It's so scary to me that no one called an ambulance for you after the initial incident. Obviously, you were disoriented and have a distorted frame of reference for emergency visits due to your disability (same here, so I get it). However, if you ever notice a substantial shift in cognition, ALWAYS call an ambulance. I wish more people knew that. I'm glad you've been able to recover well.

The idea that someone could be on the floor, unable to sit up or form words FOR AN HOUR and no-one called an ambulance or took you to the hospital is horrifying. Where is the duty of care of the dojo teachers? Shouldn’t they have even the most basic of first aid qualifications so that they can recognise when something is *not* just a walk-it-off injury? They need to take a good hard look at themselves and do some serious retraining, as well as putting proper health and safety procedures in place at the dojo so that if something does go wrong, they have a clear protocol to follow. I’m so glad you’re doing better, Jo!

Hi Jo. I was a firefighter for 23 years. It wasn’t just a job, it was a calling, it was part of my identity. I experienced an injury to my knee, and shortly after a surgery to repair that, I was in a traffic accident where my back was broken. Basically, if the affected vertebrae moves another millimeter I probably end up on a ventilator, or dead. From the knee injury, I can no longer run. From the back injury, I can no longer lift weights greater than 25 pounds. Like your loss of jiu jitsu, I lost a part of “who I am”. Based upon the loss of use of your foot, and then the physical loss of your foot, I’m pretty sure you know this, but you will need to mourn this new loss. That said, there IS still life on the other side of this. I wish you well, and hope for your steady recovery toward a new normal. ❤

I cant imagine watching someone collapse, full body shaking, unable to sit up or speak, completely unable to process whats going on arlund them for A WHOLE HOUR and no one calls an ambulance. Thats scarily negligent. I hope i am never in a situation like that. I am so sorry that everyone at that dojo failed you so terribly. Minutes matter when it comes to a stroke, and you would be in a much different place right now if someone had just called 911 at the very beginning.

Honestly, your opinion of hospital visits nothwithstanding, this was a failure of everyone involved around the incident. You should have been taken to ER, by force if necessary, within minutes of that happening. Promptness of treatment is a huge factor in stroke recovery and more people should be taught to recognize the signs.

Getting hit by a baseball bat is exactly how my dad described his stroke as well. He also did not get help right away and did not know he'd had a stroke. He only realized many hours later that he was having trouble swallowing and couldn't speak. So, lesson is--if you suddenly feel like a baseball bat has hit you in the head, please go to the hospital.

Imagine running a combat sports school and not having even the most basic protocols in place for medical emergencies. Absolutely shocking

The way you waited… my boyfriend did the same thing for FOUR DAYS before he finally gave in and went in. Huge stroke in cerebellum. He is so lucky to be here.

As a civilian first responder, if I had witnessed that incident on the mat, I would have called an ambulance immediately. I mean I don't want to criticize this dojo that you obviously love to bits, but them not calling you an ambulance at that moment strikes me as gross negligence. Anyway, it's great to see that you're on the mend and I hope you will recover your fine motor skills so you can relax by making some art again soon!

The dojo absolutely should have called an ambulance for you as soon as they saw you couldn't move properly or speak coherently. I'm stunned that they just drove you home (and that they waited so long before taking any kind of action at all). I'm glad you're recovering well and hope it continues until you are all better. Luckily, brains are remarkably resilient and can often "reroute" around damaged areas to replace lost abilities. I'm happy to see you back, posting a video, and to get your update.

SOOOO many adults that failed to make you go to the hospital...how scary! Share this video everyone. People truly need to be aware of the signs of a stroke and the importance of acting fast.

Slightly over 4 mins in, and it hit me. The similarities of what happened to a friend a bit under 4 years ago. So she fell, there was apparently a sort of whiplash effect. When she later went to the hospital, it was written off as just migraine - which was a common problem for her. A couple of weeks later she collapsed at home and was taken to the hospital. She did not come back. It's such a precious and fragile thing, this one life we have. I'm glad you're still with us, Jo.

The fact that no one at the gym called 911 blows my mind.

I don't know how people watched what happened to you and didn't call 911. Maybe because I'm fresh off a cpr/first aid class, or because I've had people step in when I said I was fine.... I'm so glad you're healing, and have found a new outlet.

BEFAST!!! I grew up with my grandparents they were older and taught me from a very young age how to call 911, knew our address and phone number. I could never be more thankful for them for teaching me the warning signs and Ill never forget them! I’m glad ur ok Jo and still here with us. My biggest hope with this story is that all gyms will start having a sign with the acronym on the wall and all trainers working in gyms getting basic training in stroke, cardiac arrest, and seizures! B - Balance E - Eyes F - Face dropping A - Arm weakness S - Speech difficulty T - Time to Call 911

I've been a stroke rehabilitation nurse for 17 years. Typical stroke recovery takes about 2 years. But the initial recovery happens in about 3 months, for the biggest part of recovery but it continues for years

I am so sorry about Jiu Jitsu, Jo. I can confidently say I can empathise fully and completely with you. I understand how it feels, profoundly. For nearly 15 years, I was a semi-pro, competitive synchronised swimmer. I started synchro when I was like 6 or 7 and it became my everything. When I went competitive, I was training 25-30 hours per week while also going through middle school and then high school. My best friends were my teammates, my parents and sister would drive me to competitions, training, I was preparing to pass the test to become a judge myself for junior competitors, my team was getting very good. We won a couple of championships on the regional level, placed really well in others, until we got to the point where my coach started to talk to us about sponsors, about the national team, about European Championships. This was my entire life. In France, we have this thing called sport-étude (sport-study) which is a special kind of high school where you train for a specific sport half the week and then do normal high school studying the rest of the time. You sleep at the school, you live there, it's to basically make you pro faster than by doing normal training only. We were looking into signing me up with my parents. But I had an accident when I was 13, a stupid domestic accident on a trampoline at my uncle's house. I ripped three ligaments, shredded muscle and shattered a bone, sending bone shards flying throughout my ankle and destroying it all in its wake. The ER we went to refused to do proper imaging, told me I had a sprain. I walked on that injury, untreated, for nearly 8 months before my pain was finally taken seriously, and by that point it was too late. My joint was completely clogged up by soft tissue where my ligaments had tried to stitch themselves back together and miserably failed, completely freezing my joint in place. I had nerve damage, soft tissue and bone damage, internal bleeding and clots throughout my ankle. I had surgery, got every single complication that surgery could cause and spent years trying to heal from that. All the while, I kept training, swimming, ignoring the pain from sheer stubbornness alone. It didn't work. The surgeon was sloppy and cut some of my nerves meaning I lost control of my toes and the front half of my foot. In my sport, pointing your feet is an essential part of perfoming and you can be disqualified for a flexed foot or your toes not pointing straight enough. I was in so much pain, all the time. I was walking with a limp for years which destroyed my back, and I had so many weird symptoms and pains. Turns out I also had Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and MCAS. I had to stop synchro for good in my last year of high school when I was eventually recognised as disabled by the government. I couldn't walk anymore, I had to start taking oxycodone for the pain because the dozens of different pain meds they had been feeding me since I was 14 were not working anymore. Having to quit my sport ruined me emotionally, finishing what the disability diagnosis had started. I entered university suicidal and feeling like I had lost the only thing keeping me alive, the one thing I had loved fully and completely since I was 6 years old. It's been years and I still wake up from dreams where I'm at the pool practicing for my next championships, dreams where I'm fitting into a new colourful swimming suit, dreams where I get to join the French National Team and compete at a high level. I'm doing better mentally, though physically I have only gotten worse from EDS and 13 years of botched surgeries, failed healing and terrible experiences with the medical field and its professionals. I may have commented it before, but the reason I started watching you is because I am discussing amputating my ankle with my doctors. So I get it. Dear gods do I get it, and I am so, so sorry. This is a horrible thing to have to contend with and I'm so sorry you were dealt that hand. I know how crushing this is. I hope you have a support system, I hope you'll find new joys, but I know this is no easy fix. I wish you the very best. You deserve it.

You say you’re in denial, but I suspect you’re also grieving the state of “ normalcy” you had prior to the stroke. Whenever there are catastrophic changes in our lives, financial loss, emotional turmoil, loss of a loved one, birth of a child or a divorce, our life becomes different. We have to grieve the loss of life as we knew it and gradually acceptance and moving forward follows. But we all grieve differently and in our own time. Prayers for you Jo, that you continue to improve on all levels of your life. In your time. And we will wait for and support you. ❤️

For those who haven't had terrible experiences with doctors, it's very difficult to convey just how much I relates to her putting off the ER visit. Something needs to be done to make the hospital a safe space, a place of healing, and not somewhere a huge chunk of people fear going.

the fact that you are able to speak let alone use your body is a God damn miracle since you werent rushed to the hospital. from what i know about strokes is the longer youre away from medical care the worse the prognosis is so the fact youre still (for lack of a better word) standing is a miracle. glad youre doing better

After describing that, I'm horrified that nobody thought to call an ambulance for you. I have been really worried, and you are looking so much better. I'm so relieved you're doing better.

As a person who has had a painful, debilitating illness for 40 years, you are one of my heroes. I was feeling depressed, due to a setback. Listening to this video brought me back to the reality that I needed to push forward. Thanks.

I'm sickened that you were that bad for over an hour and it wasn't someone else's priority to take over for you when you were struggling so obviously! I hope that others that were there now know the seriousness of such a situation and in the future make better decisions! I'm so sorry this happened to you! Ps. I can hear you now replying to me saying, "but I didn't want to go, I don't like hospitals and doctors, I was telling them I was fine, etc"... and to that I still stand behind my saying someone else should have recognized and taken over the situation for you! Maybe you could do a safety training on stroke symptoms for the dojo?! It sounds like they might need something like this! I'm so glad you're doing better than you were and I hope you can make a full recovery! I say all if this with respect, but it's just common courtesy to look out for others in their most dire times of need! Edit: after I became disabled I too couldn't do the things I lived for and couldn't even teach anymore which was my livelihood... I am still, 10 yrs later, struggling to find my identity now and where I fit in the world so I am SO GLAD to hear you've taken up dancing and you're working toward improving more and more! You're such a role model Jo and such an inspiration!

I had a stroke at 37. Thankfully (as much as that can be true when having a stroke) I had first responders within a few miles of my house and my stroke presented with all of the classic symptoms. I was at the hospital and treated quickly so my side effects are relatively minimal. I have known several people who didn't make it through a stroke, so even though you've had some damage done, it's still a miracle you are here. I'm so glad you're doing as well as you are and I pray for continued and quick healing. (please forgive me if i said anything stupid. I'm terrible with words.)

My late mother took up ballroom dancing after her husband had a massive stroke. She danced all over the country and even the world. I'm glad that you have taken up dancing, Jo. You look great girl, keep going.

I'm very glad you are recovering. On a lighter note: I saw your Nurtec commercial a couple weeks ago. My wife was confused when I glanced at the TV and yelled, "THAT'S JO!". Then rewound the commercial to watch it again. It was really cool seeing you on TV. Apparently Lady Gaga was in it too, but you are the only person I recognized.

It is critical for those around you to know the signs of a stroke and insist on getting you to the hospital immediately. Best to call an ambulance. You were so lucky that you have recovered so well. What a blessing!

I wish you well. My daughter had a terrible brain hemorrhage/stroke at age 37. It took much time, but she miraculously survived and eventually recovered quite well. She didn't get help for hours, either. But I believe in a higher power and miracles, and saw them. May God bless you.

I’m an amputee and had a stroke to …big hugs 💕xxx

Stroke survivor too. I kept nodding and saying "yep" for most of your video. Besides the big challenges Its all the little things like.. "Well, you look ok now", symptoms coming back at random, the emotions, etc. It takes time and there are good days and there are deficit days. Over time you heal... You've got this!

As a person that went through a severe neurological episode in the last year (7 month-long non-stop vestibular migraine), I’m so glad you’re finding new things to bring you joy! I also suffer from PTSD from interactions with medical staff, etc, and anxiety from months of not knowing why my brain wasn’t working as it should be. I just want to say that following your journey of healing has been healing for me, too, and that I hope you continue to improve! It’s been over a year now since I couldn’t get out of bed and nearly lost my job, but now it feels like I’m getting my life back-it’s different, but it’s mine. I know you’ll get yours back too.

Howdy hi hi, For those who might not know, a stroke is a blood clot that either completely or partially blocks blood flow to some portion of a person's brain. From what I've read, and has been told to me by my late grandmother who suffered strokes for many years. It is an excruciating experience. I'm glad to see that you've improved. I know from experience that clots can be a very scary experience. I appreciate that you've chosen to share these experiences with us. And yes it's hard to talk about this stuff. It is a reminder of our own mortality and how frail we can become in just a moment of bad luck. I saw the ad you did with Lady Gaga for that migraine medication. Grats on that big win. I hope life is more kind to you from now on. You seem like such a wonderful person. You deserve all the success in the world.

I hope this can serve as as lesson to everyone…always go to the hospital when in doubt. It is better to go there and not need it than the other way around. Bystanders…take the lead! If no one else is calling, do it! Don’t rely on the patient to do it when they are in an altered state themselves. Especially if there is ANY concern for stroke! As they say, “time is brain” - the faster you get help, the better your chances for recovery. In some types of stroke, you only have a window of a few hours to get the treatment you need. Jo - thanks for sharing your story, I wish someone had intervened better on your behalf but I’m so glad you’re doing better.

Hearing this story just shows, how important it is that people know the symptoms of a stroke. If I were in this situation and I saw you and your symptoms, I would've probably known right away since I know the symptoms of a stroke. This is why first aid classes are soooo freaking important, for everyone! Always remember, if someone has suddenly trouble speaking, finding words, talking utter nonsense, combined with balance issues, plus the fact that the person has trouble moving one body side compared to the other (FAST-test, google it!: ask them to smile, if only one side of the mouth goes up, it's probably a stroke, also ask them to lift both arms in front of them, palms up, if one arm doesn't go up or twists, it's most likely a stroke), don't waste any time, call an ambulance immediately! The earlier a stroke is treated, the better, not only to prevent deaths, but also to prevent long-term complications and brain damage! Stay safe out there everyone, and Jo, I wish you a good recovery

Fellow stroke survivor here - I really appreciate you putting words to some of the feelings I've also had. Recovery work is arduous and often frustrating: I remember having to go to physical therapy after school as a kid and working so hard just to regain a little function. I remember feeling angry that so many things I loved required two-handed proficiency (playing an instrument, playing sports, etc.). It's so tricky to manage the balancing act of grieving your loss and not letting it hold you back from doing what you love. It's easy to teeter to one side or the other - inability to accept loss can cause you to overextend yourself, while inability to make peace with that loss and find creative ways to do things leaves you isolated and depressed. I also loved how you pointed out the difference between what is seen by others and what you feel. Sometimes I get really emotional or tired and it can be hard for other people to understand. I think the easiest way for people to understand something like that is to deem a person "lazy." For a long time, that was a part of my identity and it tanked my self esteem/confidence. So yeah, thanks for sharing. I never met anybody like me when I was in school and hearing you share your story is really powerful to me.

As someone recovering from a concussion, your journey sounds much like mine. The not feeling like a person, not tracking, sensitivities to light and noise, all that. It made this difficult to watch at times, but I appreciate so much you sharing your life and healing. Brains are so important and I wish you all the best as you continue to heal and recover.

Even after just these few months, your recovery is very noticeable. Since you last video, your arm and head movements are so much better and seem natural and normal. The same goes for your speaking.

Giving up martial arts was hard for me too. Time passes, and other interests grow. My life is richer for the time I spent in the dojo, and my life is also richer for experiences I've had since then. Change is hard, growth is hard, life is hard, but this is the ride we're on. Stay amazing!

As someone who also has had to heal from a TBI (car accident, not a stroke), your healing journey is going to be one of the most important things you ever do. I’m years after my TBI and I still have times where I have to remember I am disabled via TBI, because my healing journey by this point is done. If I could give one piece of unsolicited advice, make sure you’re talking to a therapist about grief. Everyone assumes grief is just for loss of loved ones but no, you’re now grieving the life you used to have and that’s where I struggled the most. In the physical side, take care of yourself and set healthy boundaries with people where needed. You have “brain batteries” now, your A battery is your most useful battery, B and C are emergency batteries and if you drain them it can knock you out for weeks if you’re anything like me. So definitely rest up, know this is not going to be forever, and take care of your physical and mental health. TBIs are so tricky to manage and heal from, but you’ve got at least one person here who has been through it and can empathize. You’re not alone 💙💙

Also, PSA: If anyone around you - or you yourself - ever starts to get dizzy, loses coordination, has problems swallowing, seems confused, can't remember how to do a simple task, or just 'feels off': 1. Smile (use your phone to look at your own face); is your smile even? 2. Speak; can you speak clearly and fluently? 3. Hands up; can you lift your arms over your head - singly and together? If you are with someone, stretch your arms out in front of you and close your eyes; does one arm drift up or down? If any one of these signs is present, call an ambulance immediately! The first hour after a stroke is extremely important.

I'm happy to hear you're a lot better! Strokes are really scary, and I'm glad your recovery is going well! 😊 You're also sounding better too!

My heart aches for you. I was in a car accident that left me unable to play soccer. As a single mom, soccer was not just something I loved, but so much more. I played for my team, plus often played up for others. It was my stress relief, it was my social life, it was my break as a mom because my kids stayed with my parents so I could just focus on resetting and being a great mom the rest of the week. I also coached and giving back to the world is a massive part of my identity. When I got injured, I felt like part of me died. It’s been 13 yrs and I can’t say that I miss it any less now than I did then. I think it’s very much like any grief, that you just find better ways to live with it, but the grief isn’t ever gone. I actually did some counselling which I did over the phone and that helped me a lot in those early months. But will never run again, I’ll never kick a ball, and honestly, even going to the games to see the team was too hard. I’m sending you so much love and hope that you can find something new that brings you some joy. I’ve walked a similar road and it sucks, but you’ve got this. ❤️

Words can hardly describe how it feels to lose a passion that is an integral part of you, especially when you are already in a situation where your health has suffered so severely and nothing about your life or body feels stable. It must feel disorienting on so many levels, and I can only imagine the emotions you are still pushing away in order to keep the sanity to tackle your everyday life and your recovery. However, as always, I love how you take one step after the other, take care of yourself, and emphasize the positive in everything you do. I hope that dancing can become a new part of you and that it is going to support you even long after you have healed. It might not empower you as much physically as martial arts can, but especially when dancing with a partner, you experience connection in addition to your own body, and you can give yourself to the music and rhythm, which might help you in more ways than just teaching you balance and retraining your brain. All the love and all the best! 🤗❤

I'm 5 years post stroke. Don't rush yourself. It truly is 2 steps forward 1 step back. It does take time, continued day by day. Thank you for putting words to it so others understand our journey. We pray for you. And continue to love you.

At 16 I broke my arm, but it took 5 more years for a nerve damage diagnosis. To this day, I have pain in my arm doing ANYTHING. The medical system not taking women seriously can be summed up with this: I have only ever been prescribed to take antiinflammatory pills for my pain, even after they fixed my diagnosis from tendon/muscle pain to nerve. And breaking news, it doesnt help my nerve pain. Your journey with nerve pain and now your stroke…my heart goes out to you. Your honesty and respect for yourself and your audience blows me away with what you face. I broke my arm playing the sport I love, and did return to it (no longer competitive) but it was not the same. However, I also took up dancing! I am now a group fitness and dance instructor. I have been trying to strength train for years, and finally there is visual progress in the strength in my arms. Partner dancing has given me great communities of people to ralk and lean on, I hope you find the same support from your dance buddies❤

i was a cheerleader my whole life before i became disabled & unable to continue. i completely understand that crushing heartbreak of knowing you’ll never be able to do it again, and how it can be so awful on your mental health when it was your identity. it’s 10 years for me in a few months, and i have found other things! it’s definitely hard, but i promise you will find something that can fill that void, even if it doesn’t quite feel the same

You’re so strong Jo, only in your 30’s and you have survived losing a leg and having a stroke. It’s crazy, you should be proud! ❤

As someone who has suffered with hemiplegic migraine forever, I can totally relate to not wanting to go to the hospital. I shocked myself on a wall socket and I walked it off because it was just an intense migraine sensory aura. Thank you for sharing your story to keep us all aware of what can happen.

Quickly I want to share something with you that I saw on PBS a few years ago. The main topic of the program was the wonders of the brain. There is this man who through a serious incident physically lost portions of his brain. They are regions that control functions of actions like coordination, memory retention, thought processing. On of his favorite activities is playing the piano, which they told him that he would not be able to do again. Several years pass as he goes through his healing and rebuilding process. They began to notice that he would be sitting at a table and his fingers began to have up and down movements. They then noticed slight movements of his arms sliding his hands back and forth. They asked him what he was doing. Simply put, he simply said, "Dreaming of playing the piano". They mapped his movements, and yes, he had begun to play some of the very first pieces of music that he learned at an early age. He explained that he knew that he could play the piano in his dreams, even if his body didn't. The startling thing was that his body was doing what he dreamed in his mind. The short part of it is that through all sorts of scans they found out that this man brain had rewired itself so that he could play piano again. True, it took years of work, and is difficult for him some days. His brain rewired itself, they are chasing that so that they can help others in the same way. Our brain is a muscle that operates on and generates electrical impluses. I am so pleased to see your progress. You have scaled mountains that most folks can't fathom. I however do know, of which I will share more of later. Keep pressing on. It is going to be hard. The good stuff is always worth the effort. Some days we get to walk to the corner. Some days we get to the bathroom. The important part is that we press on. The victory isn't in the amount of steps, the triumph is in the step. Keep doing Jo. We are human beings. Keep being.

My 24 year old daughter had a stroke less than a year ago. She was a perfectly normal/healthy person until her fender bender several years ago. Very minor damage to both cars but somehow it tore her miniscus. Over 3 years she had 4 surgeries that didn’t work. The 5th surgery they cut a pie shaped piece of bone out of her thigh bone. During this recovery she was getting sick. Nausea, dizziness, rapid heartbeat. Started passing out constantly. Somehow she developed POTS syndrome. And it’s a weird syndrome with scary side effects. She would pass out 3 times in a row for 2-4 minutes each time. And while she was passed out she would stop breathing and shake like she was having seizures (she wasn’t). She was hospitalized several times. One day she had just passed out and came back around I was talking to her and she went out again but this one looked different. When she woke up I asked her if she could move her arm. She looked down at it and started screaming. She couldn’t move her entire right side. I called an ambulance and they took her to the emergency room and they gave her some stroke medication that was supposed to help. In about 30 minutes she started getting feeling back. She was in the icu for 4 days and they sent her home. She was on blood thinners so she couldn’t bump into anything. I never would have thought a fender bender would lead us to this. It’s horrible to watch your once healthy child have so many medical issues. But it is what it is so we just adapt to it. Hang in there.

Hi Jo. I am also a fibromyalgia and chronic pain warrior. I wish not to give unsolicited advice, but mostly inform you of more possibilities than just Jiu-jitsu being the cause of your stroke. Fibromyalgia and hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD)/EDS are often comorbid with each other. Ehler Danlos Syndrome is a spectrum of genetic mutations in collagen production. One of the types of EDS affects your cardiovascular system. People affected by this disorder are at higher risk of cardiovascular dissection and aneurysms. People with EDS also experience joint and muscle pain, slow healing, and other things. I personally have Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder. While they have not found gene associations with EDS, I do suspect that HDS is on the EDS spectrum. Anyway. I don't know if you have been checked for something like that. Sometimes things are freak accidents too. Jo, you are a strong individual just for existing and waking up in the morning. Don't let anyone tell you that you are weak, especially your own self. I have been a long time follower and I love your messages about disability. I, too, am someone who is proud and can fight accommodations until I realize I need them. When illnesses are invisible, it can feel so lonely. Being a spoonie is difficult...

I earned my black belt before amputation and was determined to get back on the mat after amputation, but a series of setbacks have made that difficult. Each time I try, something new forces me to stop. Being a martial artist was part of my identity, pre-amputation. I've experienced a lot of grief and deep loss, not being able to embrace that part of myself. I'm sorry that you're going through the same thing, only worse, without the possibility of returning. Even though it'll never be the same, I hope you're able to find something new, like dancing, that can bring sunshine into your life on the hard days. 💙

We're with you Jo! Much love❤

I had a small stroke in 2001 and the effects you’re describing bothered me also. My handwriting was the most obvious change everyone noticed (and is still horrible), I was anxious in crowds and around groups of people, light and noise sensitive, couldn’t multitask, felt pressured by people, depressed, emotional, exhausted, sad, and wanted to be left alone. All these years later most symptoms have improved but if I get really tired or overwhelmed I notice they are more noticeable. My brain hasn’t been the same since the stroke. Give yourself grace.

You had me hooked the moment you began talking. I was drawn by your lovely energy !

Welcome back Jo. I’m so glad you are back and looking better than you did last time we saw you. ❤️🇬🇧

I've had brain injuries and from that damage, I have functional neurological disorder and functional seizures. Your story reminds me of my last fall and the damage I sustained. The grief is real, and so is the healing; though you will never be the same again, you will find your new you. Give yourself grace and love. It takes time to be able to process everything. My light sensitivity has been massive, and I now wear grey/green contacts from my medical eye dr that have allowed me to be in light again. I also used prism glasses to be able to retrain my brain with my balance. Hope and recovery is always in our future. ❤

So glad you are feeling a lot better. Absolutely shocking no one called you an ambulance or took you to the hospital. Look after yourself Jo, looking forward to seeing you again when you’re feeling even better

Hope your recovery keeps getting better! If you are getting into partner dancing, I'd highly recommend contra and/or swing dancing. Both are very welcoming communities full of interesting & friendly people, easy to pick up, and easy to do as an individual (meaning you don't need to bring a partner). They're also both super fun. Swing has competitions if you're interested in that in the future, contra not so much as it's more of a community/casual thing. Latin dancing I'm sure would be fun as well, I get the sense that it has more complicated footwork. Contemporary dance might be up your alley as well, it's done either with a partner or solo and is very strength-based with a lot of lifts, stable strength poses and bends/flips/dips etc which if you can do would probably fit well for someone with a jiu-jitsu background. You could probably find a teacher for that who could accommodate any health needs/restrictions.

Been thinking about you. Glad to hear you are doing better. Wishing you a smooth and complete recovery. ❤

Good to see you back. A friend had a stroke earlier in life than generally we think of happening to people. He was no where near old and as fit as the butchers dog. Its been a few years now and he is pretty normal. But he isnt 100% what he was. Nothing big. Nothing most people would know but i know he feels bad about it. Obviously strokes are different depending on where exactly its all going on in there. But the more you do mentally to stimulate yourself the better you will do

I really hope recovery doesn't limit your ability to enjoy doing what you are able to do. Nearly 2 weeks ago (or 4 when it started) i honestly felt that feeling of dying. Thankfully it's mostly resolved now but hearing you talk about that feeling and it being near identical to how i felt just reminded me how bad i was (also struggling/avoiding processing it all). Like i hate going to hospital emergency, i will avoid it at all costs but during thst time, i went to ED like 4-5 times in 2 weeks. We tried to call an ambulance at one point but was told itd be several hours until anyone came so called my aunt who is a nurse and asked for her opinion. Only ever gotten in to ED (once triaged) quickly for 2 things, bleeding all over the floor -felt ok though, just stress/shock and this whole month of chaos. Im still recovering from being in hospital so much , emergency, the stress and fear and everything. Hopefully this month is better but I'll find out Tuesday if im going to need to go back in. Which im not going to fight, I'm so scared of going so far backwards I get to what I was like, I'll do anything

..I loved what @Enn said..”time passes and other interests grow”.. I was thinking dance the moment you spoke the word.. I am a 74 year old former dancer, ballet ..and I can still feel each move in my body..we never will quite understand our journey, but I think it’s mostly about love and kindness..💪🧗🏻‍♂️🥰💫

I’ve seen you on the migraine commercial, it must have been filmed before this event. I’m so glad you’re back and feeling better. It had to have been terrifying.

I know that feeling of losing a sport that was a lifeline for you. I grew up as a professional dancer. And I was GOOD. It was my first love, and my safety and freedom for 18 years of my life. I had to stop due to an injury, and I still miss it every day. In the beginning, it was HARD. I didn’t feel like me. My body missed the feeling of that muscle memory and the smoothness of my body moving perfectly in time to the music. It’s such a hard feeling to explain… and it’s still hard. But I hold those memories so dear and I am so grateful I got to express myself in such a cathartic way for so many years. It made me who I am today.

I had a brain aneurysm burst 9 years ago. A lot of the things you describe, I have said about myself too. I also lost a part of myself that was so valuable and have had to adapt. The processing will come - when I least expect it something will trigger tears about my loss. Even though I've made a lot of progress, some of the grief is still there. Every year has been a little better, but there are still stretches when I'm more exhausted, less able to function, and I have to take it easy for weeks or months, and just be patient with it. I hope this gives you some hope that things will get better with time, but also to know that it's not a straight line. Wishing you all the best, and so glad you have good support!

That this video popped up today is such synchronicity. On Wednesday evening, I got a message from my sister that my 87yo dad had seemed confused on the phone, and so they'd gone to see him. She described symptoms very like another time when doctors eventually decided he'd had a TIA. But he'd forgotten to eat and had got very cold so she put it down to that. Long story short, when I've spoken to him, I've been convinced that he should be checked, as he may well have had another TIA. My sister decided it was nothing to worry about on Wednesday, and now it's Saturday morning, and he still hasn't been seen by anyone! The advice he's received is to go to A&E (the ER,) but he's refusing. I'm so worried that these TIAs could be leading up to a stroke. As he has Stage 4 metastatic cancer, he may be even more likely not to survive this, but he currently has good quality of life and I'd really hate for his last hours to be a painful death that might've been avoided. Praying for a speedy and full recovery for you Jo

Two or three weeks ago i was watching a program when a commercial came on. It was for a migraine medicine. At the end of the commercial there was a whole line of people sitting and standing representing people who use the medicine. All of a sudden I said out loud, " That looks like Footless Jo." If it was not you it was your twin. I am so glad you are doing better. And starting to cope with what has happened.

Theres a mnemonic that the NHS teaches over here in the UK for the most common symptoms of stroke - FAST. F is for face, is there muscle weakness, problems seeing etc; A is for arms, can you lift and move them properly; S is for speech, is there slurring, stuttering or struggling; T is the letter stuck on there to make it memorable, time to call for help, but its super useful if you're not familiar with the symptoms. I'm so glad you're doing so well, and I hope your recovery continues as well as it can do

I had a stroke out of the blue in 2017. I was lucky; my wife recognized what was happening and drove me to the hospital, I was into the CT scan and then on the clot buster within 45 minutes. Seconds are brain cells. I lost the ability to speak and proprioception of my right hand. I recovered quickly - a few months - but it took years before I was back to full speed, and even today I have verbalization problems. Often I didn't realize something had been missing until it returned. It took 4 years before I could sing again. I still can't draw, or even doodle; I have trouble speaking when tired, and I can't write on a whiteboard in a way that anyone (including me) can decipher, but I have hopes that this will slowly recover, too. It gets better. Every day, I get bits and pieces of my memory and verbal abilities back. Keep strong. Keep working on regaining what you've lost. My thoughts go with you.

Hey Jo, you were a huge inspiration to me through my avascular necrosis diagnosis when I was 30. When I was at my lowest I'd come to your channel because you've always been able to balance the reality with just the right amount of positivity, without being toxic at all, but rather embracing our bad days and how shitty the situation is, allowing yourself to throw pity parties, but then finding a way to still find happiness and joy once that bad moment is past. I remember being super scared before my total hip replacement last year and thinking a lot about you, what you went through, and how my situation was nothing compared to yours. Knowing how strong you were in the face of a much harder challenge helped me stay strong. It's funny to accept that at such a young age our bodies will never be the same, and we will never be able to do certain things which really matter to us. I really miss rollerblading but the risk of falling and dislocating my prosthetic hip is too big. I don't think people realise how hard it is to have to give up the choice. It sucks. There's no way to sugarcoat how awful life can get, and how some tiny events can actually change us for good, which is really terrible considering how young we are. I hope you find strength to keep going. I hope you find inspiration like I did in you. I'm sending you lots of Internet love and hoping you get to keep minimising the side effects of your stroke. Take more time off KZfaq if necessary, look after yourself. We'll still be here when you get back, or even if you decide not to. We'll still be sending you good vibes no matter what. Thank you for sharing so much of your journey with us, it has meant so much to me. You were the only one who understood me at a time I felt so scared and alone. You changed my life and my outlook on things.

When my mom had a stroke it took almost a year before she was at your level of recovery. You are doing so well, and don't forget it can take a very long time to recover from just a concision and what your brain has gone trough is soo much more than that.

May dancing and so much more bring you joy and help you heal. ❤

I LOVE THAT THE AD Before your video WAS YOU!!!! !!! I actually let the whole thing run for one. You’re brave, and strong, and vulnerable. Thank you for sharing these intimate details of your life. 💞

I'm glad to hear you are on the mend, as a new amputee, I enjoyed your videos , energy and perspective. I saw you in a commercial recently on tv. Congratulations

I'm glad to see you back! I had a heart attack followed by a TIA a couple years ago. The heart attack was minor, and the main symptoms of the TIA (at the time) were aphasia (I remember that I couldn't remember the word 'malaria') and an inability to type. Like you, I didn't go to the doctor for a couple days. I called my GP and he told me to go to the ER. Perhaps foolishly, I drove the 30 miles to get there. (Oh, the joy of living in the mountains.) I am still working to get back to doing some of the things I did before, but now I can do the things that matter. Be gentle on yourself. Well, push yourself, but gently.

It's so good to see you. Your vocal cadence sounds like you again. I'm so sorry about the permanent losses; TBIs SUCK. It's just....I'm so glad you're still here with us, that you're able to begin to have moments of feeling like you. So many super good wishes.

It is a complete miracle that she is actually alive not having received treatment right away. Does she live alone that no one could see the state she was in? And what about the people who were with her when she passed out! 😮

That piece you added about feeling frustrated while engaging with art is something i totally relate to. Though my situation isnt comparable and i don’t want to talk over you, i wanted to offer this as a lifelong musician who has undergone trauma as well: it’s okay to take a break from engaging with art in the way you are used to, especially when you’re trying to work on healing your brain and form new neuron connections. Experiencing joy in something that involves such detailed and often difficult cognitive processes is SO hard when you’re trying to heal your brain. Lately i’ve been skipping my own practice sessions and just engaging with music by helping my voice/piano students. It has been helping me rekindle the joy, and i think it may push me to get back into performance myself. Thank you for the update and i hope your healing is as smooth as possible❤️

It’s good to hear your voice again! Don’t rush things; physically or emotionally. We’re rooting for you. #rockon

Your acknowledgment of not being ok, needing time to heal, and needing to greive are so valuable . Those of us with chronic illness can forget so easily that we are experiencing similar things. Thank you for normalizing physical challenges. You're helping to challenge so much of our internalized ableism.

You are fortunate to be alive. A first base coach here in AR caught a ball in the head and ruptured his vertebral artery. Dead. Very tragic. You came close.

I am 4 years out of my brain injury, I made a full shirt in a day yesterday! I couldn't do that before my strokes , it gets so much better better than possiblely imaginable , also art stuff takes so long to recover I hard mostly I trained my left hand to function instead , but also is still disability , I don't feel like the same person as before ( I was 14 tho) but I'm rooting for you Jo , I can't wait for your 4 years out for the brain injury to see what kind of person you will be ,,

Head injuries are crazy! I'm so glad you're getting back up. (also this weird internet thing, crowd-funded emotional support where a complete stranger makes me realize we're all in this together. Cheers!)

Welcome back 😊

I'm glad you're on the road to recovery. You are an inspiration, and a beautiful person, I hope things continue to improve for you.

Covid physically disabled me and this is one of my biggest fears. On top of my physical health being horrendous on a daily basis, I also have very bad attacks that no one can explain, about every 30-40 days. Because no one knows whats going on, I'm just waiting them out every time. I'm so afraid that if I do get a stroke (which is a possible outcome given how bad my long covid is), I'm just gonna wait it out at home too. Thank you for your videos, I'm a little younger than you and it's been great being able to hear from another young disabled person. I can't play the cello anymore, which to me is like breathing, laughing, crying, shouting, all at once. I've been playing since I was 5, it's a huge chunk of me gone. Hope you fully recover from this stroke.

I'm disable an I know you can do what you want as people in the UK that have had strokes are doing art change the way you do art . Art is what you make it an want it to be .WELCOME BACK.

Regeneration after stroke happened for me as well. Lots of physical therapy.

My hearts breaks for ur loss of the sport that u clearly love so dearly - and will always love! - but I'm so happy that u've found something that also gives u a mimic of that freedom feeling. I hope that with time, dancing can get u to 99% of the same "good time vibes" that Jiu Jitsu gave u! And also, I am sooooo sooo happy u were able to bring ur biggest pupper back home!!! If nothing else, u got to have ur babies back together!! The reunion must've been wonderful!!! Hugs from Canada!!

OMG, Stroke is crazy, my wife did the stroke holiday, very difficult time for us, so sorry, love your channel, love your journey, take care!!!

Nice to see you back. My goodness Jo, no one called an ambulance for you and you went home for days. I thought you had gone to the hospital straight away, you could have died at home on your own. Please please take better care of yourself from now on. ❤❤

It’s so nice to see you back! We ran into each other in line at a show in Denver about a month ago, it was surreal to meet you in real life. You are everything that you show on screen: unbelievably strong, persevering, inspiring and motivating! Keep putting the rest of us to shame and keep getting better 🩷 you’ve proven that you can do ANYTHING

I felt all your feelings so much. I had a stroke, caused by a different kind of blood clot in my brain, 4 years ago. It left me with temporary paralysis on my right side. I have since regained full mobility but still struggle some with fine motor. I felt like I lost myself after that stroke and that I would never get better. I couldn’t shower, dress, get around, brush my hair, or eat without help. Thankfully, I recovered after a 16 day stay in a short term rehab facility. I was admitted there almost 3 months after my stroke. I also struggled with dizziness and vomiting. And all of the brain issues you’re dealing with are exactly what I experienced. I still need to rest if I am exposed to a lot of stimuli. Going to the grocery store was difficult for me for so long! Thank you for sharing your journey and for highlighting the number this can do on your emotional state. No one told me that was common after a stroke and I felt so alone. You are NOT alone and you will feel more like yourself again. Please take care.

Back in 2012 I was 19 years old when I had a suspected stroke. Many of your symptoms such as extreme vertigo and double vision is what my experience was like. I didn't experience head or neck pain however earlier in the day I felt something go twang in the neck as I was reaching in to a cupboard. I have a complex congenital heart condition and have had lots of surgeries throughout childhood. As I was with my parents, an ambulance was called straight away. I like many others on here are suprised no one called an ambulance for you. I live I the UK and at the time there was an ad campaign on how to spot the signs of a stroke. It's good to see your are on the mend and finding a new ways and hobbies to keep yourself motivated, dancing sound like a good one. I have been missing your videos and I is great to see you back with your four legged companions ❤

I’m glad you’re feeling better, I’ve missed you. It’s been a long journey you’ve been on. I’m rooting for you!

So glad to see a new video from you:) Hope you're doing well Jo💚💚💚

I am glad you are feeling better. I can’t imagine that you were on the floor and couldn’t move and no body called an ambulance. That just pisses me off. As my body is messed up all we can do is to take one day one hour or one minute at a time. Stay safe and strong. We are rooting for you.

I have had 7 aneurysms, the last two unruptured ones are in my brain. There’s so much I had to stop doing, but you will find other sports and activities to feel the void. The brain is so magical at healing.

Glad to hear you’re doing somewhat better 🙂🙂