The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, has announced the recipients of the 2026 Stroke Hero Awards, honoring seven survivors, caregivers, and advocates who are redefining what life after stroke can look like. Recognized each May during American Stroke Month, the awards spotlight real-world efforts that help survivors and caregivers navigate recovery through connection, education, and shared experience.
Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the U.S., and for many survivors and families, the hard work begins once the hospital stay ends. Life after a stroke often means navigating lasting physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges, according to the American Stroke Association. This year’s Stroke Heroes show how personal experience can become a source of strength for others—whether caring for a loved one, reducing isolation, or helping fellow survivors and caregivers find a path forward.
The winners include Felicia Veasey of Summerville, South Carolina, honored as Caregiver Hero for rearranging her life to become her mother’s full-time caregiver and coordinating a public webinar on caregiver mental health. Lamont Causey of Detroit, the Community Impact Hero, regained his ability to speak, swallow, and walk after a 2019 stroke and now shares his story to support survivors in under-resourced communities. Nasheel Joules of McKinney, Texas, received the B.E. F.A.S.T. Hero award for recognizing her husband’s stroke symptoms and calling 911 immediately, leading to prompt treatment for a transient ischemic attack; she and her husband raise funds through an annual Christmas light display.
Group Heroes include The Aphasia Recovery Connection of Leland, North Carolina, a nonprofit serving over 20,000 members with free aphasia support and education. Marina Ganetsky of Needham, Massachusetts, the Pediatric Hero, suffered multiple strokes at age 10 from a ruptured AVM and now speaks at conferences and wrote a book for children with brain injuries. Gabriela Raso of Missouri City, Texas, the Survivor Hero, self-advocated for a CT scan that confirmed her stroke and co-founded The Stroke Foundation to expand access to therapies. Stacie Barber of Peoria, Arizona, the Voters’ Choice Hero, used her expertise as a physical therapist to guide her husband’s recovery from a severe bleeding stroke and shares their journey with over 1 million social media followers.
Winners were selected by a nationwide panel of volunteer judges from the American Stroke Association, except for the Voters’ Choice Award, which was determined by online popular vote. The awards recognize the many ways individuals and communities are supporting survivors and caregivers through connection, advocacy, and shared experiences. For more information, visit Stroke.org/HeroAwards.
Additional resources include photos of each winner available on the right column of the release link, a Spanish news release, and an American Heart Association news release on knowing stroke signs: Knowing stroke signs can save a life when every minute counts.
