Stroke Maven

10/16/2026

If you’d told me six years ago that having a stroke would lead to a calendar full of American Heart Association events, volunteer commitments, and opportunities to speak to rooms full of people, I’m not sure I would have believed you.

I might have asked for a less dramatic way to get involved.

My stroke story began on August 8, 2020. I woke up feeling fine, then experienced a flash of light in my right eye. After being misdiagnosed and spending 4.5 hours in the ER, I was finally diagnosed with a stroke.

Twenty-eight days later, I left the hospital and began a journey I never would have chosen — one that has taught me more about myself than I ever expected.

I’ve spent years learning to navigate life in my post-stroke body, discovering what I’m capable of, and figuring out who I am on the other side of an experience that changed everything.

But something else happened along the way: I found the American Heart Association. That connection has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life after stroke.

Through the AHA, I’ve been fortunate to be part of the 2025 Go Red for Women Class of Survivors. I’ve spoken at two incredible CycleNation events — first in Denver, where I had my stroke, and then in New York City.

I’ve also had the opportunity to contribute to the science side of the mission by helping write stroke guidelines. And here in my local community, I’m currently a nominee for Leaders of Impact.

Looking back, I never could have imagined that an experience that changed my life so profoundly would also lead me to this community, this purpose, and so many opportunities to make a difference.

So, when people ask, “What do you do?” I think *professional volunteer* is a pretty fair job title at this point.

Help me make an impact through my Leaders of Impact campaign. Donate, share this post, and help spread the message!

❤️ http://www2.heart.org/goto/Tania_Saiz

10/06/2026

Women are more likely to have strokes than men—and more likely to die from them.
Did you know that? I didn’t. Not until after mine.

In fact, 1 in 5 women will have a stroke in her lifetime, and risk factors like birth control, pregnancy, and hormone therapy make the picture even more complex.
We also tend to downplay symptoms, delay care, and get misdiagnosed more often—especially women of color.

Here’s what I want every woman to know:
⚠️ Know your numbers—blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose.
🧠 Know the signs.
🗣️ Advocate for yourself. Loudly.
👯‍♀️ Talk to the women in your life.
Let’s talk about it.

Sharing knowledge is one way I’m putting my heart into action through the American Heart Association’s Leaders of Impact campaign. If you’d like to be part of the impact, I’d be grateful for your support. Visit http://www2.heart.org/goto/Tania_Saiz

10/05/2026

Stroke doesn’t show up the same for everyone.

Depending on which side of the brain is affected, the symptoms—and the recovery—can look very different.

Left side strokes can impact speech and language.
Right side strokes can impact awareness and perception.

Different experiences. Same reality:
the faster you act, the be

10/04/2026

At work I was always a doer.

I got the job done. I cared deeply. I showed up. I did good things—and then I moved on to the next thing that needed doing.

Talking about what I did? Showing off my work? Asking people to pay attention to it, to me?

That’s never really been my thing.

Which makes this Leaders of Impact campaign a little… challenging.

Because a lot of really good things are happening through this campaign. And if I want people to know about them, I have to actually tell you about them.

For a long time, that was a choice.

Right now, it’s a little different.

One of the frustrating things about living with the effects of my stroke is that I don’t always have the capacity to do the work **and** manage all the tasks that come with communicating about it.

Figuring out what I’m trying to say.
Writing the post.
Making it coherent.
Finding the right image.
Publishing it.
Following up.

Each task is manageable on its own. Together, they can require a surprising amount of energy and executive function—sometimes more than I have available.

So if you’ve noticed me talking about this campaign sporadically, that’s why.

I’m struggling to show the work while I’m doing the work.

And if you’ve taken a minute to read these posts, I’m going to ask you to take one more:

Click the link. Learn a little more. And if this mission resonates with you, consider making a donation.

We’ve got a healthy goal, and I’d really like to surprise myself. ❤️

I don’t know whether I’ll raise every dollar I’m hoping to raise.

But I do know this:

I will have raised awareness.

And right now, that matters, too.

Support my Leaders of Impact campaign http://www2.heart.org/goto/Tania_Saiz

Leaders of Impact shines a spotlight on heart health as heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and stroke ranks second globally. Participants use their collective influence to educate their communities on the symptoms and warning signs of heart disease, raise critical dollars to help fund life...

10/02/2026

So apparently I have a podcast. 😂🎙️

The Flipside of Stroke is officially a thing, and it’s on Spotify!

It’s where I talk about the messy, complicated, surprising parts of life after stroke — identity, work, relationships, recovery, disability, confidence, and figuring out who you are now.

It’s personal, it’s honest, and occasionally I even know what I’m talking about. 😂

If you want to listen, the link is right here. 👇

https://open.spotify.com/episode/531ULavJqhijw5INrGHyYM?si=GBQ4Pa6RSJ6USXi0PaXSOQ

10/02/2026

It always makes me smile when I go to create a Reel and find one I abandoned because I just didn’t have the capacity to deal with it at the time.

And then comes the question: Do I leave it in drafts… or post it, even though it makes absolutely no sense in the timeline of my life because I’m back in New York and this was taken… yesterday? Last week? Who knows. 😂

Anyway, enjoy.

And give yourself some grace. You don’t have to do everything—or do it on the “right” timeline.

09/30/2026

It was a long day on the road from Missouri to Ohio, and now that I’m finally at the hotel, I wanted to make sure I paused to acknowledge **World Stroke Day 2026.** ❤️

I spent the day thinking about the things we know about our health — and the things we sometimes don’t.

I had no idea I had a PFO or a clotting disorder. Those weren’t things I knew to ask about because, honestly, I didn’t know they were part of my story.

There is a history of heart disease, heart attack, hypertension, and cardiac arrest in my family. Family history can be something we talk about openly, something that gets quietly mentioned, or sometimes something that simply isn’t shared.

But knowing matters.

Let’s normalize talking about our health histories. Asking questions. Knowing our numbers. Understanding our risks. Because sometimes the information we need to protect our future is sitting somewhere in our family story — or waiting to be discovered.

I’m also thinking tonight about what it has meant to be an alumna of the Go Red for Women Class of Survivors.❤️

It came at a time when my confidence was shaky. If I’m being honest, I don’t think I could fully embrace the opportunity at the time. I did my best with where I was.

And somehow, that was enough.

What I gained were 11 incredible women who became part of my life, along with connections to the classes before us and the women who have come before and after us.

That community has continued to grow, and I’m incredibly grateful to be part of it.

So on this World Stroke Day, I’m remembering that our stories matter. Our family histories matter. Our risks matter.

And sometimes, the most important thing we can do is simply start the conversation.

❤️ Know your story. Know your risks. Talk about it.

09/29/2026

World Heart Day ❤️

A quick stop on the road home to acknowledge something that matters deeply to me: heart health.

I don’t have the capacity for a big post today—and that’s okay. Sometimes caring for your heart means knowing when to slow down, rest, and give yourself some grace.

Take care of your heart. Today and every day. ❤️

09/29/2026

I hope you had the happiest birthday, my sweet Maya!

Turning 26 on the 26th in 2026 feels like a little extra magic from the universe — a beautiful beginning to a year filled with boundless joy, love, adventure, and success.

I’m a few days late in posting this, and I’m grateful for your understanding and the grace you’ve given me as I’ve taken the rest I needed. Sometimes life reminds us to slow down, breathe, and take care of ourselves — and I loved making space for that together.

My wish for you is that this next chapter brings you everything your heart desires and more. May you always know how loved you are, trust in the incredible woman you are, and have the courage to chase every dream that lights you up.

You deserve all the beautiful things life has to offer, sweetheart. Here’s to an amazing year! I love you! 💕

09/28/2026

Kansas rest stop check-in. 🚗💗 Driving back home after a month in Colorado — and honestly, being there was better than anything I could have gotten from an Rx pad.

Was being offline the best timing for my Leaders of Impact campaign? Maybe not. 😂
Was it the right timing for me? Absolutely.

My nervous system needed the space. The mountains. The people. The quiet. The movement. The perspective.

And I got to spend time doing good in the world through another passion of mine, LoveYourBrain.

It reminded me that this is really my love language: acts of service. Showing up. Creating connection. Making space. Helping where I can.

So now I’m heading home with a full heart, a calmer nervous system, and a renewed sense of what I want to put into the world.

And yes… I’m getting back to the Leaders of Impact campaign. ❤️

If you want to support my work raising awareness and funds for stroke prevention and recovery, I’d be incredibly grateful:

👉 https://nclvm.com/jw3oe