Seven years ago, I looked back ever so briefly......Then strode into my Post Stroke Life.

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That’s right, Thrill Seekers and Fellow Time Travellers at 11 am on 11 August 2016, I strode through the sliding glass doors at Bankstown Hospital. Past the Emergency Entrance through which I had been rushed 16 weeks earlier……and into My Post Stroke Life.

On several times in various epistles gang, I have regaled you with my Stroke Story - so on this occasion I will just stick to the facts- 68 years of age, sedentary lifestyle, horrific diet; a heavy smoker, a Left Lacunar Stroke; Zero strength on my right side; damaged swallow, mild hemiparesis.

In short gang, a long and tough rehab road lay ahead. I have detailed my rehab journey in several blogs, especially the one titled " A long and Winding Road."

I still recall the curative skills of those clinicians who were there in the rehab gym and put Humpty back together again, so much so that I was able to walk out on that discharge day. Their names and faces are forever etched in my memory such was their impact on me.

Trust me gang, if you saw me when I was admitted to the ICU, then meet me today, seven years on – you would feel the same way about these people!

Now to where I am going on my life journey.

The journey I am on now started in 2016 with a simple invitation from Dr. Simone Dorsch from StrokeEd , a Senior Lecturer in the School of Applied Medicine, Australian Catholic University. North Sydney Campus to talk to Physiotherapy students about my Stroke Journey.

The response was amazing.

Seven years on, I in company with another amazing Stroke Survivor, Stephanie Ho, still have the privilege of speaking with her students. I now speak at several other universities each year and in the last seven years I estimate I have addressed 1,000 students.

In addition, I have appeared in multiple webinars, online discussions on topics such as motivation, neuroplasticity together with training programs and videos that Simone has produced.

You see Thrill Seekers and Fellow Time Travellers, we Stroke Survivors possess a unique quality, it is called Lived Experience and it is invaluable to researchers.

More about that later.

My Giving Back Strategy.

My Giving Back Strategy is self-explanatory and has grown to a point that it is almost Full Time- but I love every minute of it.

I will NEVER decline a request to use my Lived Experience for the benefit of Stroke education and research.

Currently I am involved in 8 research projects (both here and in the UK) as a Consumer, or as an Investigator, writing grant applications, vetting survey questionaries are just some of the tasks I am involved in.

I had the honor of being invited in 2021 to join the Consumer and Community Advisory Group of The George Institute for Global Health in Australia. To my delight I was elected the Inaugural Chair of the Group.

For me, it is easy to find the time to participate in these myriad of activities- it gives me a level of satisfaction that I have not experienced. Despite that during my corporate life I have been recognized internationally on 4 occasions for projects that I have been involved with. (Not bad for a lad who grew up on a dairy farm in the Hunter Valley).

The People whom I have met along my journey and have been absolute diamonds in my life.

My blog Meet the Achievers of Stroke Week 2023 highlights the people who have helped me on my journey. Please take the time to read my blog.

Some Giving Back highlights.

A number of projects stand out over the previous seven years-

• I-REBOUND -A web-based portal providing after stroke support, which was developed and launched in November 2022, a true collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and Stroke Survivors.
• StrokeEd Webinars on Motivation and Neauroplaticity - Doctor Simone Dorsch moderated these online events and featured Stroke Survivors moderated these. Both had worldwide audiences.
• My Blogs on various aspects of Stroke Rehab-How the Mediterranean Diet helps Stroke (2678 hits), Plateauing- a Term used in Haste(2146hits). Stroke Survivors talk about the hidden aspects of their Stroke (1874 hits). It you want to read my tweets, just search Brian beh

My Message to Stroke Survivors.

Hopefully you have got this far Gang you now realize the importance of your Lived Experience.

As I stated earlier in this epistle, my reason for sharing some of my activities over the past seven years was to demonstrate that you can genuinely utilise your Lived Experience in helping fight the scourge of Stroke.

So Please Get Involved, You can, through your involvement change peoples’ lives. Your input will be treasured and respected.

Simply click on Research and you will be taken to the Stroke Foundation's list of research projects that are seeking your Lived Experience.

It worked for me! And has done for Seven years.

Brian A Beh, Stroke Survivor, Advocate, and Investigator.

Lived Experience Stroke Researcher

Life Member of the Hopalong Cassidy Fan Club

Poet, Philosopher and Child of the Cosmos

Winner "Improving Life After Stroke" Category

Stroke Foundation of Australia 2021 National Awards.

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Inaugural Chair, Consumer & Community Group

The George Institute for Global Health – Australia.

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