Ann Koenig, Hemorrhagic stroke survivor

Who do you go red for?
This year I am going Red for my girlfriends. Whether you’re working, staying at home, busy being a mother, a daughter or caregiver, it’s wonderful to have a girlfriend to connect with! If you can go for a walk or exercise or just get together over a cup of tea and have a good conversation with laughter, or occasionally some tears. There’s nothing like a great friend!

How do you prioritize self-care?
For me it’s easy to lose yourself taking care of others, but when you forget to take care of yourself you set yourself up for problems. I found that scheduling yoga at least once a week helps me clear my mind and reset my priorities. My mind becomes clear, and my body feels much better on the days I do yoga.

What do you want women to know about heart disease and stroke?
Heart disease and stroke can hit you at any age. While I did not have any of the risk factors associated with stroke it happened to me at age 36. 
While I have worked so hard to recover, there are still many lasting effects of my stroke. I make it a priority to take care of myself now I do not want to put my family or myself through another one. I also want to share my story with other women so they too will know to take care of themselves. It’s not selfish to take time to care for yourself. It needs to be a priority.