ABOUT THIS EPISODE
A sudden stroke can alter everything in an instant. For many who have experienced brain injuries and strokes, the hardest battles aren't just physical, but the invisible challenges of neuro-fatigue, unpredictable cognitive stamina, and wrestling with who you are when your career and daily routines change overnight.
In this episode, host Cristabelle Braden interviews stroke survivor and founder of The Broken Road Project, Trent Peterson, who shares his journey following a life-altering brainstem stroke. Listen to discover how Trent navigated the sudden loss of independence, managed invisible symptoms like double vision and cognitive flooding, and had to come to big questions about his identity. We talk about the power of redefining your life after an injury like this, and how embracing a "broken road" can open the door to redefining your life and purpose.
We also feature a spotlight with Dr. Jeremy Schmoe from The Functional Neurology Center on hope for post-stroke rehabilitation. Dr. Schmoe discusses emerging therapeutic strategies that go beyond traditional motor rehab, including gut barrier support, photobiomodulation, virtual reality mirror therapy to stimulate mirror neurons, and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy to drive neuroplasticity and blood flow.
🧠 In this episode:
- Navigating the sudden shift of life after a stroke or brain injury.
- Understanding invisible deficits and why cognitive stamina can feel like an unpredictable "moving target" day to day.
- The process of redefining, reinventing, and realizing the changes in identity.
- Practical self-advocacy: recognizing communication limitations, asking for accommodations, and extending grace to yourself.
- The mission of The Broken Road Project and how supporting others in the brain injury community and giving back can bring purpose.
CONNECT
Follow @hopesurvives
Visit hopesurvives.org
Join a support group at hopesurvives.org/community
Reach out to us anytime: hi@hopesurvives.org
Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | cristabellebraden.com
Connect with Trent: thebrokenroad.org
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Sponsor
Thank you to The Functional Neurology Center for sponsoring this podcast - The FNC offers personalized neuro-recovery programs for anyone going through brain injury and a wide range of neurological conditions. Learn more: thefnc.com
0:00 Intro
2:12 Welcome with Cristabelle
4:48 Hope for Stroke Rehab - Dr. Jeremy Schmoe
7:40 Trent’s Stroke Story
12:25 Invisible and Identity Changes
16:02 Redefining and Reinventing
21:10 Adjusting Pacing & Advocating For Yourself
24:25 Broken Road Project & Giving Back
30:52 Words of Hope
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Disclaimer
This podcast is for education and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your physician for individualized care. More: hopesurvives.org/podcast
TRANSCRIPT 🔗
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