Today, we welcome guest Joe Malinowski who spent decades standing up for others—as a union leader and advocate for abused children—but after a stroke, he was left questioning his own worth. In this episode, Joe shares how the people around him—his care team, his wife, and fellow survivors—empowered him when he couldn’t see his own strength. Now, he’s giving back, using his story to uplift other stroke survivors. From isolation and paralysis to connection and purpose, Joe reminds us how deeply healing it can be to feel seen, supported, and believed in.

Mentioned Resources:

• Bikers Against Child Abuse (Baca)
• Brigham Mass General Neuro Sciences
• Dr. Kathy Post's Stroke of Inspiration Support Group
• Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts
• Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke
• Stroke Onward

Community Conversation Prompt:

How has supporting someone else in their recovery helped you in yours?

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Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

To learn more about our programs and services, please visit www.beyondstillness.org.

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