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Age: 43
Sex: Female
Race: African American
Occupation: Director of Programs, Partners in Self-Sufficiency
History
- Mother of three
- Unhealthy eating habits
- Lack of physical activity
- Family history of diabetes and heart disease
Turning Point
Vanessia woke up one day in the hospital not knowing why she was there. She was confused, suffering from vision loss, and having trouble speaking. It was determined that Vanessia had had a stroke. She had experienced severe headaches for several days before but did realize those headaches were her warning sign that a stroke was in her near future.
After the stroke, she found herself in a wheel chair, suffering from memory loss and re-learning daily tasks, such as cooking and driving. Expressing herself became difficult; she could see what she wanted to say but couldn’t actually say it aloud. Stroke recovery took time and patience.
Vanessia Washington endured years of therapy since having a stroke and has courageously battled back to reclaim her life.
Today
“Stoke affects me in ways people can’t see. It affects me emotionally and has taken much of my independence,” said Vanessia. She is currently a mother, a wife, a working professional and an ambassador for the Power To End Stroke movement. Washington hopes to teach people in our community with her personal story that they have the power to end stroke. |
