Every morning at 8 a.m., Honey German initiates a call to her husband, Nuni. Due to his earlier work schedule, they created a routine that involves checking in once Honey rises for the day. This practice became so ingrained that when Nuni didn’t receive her usual morning call one July day, alarm bells went off in his mind. He attempted to call her multiple times, but each attempt redirected him to voicemail. “Something isn’t right,” he speculated. This incident took place amid the COVID-19 pandemic when Nuni, an essential worker for the City of New York, decided to abandon his responsibilities and head home instead.
Upon arriving at their apartment, Nuni found Honey, who was 30 years old at the time, lying on the bedroom floor. “What’s going on? Are you OK?” he queried. Although she was conscious enough to acknowledge him, her vision was impaired, and she couldn’t move her left side at all; her arm, hand, leg, and foot were all limp. Without hesitation, Nuni called for emergency medical assistance.
When the paramedics arrived, they confirmed that Honey was experiencing a stroke. At the hospital, doctors discovered a blood clot in her brain, necessitating a procedure to remove it. Although the operation was successful, it marked only the beginning of Honey’s long road to recovery. Upon waking, medical personnel encouraged her to move her left leg, but she found herself unable to comply. They urged her to wiggle her left toes or bend her fingers, yet nothing happened.
Following her initial treatment, Honey was moved to a rehabilitation facility where she faced hours of physical therapy daily. Progress came slowly; she first managed to wiggle her left pinkie, followed by making a fist and bending her elbow. Finally, after three weeks, she took her first steps using a walker, but she normally relied on a wheelchair.
Returning home to their multi-level loft, Honey was determined to navigate her space independently. However, her landlord recognized that she wasn’t ready for that challenge yet. Consequently, they were able to relocate to a single-floor apartment with a spacious balcony, where physical therapy sessions frequently occurred. During these exercises, Honey was often frustrated, sometimes brought to tears as she worked on balancing on her left foot. “My brain constantly felt fearful of doing things I normally do,” she reflected.
For Honey, physical therapy soon evolved into an exercise in self-trust — persuading her brain that she could once again utilize her left side. Over four years, she transitioned from a wheelchair to a cane and now sports a brace around her left ankle. While she may not have regained her previous stride, she has proven skeptics wrong, particularly the doctor who once told her, “You’ll never fully walk again.” Remarkably, Honey has regained around 80% mobility in her left side. Still, she identifies as a disabled individual, receiving work-from-home accommodations from her employer. Because her balance continues to be a challenge, she opts not to venture out unless accompanied by her husband or a friend.
Through all these hurdles, Honey has adapted remarkably. Acknowledging her limitations, she strives to maximize her quality of life. “Since the day I met Honey – when she required assistance for all activities of daily living, from feeding to bathing – she was determined to regain her strength and independence and fought every single day to work hard,” said her occupational therapist, Tori Roth. “She always gave 110% in therapy sessions, with her family standing by her through it all. Her dedication and uplifting attitude have significantly contributed to her progress.”
Honey has dedicated countless hours to recovery, which includes wanting to travel, work out, and enjoy outings at nice restaurants with Nuni. Some therapy appointments lasted up to three hours as she remained resolute in her desire to walk unassisted again. “You have to be resilient,” she emphasized. “A powerful mind is essential. That same brain that was once damaged has to be befriended and retrained.”
Her experiences through this adversity led Honey to realize her role in helping others, which motivated her to become a life coach alongside her media career. “If I could emerge from this struggle and reclaim my life – as a wife, daughter, sister, and friend – I know anyone dealing with their own challenges can as well,” she stated. “If I can make my left side function again, then surely we can tackle any obstacle.” Honey is particularly eager to spread awareness that strokes do not discriminate by age. Additionally, she is a strong supporter of disability and stroke awareness, volunteering with organizations that promote education on stroke prevention, especially in Spanish.
“I want people to be cautious, aware, and educated,” she conveyed. “Experiencing a stroke is never worth it, but if I can leverage my journey to assist others, it lends some purpose to the ordeal.” The stories of individuals facing heart conditions and strokes, including their caregivers and advocates, resonate with Honey, solidifying her commitment to inspiring others.
