His leg felt numb on the airport escalator. He had a stroke mid-flight.
Jun 2, 2025
During a flight home to Denver after a family wedding, Jacob Adkisson had a stroke. After months of therapy, he's back to running and riding his motorcycle.
Stories From the Heart
This series from American Heart Association News chronicles the inspiring journeys of heart disease and stroke survivors, caregivers and advocates.
Sent home twice by doctors, she had a heart attack at home
May 29, 2025
Told her symptoms were caused by anxiety, Barbara Collura left the doctor's office and had a heart attack at home.
She survived a stroke at 21. Now, she helps other survivors find meaning in their story.
May 22, 2025
A month before her college graduation, Molly Buccola had a stroke. Now, she helps stroke survivors worldwide share wisdom they've learned from their own stroke experiences.
Volunteer EMT skipped his own checkups – until chest pain knocked him to his knees
May 20, 2025
TJ Smith was getting ready to respond to a 911 call for chest pain when he had his own chest pain. Open-heart surgery led to healthier eating, exercise and a mission to get people to take their health seriously.
She had a stroke while training for a half-marathon. Then came breast cancer. Now she's trying again.
May 13, 2025
Kandi Schmitz recovered from a stroke at 31, but her anxiety lingered. Now a decade later and finished with cancer treatment, she has a new mindset and is ready to run.
A colleague found her on the floor. She'd had a rare, often fatal stroke.
May 1, 2025
After Jodi Hammell had a type of stroke called a basilar artery occlusion, her recovery amazed her doctors.
Fit and healthy at 45, he looked into a mild symptom. It might have saved his life.
Apr 29, 2025
When Scott Daley felt tingling in his arm during a soccer game, he knew he should check in with his doctor. Daley ended up needing heart surgery.
At 2:30 a.m., he told his wife to call 911. A heart attack soon caused 2 cardiac arrests.
Apr 25, 2025
Mac Cheek wasn't feeling well and went home early from work. He later woke up in the middle of the night and knew he was having a heart attack.
Her chest pain kept being labeled heartburn or anxiety. Then came 2 heart attacks and 6 cardiac arrests.
Apr 21, 2025
Heather Bardeleben now trusts her instincts, insists on medical tests and seeks second opinions.
His heart stopped after a run. His daughter, a nurse, helped restart it.
Apr 16, 2025
After a 5-mile run, Mark Kleinschmidt had a heart attack that caused cardiac arrest. His daughter – a nurse – happened to be home.