Keeping the Faith and Bringing Closure to Life After Stroke
David Dansereau's journey from stroke survivor to advocate is a testament to the power of resilience, expertise, and unwavering determination. At 39, David's life took an unexpected turn when he suffered a stroke, an event that would reshape his future and ignite a passion for helping others on their recovery journeys.
As a physical therapist and nutritionist with over 25 years of experience, David brought a unique perspective to his own rehabilitation. His background in healthcare became both a blessing and a challenge as he faced the daunting task of recovery while balancing the needs of his young family – three children under the age of eight.
David's stroke was caused by a congenital heart defect, a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), which had gone undetected for years. This discovery led him to become a vocal advocate for stroke awareness and prevention. He shares a poignant story from his past – a warning sign that was missed when he experienced a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) during a hockey practice in his senior year of high school. This experience now fuels his mission to educate others about recognizing stroke symptoms.
Facing significant limitations post-stroke, including the inability to lift more than eight pounds, David was forced to close his private practice and embarked on an innovative self-rehabilitation journey. He transformed his home into a recovery center, utilizing everyday objects and even incorporating his children's toys into his therapy. The Wii balance board became an unexpected tool for assessing his progress, while playground equipment served as balance training apparatus.
David's approach to recovery was holistic and athlete-like. He understood the importance of neuroplasticity and volume-based work from his professional background. He treated his recovery like an athletic training regimen, setting small, achievable goals and celebrating each milestone – from being able to walk independently to progressing to running again and achieving his most important goal to be able to safely pick up his youngest child again.
Throughout his recovery, David faced the challenge of maintaining a sense of normalcy for his family while privately working through his rehabilitation. This experience gave him invaluable insights into the gaps in stroke recovery resources, especially for younger survivors.
Today, more than 17 years post-stroke, David has not only returned to his practice but has become a leading voice in stroke advocacy and rehabilitation technology access. He founded know-stroke.org, an initiative aimed at bringing innovative resources to stroke survivors.
David also co-founded and is co-host of the Know Stroke Podcast aimed to amplify the reach and stories of other survivors and innovators trying to improve the stroke care pathway. He also provided patient testimony before the FDA to support research for patients like himself that need PFO closure after cryptogenic stroke.
His journey from patient to advocate exemplifies the transformative power of combining personal experience with professional expertise and he is currently working on a book about his experiences along with other survivors' stories that have brought closure to his recovery.
David's story is one of turning adversity into opportunity, using his stroke as a catalyst to improve stroke care and awareness. His message to fellow survivors is clear: recovery is possible with faith, dedication, the right mindset, and innovative approaches to rehabilitation.
David’s story, David Dansereau, MSPT, His Story / Know Stroke, on Stroke Buddies YouTube channel (please subscribe, we have over 400 stroke-related videos):
For more on David:
David’s New Book
https://www.know-stroke.org/know-stroke-book
Know Stroke Podcast
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