Showing results for "Survivors" in Heart Disease

“Strokes are the third-leading cause of death in America, and for the ‘lucky’ stroke victims who don’t die, about half will spend the rest of their lives trying to recover.” Roughly 700,000 American suffer a stroke each year and around 140,000 of them are fatal. Different Strokes is an in-depth look at what surviving, or not surviving, a stroke can mean.

On New Year's Eve 2019, Rafael Behr had what is clinically known as a massive bloody heart attack. In part, it was the result of his compulsive relationship with politics, working as a journalist in Westminster, on the front line of bitter information wars. When he was discharged from hospital, he asked himself how he would ever re-engage with politics—how would he care enough to write about it—without the stress? Something had to change. In 2021, Rafael published an essay about that experience and some of the lessons he had learned.

I used to think it can't happen to me—until the warning signs caught up and everything changed. In this memoir, I’m getting real about my survival of a massive heart attack at 29. My story is proof that breaking the silence around family health, facing our fears, and taking control of the 'controllables' can truly save lives. If you’ve ever ignored a red flag or wondered if your story was already written, this is for you. Narrated by King Cool himself, I’ll show you that being #HeartStrong isn't just a hashtag—it’s a way to ensure you're around for the moments and memories that matter.