Waking up was the most terrifying experience. The right side of my body was paralyzed. I lost the ability to speak. I had a stroke. A STROKE... at 29! I went from being this giddy, talkative, always on-the-go woman to being an invalid.

Any family that has had to face living with a brain disorder also knows what it is to live like a pioneer, stepping into uncharted territory and going off in unknown directions, frequently without the aid of any scientific "map" or treatment options. My family certainly did.