 --> 00:04:03.771
And, um, and I had a lot of work to do if I was gonna get back to the, the person.
00:04:04.747 --> 00:04:51.899
Um, I re- I really wanted to ski, and I go, "I've gotta ski." And, um, and the guys at the hospital looked at me like,"You can't even walk." "You can't even talk" Um, but, um, um, uh, uh, Rick Limoncello was, um, uh, he started the bakery and, um, he's a speech pathologist, and he said, "You just gotta keep speaking because, uh, that's the only way you're gonna get better." And for me, that was like opposite of the way I was.
00:04:52.630 --> 00:05:00.951
Um, um, but that was a, a good lesson because I needed to, like, switch.
00:05:01.274 --> 00:05:12.053
Um, I used to be, uh, a dentist, and I would listen to people, and then I would really just, like, say what was needed and then go about my day.
00:05:12.382 --> 00:05:21.759
But now I need to switch around and become this, uh, speaker because I needed to learn to talk again.
00:05:22.262 --> 00:05:34.261
Um, but, um, and like, I, I just can't, uh, like Resilient Seed like was so important.
00:05:34.701 --> 00:05:42.918
Like Kylie, I mean, um, and I can't name all the things because I'm on a time schedule.
00:05:45.190 --> 00:06:01.221
Um, but as I got better- Oh, I, so I found my purpose when I, uh, was introduced to Molly, and that was through that PSU newsletter.
00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:15.033
And I, um, and it, like, I really found my purpose, and then I asked Mike, um, if he would like to join me.
00:06:15.100 --> 00:06:24.411
And we've talked about, um, and we started doing those Zoom calls with everyone.
00:06:24.447 --> 00:06:38.394
And, um, and I always think as, like, when I wake up, am I gonna be, uh… Um, there's all type of people I, I can be, but I choose kindness.
00:06:39.255 --> 00:06:41.204
And thank you.
00:06:56.694 --> 00:07:11.612
Brad McKenzie's illuminated story was originally shared at Portland's Illuminated Stories After Stroke on October 1st, 2026 at McMenamins Kennedy School Theater in Portland, Oregon.
00:07:13.221 --> 00:07:16.704
Your support makes stories like these possible.
00:07:17.937 --> 00:07:25.999
Join us in empowering stroke survivors through intentional reflection, storytelling, and community engagement.
00:07:26.463 --> 00:07:35.685
Please consider donating at beyondstillness.org/donate or click the link in the episode description
00:00:04.701 --> 00:00:10.492
Hello and welcome to Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke.
00:00:11.157 --> 00:00:16.664
Thank you for tuning in to our Illuminated Stories After Stroke series.
00:00:17.615 --> 00:00:31.114
Each of our illuminated storytellers dedicated seven weeks to reflect, reframe, and reclaim their experiences in our Illuminated Storyteller workshop.
00:00:32.064 --> 00:00:43.685
They helped each other craft their stories about a spark moment that shifted them toward a newfound sense of purpose, connection, and hope.
00:00:44.689 --> 00:00:48.164
Your support makes stories like these possible.
00:00:49.421 --> 00:00:57.481
Join us in empowering stroke survivors through intentional reflection, storytelling, and community engagement.
00:00:58.436 --> 00:01:06.864
Thank you for joining us for Brad McKenzie's illuminated story entitled Kindness Lights the Way.
00:01:08.278 --> 00:01:20.561
So this is me and then Adeline and Stuart, and they're in-- Adeline's in eighth grade and Stuart's in fifth grade, and we're cross-country skiing.
00:01:21.213 --> 00:01:29.534
And it's COVID, and when we actually got out and we felt so alive.
00:01:29.704 --> 00:01:32.852
Um, I really like the mountain.
00:01:33.456 --> 00:01:38.430
Um, it's a place that I, I, I can connect with.
00:01:39.033 --> 00:01:48.760
Um, and that day I could feel like the cool breeze and, uh, the snow flickering down.
00:01:48.840 --> 00:01:54.503
Um, but, I started to, um, b- black out.
00:01:54.992 --> 00:02:02.277
And, uh, I-- That TV screen kind of represents what I was seeing.
00:02:02.308 --> 00:02:05.161
I was seeing, um, a, a light.
00:02:05.635 --> 00:02:22.787
Uh, and, uh, what happened as I was reaching for my phone, but I, uh, to call for help, but my, uh, hand went limp, and my right side, and I fell down.
00:02:23.729 --> 00:02:34.043
And I, uh, looked back at my kids, and there was no one else around except for my two kids.
00:02:34.597 --> 00:02:54.486
And they, um, um… And so anyways, that light was, um, I don't know where it, it appeared, and this voice said, " Come with me.
00:02:55.143 --> 00:03:04.354
Your kids are fine." And I felt this deep, deep sense of peace, like, um, like a million times over.
00:03:04.354 --> 00:03:11.532
I can't describe how, um, like it's… I can't.
00:03:11.578 --> 00:03:24.361
Uh, but, um, and the love I felt and I, like, like I was in the perfect place, and I didn't wanna get out.
00:03:25.347 --> 00:03:27.466
I think, two weeks later.
00:03:27.467 --> 00:03:47.293
And we, uh, it… Me and we, uh, my wife drove us, uh, up to see Adeline and Stuart, who Molly, uh, was my mother-in-law, and Bruce were watching.
00:03:47.793 --> 00:03:50.427
And, um, but I couldn't talk.
00:03:50.688 --> 00:03:54.156
I couldn't, uh, really walk.
00:03:54.543 --> 00:04:03.771
And, um, and I had a lot of work to do if I was gonna get back to the, the person.
00:04:04.747 --> 00:04:51.899
Um, I re- I really wanted to ski, and I go, "I've gotta ski." And, um, and the guys at the hospital looked at me like,"You can't even walk." "You can't even talk" Um, but, um, um, uh, uh, Rick Limoncello was, um, uh, he started the bakery and, um, he's a speech pathologist, and he said, "You just gotta keep speaking because, uh, that's the only way you're gonna get better." And for me, that was like opposite of the way I was.
00:04:52.630 --> 00:05:00.951
Um, um, but that was a, a good lesson because I needed to, like, switch.
00:05:01.274 --> 00:05:12.053
Um, I used to be, uh, a dentist, and I would listen to people, and then I would really just, like, say what was needed and then go about my day.
00:05:12.382 --> 00:05:21.759
But now I need to switch around and become this, uh, speaker because I needed to learn to talk again.
00:05:22.262 --> 00:05:34.261
Um, but, um, and like, I, I just can't, uh, like Resilient Seed like was so important.
00:05:34.701 --> 00:05:42.918
Like Kylie, I mean, um, and I can't name all the things because I'm on a time schedule.
00:05:45.190 --> 00:06:01.221
Um, but as I got better- Oh, I, so I found my purpose when I, uh, was introduced to Molly, and that was through that PSU newsletter.
00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:15.033
And I, um, and it, like, I really found my purpose, and then I asked Mike, um, if he would like to join me.
00:06:15.100 --> 00:06:24.411
And we've talked about, um, and we started doing those Zoom calls with everyone.
00:06:24.447 --> 00:06:38.394
And, um, and I always think as, like, when I wake up, am I gonna be, uh… Um, there's all type of people I, I can be, but I choose kindness.
00:06:39.255 --> 00:06:41.204
And thank you.
00:06:56.694 --> 00:07:11.612
Brad McKenzie's illuminated story was originally shared at Portland's Illuminated Stories After Stroke on October 1st, 2026 at McMenamins Kennedy School Theater in Portland, Oregon.
00:07:13.221 --> 00:07:16.704
Your support makes stories like these possible.
00:07:17.937 --> 00:07:25.999
Join us in empowering stroke survivors through intentional reflection, storytelling, and community engagement.
00:07:26.463 --> 00:07:35.685
Please consider donating at beyondstillness.org/donate or click the link in the episode description
