On a Saturday morning run in her Portland, Oregon neighborhood, Katie McCarron experienced numbness in her left leg. The following day, while participating in a soccer game with her intermural women’s team, she felt uncharacteristically slow, despite her usual efforts. A friendly jab from a teammate about her pace only heightened her concerns. Later that evening, after dining out with her husband David and children—Maggie, who was then 11, and 14-year-old Matt—Katie began to slur her words as though under the influence of alcohol, although she had not consumed any.
The next morning marked a dramatic change; Katie, 46 and previously in good health, discovered that the entire left side of her body was numb. An MRI conducted to determine the issue yielded inconclusive results, but by the following day, she was unable to move her left side entirely. Recognizing the urgency of her condition, she sought treatment at the hospital. Upon evaluation, doctors diagnosed her with a lacunar stroke, a type happening when an artery supplying blood to deep brain structures becomes obstructed, specifically affecting the area that regulates movement.
Alongside her stroke, Katie’s potassium levels were alarmingly low; she was treated with potassium through an IV, which improved her condition. Subsequently, she was prescribed medication aimed at thinning her blood and stabilizing her blood pressure. After five days in the hospital—with morale-boosting visits from soccer teammates—she was discharged with a walker, determined to return to the soccer field where she felt most at home.
During physical therapy, the initial focus was on re-establishing her balance and regaining her ability to walk independently. Katie maintained her goal by incorporating a soccer ball into her sessions where she practiced kicking it down the hall, and her son Matt would join her in the backyard for practice. About a month into her recovery, a poignant moment arose on the anniversary of her father’s death. While trying to open her left hand, she envisioned him encouraging her, reminding her to embrace life, which ultimately propelled her to succeed in opening it by the end of that session.
Maggie stepped in to help her mother with practical tasks such as shopping for easy-to-wear clothes and fastening necklace clasps, and Katie had to retire her high heels for comfort’s sake. Reflecting on these small losses, she acknowledged how cumulative they could feel. Meanwhile, her stepson Tim assisted by driving Matt and Maggie to various activities, while Jessie, who was pursuing medical training, provided regular phone calls filled with encouragement. With this extensive support network, Katie steadily progressed from using a walker to a cane, eventually mastering independent walking, although full recovery of her left hand remained elusive.
Katie began taking her dog, Rosie, out for walks, even as Rosie’s initial exuberance led to her mother falling. Yet Katie persevered, and gradually, the two began jogging together. To further enhance her rehabilitation, Katie participated in high-intensity task therapy, which included exercises like peg insertion and carrying water cups. Her dedication culminated in her return to the soccer field approximately a year after her stroke.
Two years post-recovery and with her fitness in peak condition, Katie decided to run the 2009 New York City Marathon, raising funds for the National Stroke Association. Wearing a shirt that proclaimed, “I am not a plodder! I am a stroke survivor!”, she joyously crossed the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and received an enthusiastic welcome in Central Park. “It was a slow, slow jog,” she remarked about the experience, but the achievement represented a significant goal realized.
Encouraged by her marathon success, Katie promptly registered for the subsequent year’s event and even participated again in 2011. In the years that followed, Rosie faced health challenges, leading Katie to explore a healthier diet for her pet. Her efforts in preparing fresh meals for Rosie extended the dog’s life by nearly three additional years, which inspired Katie to start a business focused on providing nutritious meals for pets.
David, Katie’s husband, expressed admiration for her resilience, noting her consistent positivity despite the hardships faced. However, life continued to pose challenges; recently, Katie stumbled over her left foot and injured her hand. Thoughts of having another stroke linger in her mind, but she strives to concentrate on what she can manage: maintaining regular medical checkups, eating healthily, and staying active. Now accompanied by a new poodle named Winnie, Katie enjoys their daily walks together. “You’re always nervous once you’ve had a stroke, if it’s going to happen again,” she confided. “That feeling never completely goes away; however, I remind myself, ‘You’ve been fine, and you should be fine.'”