The Other Side of the Stroke — John’s Story, Part 2

John Church is back, and this time we go even deeper.

In Part 2 of his conversation with Billy, John picks up where he left off — moving from the raw chaos of the early days into the long, slow, unglamorous grind of years of caregiving. The part nobody puts on a highlight reel. The part that tests everything.

John talks about learning to communicate with Kristen when she had no words — the progressive, painstaking process of going from nods to yes and no, from yes and no to broken phrases, from broken phrases to something that finally started to resemble conversation. He opens up about finishing her sentences — a habit he developed out of love and desperation — and the moment speech therapists pulled him aside and told him to stop. That he had to let her struggle. Let her sit in the frustration. Because that was the only way she was going to get better. He did it. Even though it was hard to watch.

He describes the night Kristen walked the runway again at New York Fashion Week — this time in a hockey helmet, guided by a coordinator — and how that moment felt not like pity but like pure triumph. And he shares the story of Kristen’s first photo shoot after the stroke, in Asheville, North Carolina, when she looked at Billy and said: I’m back, bitches. Because that is exactly who she is.

John also addresses what nobody warned them about — the schizoaffective disorder diagnosis. Starting with minor, almost explainable things in the summer of 2024, and escalating to full hospitalization by December. John describes what it felt like to watch the person he loves be visibly terrified of things that weren’t real, calling the police on herself out of fear, and how completely unprepared he felt — again — for something he never saw coming. He talks about the responsibility of being the person she trusted to tell her what was real and what wasn’t, and how he learned to be direct and caring at the same time without playing into the delusions.

He talks about the marriage. About moments of feeling cheated. About watching other couples laugh and communicate easily and feeling the sting of that. About the days he needed a break and had to ask family to step in so he could breathe. And about why he would not have it any other way.

John’s final message to caregivers is simple, honest, and exactly what people in the thick of it need to hear: take your time, get educated, talk to someone, and don’t suffer in silence. Because if two people end up needing to be taken care of, nobody wins.

And yes — he confirms it. Sometimes all it takes is a hug.

Subscribe, order Kristen’s book Finding My Voice, and follow her journey at kristentoepfer.com

Join Kristen and cohost Billy Montana for monthly episodes filled with advocacy, education, and inspiring conversations.

Together, let's raise awareness for stroke and aphasia and support each other on the journey to recovery.
http://kristentoepfer.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:59

The very first time that you asked her a question and she nodded or shook her head. Was that like a point of elation for you?

SPEAKER_02 1:09

Or yeah, because that was actually, you know, after the coma after she got out of the ICU, still an overlook, you know, but at that point she was able to you know nod her head. No speaking, no words or anything like that. That wouldn't make any sense, not even a yes or no. But she was able to nod her head, and we were able to get some communication done that way. You know, and even at that point, there was you know learning and figuring stuff out, you know, on both of our parts, because I noticed that in the mornings, you know, she was better than she was in the afternoons. You know, she was better after some sleep and you know, stuff like that, and we learned all these little things as we went along.

SPEAKER_01 1:56

So, how did it work out uh when I remember seeing her for the first time after the stroke at um Supermodels Unlimited New York Fashion Week show, and she walked with Kim down the runway with a helmet on. So was she talking then or no? Was she still not talking?

SPEAKER_02 2:21

Um at that was at that point, she was pretty conversational with me because I I kind of understood her mannerisms and and what you know her routines were and generally what she I she asks for, and I could piece it together. Um but it was very difficult for you know strangers or somebody you know that didn't really know her super well, you know, to understand everything that she was saying. And people were great, you know, they they really were. They were very patient with her, you know. But I could tell you know, Kristen would get frustrated at times. And you know, I kind of I was kind of caught between giving her her space and you know trying to help her through some of that, you know. And at that night at Fashion Week, you know, I don't think there was a a dry eye in the place when she was doing that.

SPEAKER_01 3:11

Trust me, I know because I'm glad I had a camera in front of my face to hide my tears because it was emotional remembering her from you know the last time I had seen her up until that with a hockey helmet. It was it was it was rough to see her like that. But even though it was hard to see her like that, it was inspirational to know she made, you know, she made it and she was on the way to recovery.

SPEAKER_02 3:37

Oh, the road from you know Overlook to you know, the night of the stroke to that night, you know, was incredible. I'm sure everybody kind of had their own you know perceptions, I'm sure. You know, but for me, that was uh a triumphant night, not a oh my god, you know, look how how far she definitely picked out kind of thing, you know.

SPEAKER_01 4:01

It was definitely triumphant, yep, for sure. Because for her to come back and do that, and then I remember doing her first photo shoot after the stroke, and it was a it was a couple years, but uh we were in Asheville, North Carolina, and that was like the you know, first time I shot her from the the stroke her first photo shoot, and I I just remember her saying, I'm back, bitches.

SPEAKER_04 4:33

Yeah, you were all I know so that was pretty cool.

SPEAKER_01 4:40

Um but um I think it's a really cool way that you guys how you guys started to communicate with each other, and I guess it says something for being you know together for that many years that uh you kind of know each other. So um almost like telepathy in a way, right?

SPEAKER_02 5:00

Yeah, I mean that made it a lot easier, you know, that we were already you know reaching almost 20 years together.

SPEAKER_01 5:10

Yeah. Kristen says in her head she could say everything perfectly.

SPEAKER_02 5:17

Uh that was statement from the doctors, yeah, that you know she knows what she wants to say.

SPEAKER_01 5:23

Yeah. You know, it's just like a christening said it out loud. Do you know that she still had her thoughts intact?

SPEAKER_02 5:30

The doctors had mentioned that to me. That um, you know, as I learned and you know, got educated in the whole subject myself, you know, the type of apasia she had and the type of stroke she had, and you know, some advice and statements from the doctors that you know it was that she could communicate, you know, like she knew what she needed to say, but there was a disconnect between you know that and how just the brain works and getting it out, which kind of made it very frustrating for her because you know it's kind of having like a word right on the tip of your tongue, you almost remember the word or a name or you know, something like that. It's frustrating for us, you know. But she had to do it with simple words like Apple or something like that.

SPEAKER_01 6:20

Yeah, I'm sure it was frustrating for you because you're watching someone so smart trapped in their own mind, it has to be like very uh frustrating, not only for her, but for you to make that adaption to know that you know, like she's there, but she's not getting it out. So I'm sure that has to produce some kind of like not only frustration, but some sadness for you.

SPEAKER_02 6:49

Sure. There was you know, sadness, there's a lot of fear. You know, you don't know how she's gonna land, you know, after all this, you know, is this as good as she's gonna get? You know, is she gonna progress? You know, they there was still a lot of unknowns for you know years, you know, because it's such a devastating injury, you know, to the brain, and the brain heals so slowly, you know, that nobody can give you an answer as to how it's all gonna land or you know how well she's gonna get and what she's gonna be able to do over the next years. You just uh you know, you get you go around in those circles, but we got through it.

SPEAKER_01 7:29

Yeah. So let's shift to uh something that we had talked about uh two podcasts ago. Uh she's an engineer for 20 years for EPS, and we talked about uh grieving your old life. So how did she grieve her career? Did she ask about work being that you worked there? Was there like things that she wanted to know or was sad about or or what?

SPEAKER_02 7:59

Yeah, I mean, you know, that was her having to manage some of her expectations as well. You know, it you can only stay on disability for so long before you get that dreaded phone call. And um, you know, that was a tough day for her. You know, then I had to sit her down and tell her like um you know EPS was kind of done. You know, you gotta put that part behind you, and um, you know, that that hurt her, you know, a lot at that time.

SPEAKER_01 8:28

Right, I'm sure it would. Because that's the realization of okay, I'm done with this as a career path for my future, and uh then not not knowing like if you're gonna be able to work again, or like that realization must have been like very hard for her.

SPEAKER_02 8:50

Yeah, that that took that took time to get over that one.

SPEAKER_01 8:53

Yeah. Uh so being in the support system, Kristen said that uh you always keep pushing her, uh, even on her down days. Give us some examples of what that looked like.

SPEAKER_02 9:07

Um you know, she would ask me for things, you know, that I kind of knew she could do. You know, and even at times when it might have been easier for both of us for me to do it. Um yeah, I I kind of pushed us both. You like you you can do this, you know, kind of thing. Um, gently, you know, and then as years go, I'm like, Kristen, no, you you can do that. You know, you don't need me to do that. You know, you have to give a little bit of tough love with that, you know, but also you know, recognize when she really is kind of down and needs a little bit of help, you know, to be there. So it's uh it's a tight line to walk sometimes. Um I don't think we get it right 100% of the time. But uh I think we're definitely uh right a lot more than we're wrong, and I think our progress uh is a testament to that.

SPEAKER_01 10:04

Yeah, were the days you wanted to give up to?

SPEAKER_02 10:07

Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. There was days, you know, I just kind of needed a break, you know. Um but we figured that out too. You know, there was times when I, you know, just need a family member to keep an eye on her for a little bit so you can get some stuff done, you know, to progress into, you know, I can you know go camping for a weekend or something, you know, as the years went on and I, you know, we got more comfortable. Um and I wasn't so worried about like you know her basic safety and stuff like that. You know, it's um you never stop learning, you know. We we still figure stuff out.

SPEAKER_01 10:42

Yeah, well that's true. That's true in life. You gotta continue to keep learning. Um, so that's pretty awesome because I know I don't know what the exact you know statistics are, but I'm sure that there's a lot of people in this world that, especially being, you know, fairly young, would have just even given up on the marriage and abandoned somebody. And so I mean that speaks to a lot to the love that you have for her that you know you've stuck by her through every inch of the way, you know, and you're very unselfish about it.

SPEAKER_02 11:19

Yeah, I'm sure there's some terrible stories out there, but um, I wouldn't have it any other way, you know, than standing by her.

SPEAKER_01 11:28

Yeah. That's awesome. Um so she mentioned you learned her language, like when she said, let's go on the wheels. Uh you knew she meant the car. How long did it take uh to learn to translate for her?

SPEAKER_02 11:48

Yeah, I mean there they're really there there's no answer to that because it it was always evolving. Um you know, she would get better with the words, and then I had to, you know, it was almost easier, you know, but it all changed at the same time, too. You know, so this whole thing, you know, there was no quick moments or massive realizations or massive healings, you know, it was all very progressive and you know, very slow and methodical and how it went along. You know, so it would be like, you know, we need to go wheels to you know, we need to go car or you know, uh need to go doctor. You know, it would it was all very progressive.

SPEAKER_01 12:36

Right. So I guess it would be an understatement if I said that if you played charades, you'd be the champions.

SPEAKER_02 12:45

We would be pretty good at it for sure.

SPEAKER_01 12:50

Uh um, so at that point in time too, like did you finish your sentences?

SPEAKER_02 12:58

Yeah, yeah. And I actually, you know, had to stop doing that, you know, and catch myself, you know, especially with uh the doctors and stuff. You know, I had a couple of speech therapists correct me a couple times and put me in my place, but you know, it was a couple years of doing that, you know, and I had to, you know, pull back myself a little bit, you know, and let her struggle, you know, a lot too, you know, even though it's it was hard to watch her get frustrated and you know, upset and sad when she couldn't get you know the ideas or words or thoughts across, you know, and just let her sit there and you know work through it. Yeah. Uh I mean it definitely helped, but you know, they I had uh I had to pull myself back sometimes.

SPEAKER_01 13:45

Yeah. Uh the article says uh you wanted just to be able to talk to her again when she finally could speak, even it was broken. How what was that moment like for you?

SPEAKER_02 13:58

Yeah, I mean, like moment, you know, um I can't really say that's the right word. Um you know, we were happy when we got you know nods, we were happy when we got yeses and no's, you know, we were happy when we got jarbled words. Um, you know, back to it just being very progressive, you know, each one was a win, you know, for sure. And each one, you know, we celebrated. Um but the you know, actual communication, you know, where we were conversational, you know, that was such a progression, you know, that I couldn't even really put a year on it. You know, like you know, she's better this year than she was last year, you know, and so on and so forth. Very progressive, very like slow and tedious work.

SPEAKER_01 14:50

Yeah. Um, so let's go to the really hard stuff. Like, not that it's not hard already, but let's talk about the schizoaffective disorder diagnosis at the beginning of 2024, I think.

SPEAKER_02 15:05

Uh yeah, end of 2024. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:08

Yeah. Kristen was having delusions, uh, paranoia, hallucinations. Walk us through that. What were some of the signs something was wrong?

SPEAKER_02 15:18

Um, it started in the summer of 2024, and I noticed some minor things that like, okay, you know, it could be real, could be not, you know, it didn't really make a lot of sense, but it was in the realm of possible, you know, or even you know 50-50, right? You know, talking about, you know, like issues with neighbors and you know, stuff like that, you know, and that was in the summer of 2024, but by December of the same year, you know, it was hospitalization. You know, so that kind of came out of nowhere. And, you know, it was uh another thing that we had to figure out as we went because that wasn't on our radar either.

unknown 16:12

Right.

SPEAKER_02 16:12

You know, we had to learn and we had to get educated and we had to ask questions and we had to figure out how we were gonna manage that now. And I felt just as unprepared as I did with the stroke. You know, I um especially before the initial hospitalization, I had no clue what to do. You know, who do you call? You know, what do you what do you do with that? Right.

SPEAKER_01 16:38

Where do you start? What was it like when she was yeah. What was it like when she was calling the cops because she was scared?

SPEAKER_02 16:49

Um, you feel terrible for her, you know, because you get visibly terrified. And you know, I get worried whenever she gets upset, you know, the you know, seizures happen and other stuff like that. But just to see somebody you care about and that much pain is hard to watch. And especially when you feel so helpless because you're n you don't know what to do about it. You know, uh same with the stroke, you know, I I can't fix it. You know, I I can't go in there and repair it. You know, same with this, you know. So it's uh it's a helpless feeling, you know. But um you get educated, you learn, you know, and then you can figure out some stuff that you can do.

SPEAKER_01 17:33

Yeah. Um, she mentioned going in and out of the impatient at the psych ward uh as her husband. How hard was it to say we need to go to the hospital again?

SPEAKER_02 17:46

Very, you know, especially when you know she was not necessarily I don't want to say willing, but she didn't believe, you know, that she needed that at the time. You know, and I gotta give her credit that she trusted me enough to um you know go with it, you know, without you know pushing back too hard.

SPEAKER_01 18:11

Yeah. So how do you balance pushing her versus protecting her?

SPEAKER_02 18:15

Yeah, I mean it's it's uh it's a little bit of both, you know. Um, of course, you know, my first responsibility or you know, worry or care is you know keeping her safe, but yeah, someone is here as happy as she can be, you know, it's somebody you care about.

SPEAKER_01 18:31

Of course. Uh she credits you with helping her realize uh when things weren't real. That's a huge responsibility. So how did you handle that?

SPEAKER_02 18:42

Um as best I could, you know, you certainly do get stretched then, you know, at times. Um, but we learn, you know, we learn different things that help. And uh we learn things uh, you know, to ease some of the burden on me, you know, and that works for her. You know, we kind of learn that the more engaged she is with like just other people, you know, the better she is, you know, the more she gets out of you know, in a certain environment, you know, the better she is. You know, but it it took time to learn. You know, it was a couple of hospitalizations, you know, for us to you know figure it all out. You know, but uh, you know, as long as you stick with it, you you know, you'll learn.

SPEAKER_01 19:24

Yeah. Um, so in some of the podcasts and also in the book, we mentioned a specific time where uh she's sitting there thinking that you asked her to go to dinner and she's waiting for you guys to go, but you didn't ask her. This is something that she just hallucinated about. So, how did you correct her without making her feel crazy?

SPEAKER_02 19:48

Um, you gotta be direct. Um, because you you can't you gotta you gotta walk that tight line of not wanting to play into it, you know, and also being firm at the same time. Right. Um you know, and it is a responsibility because I'm sure there's some husbands out there that maybe changed their mind about going out to dinner and would be like, nah, I didn't say that. You know, but there is a lot of responsibility to that. You know, you you gotta be honest and you gotta, you know, be direct but caring at the same time. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 20:25

Um okay, so the marriage through it all, you've been together since 17, uh since you guys were 17 years old. Uh you're now what in your early 40s? I am 44. Okay, so that's a long time. It's a big stretch. Yeah. Uh how has this changed your marriage? Uh better or harder, different love than before?

SPEAKER_02 20:52

Um, I I wouldn't say different. I mean, I you know, I think it was a testament to how strong we were, you know, before all of this happened. You know, as well as, you know, neither one of us for going anywhere, you know. Right. Yeah, you certainly have your moments of maybe feeling cheated at some times. You know, everybody else uh gets to you know grow together and you know not have all these issues. You know, we didn't get that, you know, but I I think it was just a testament to the foundation that we already had.

SPEAKER_01 21:27

Yeah, I could imagine that you'd be looking at other couples that are happy or laughing and have no problems communicating, and I'm sure you could be very envious in those situations.

SPEAKER_02 21:37

Sure, definitely, just definitely moments.

SPEAKER_01 21:40

Yeah. Uh in the news article, it said that you uh never had a normal day again. Do you have normal days now?

SPEAKER_02 21:49

It's a new normal.

SPEAKER_01 21:50

A new normal.

SPEAKER_02 21:51

Yeah, but yeah, I would I don't consider them abnormal anymore.

unknown 21:56

Right.

SPEAKER_01 21:56

You change it.

SPEAKER_02 21:57

Normal changed, you know, to what it was. But life changes anyway. I mean, we think back to 2018 anyway. You know, life would be different, you know. Maybe not quite as drastic, but you've adjusted to the new normal. Yep.

SPEAKER_01 22:14

Yeah. So Kristen says she's different now and that you and her family notice it. Tell us about the new Kristen versus the old Kristen.

SPEAKER_02 22:25

Uh she has a drive in her now that um, you know, she had, you know, I would see peaks of it, you know, in uh, you know, before the stroke. But she has this drive right now that just doesn't let up. And then the rest of us struggle to keep up with her.

SPEAKER_04 22:44

You know.

SPEAKER_02 22:44

Um we gotta give her credit for you know taking all this and you know having an outlet to you know try to get some information to other people and you know the stuff she's done, you know, just the therapies and stuff, all that stuff that she's given back to them. Yeah, it's uh it's incredible.

SPEAKER_01 23:09

Well, her journey is just beginning because she's really gonna make a difference in the world, I believe. But um, you know, when we were talking about in the podcast about grieving her whole her old life, one of the things I said to her is like no matter how many years she worked for UPS, or how many covers of a magazine, or how many billboards she was on, uh it's only going to be a fraction of the people's lives she touches now with the stroke and aphasia advocacy advocacy. And I believe that this is like her purpose in life that she's touching more lives now than she would have imagined doing the modeling or working at UPS.

SPEAKER_02 23:54

I absolutely believe it.

SPEAKER_01 23:56

Yeah. Um, so has anything surprised you about who she's become?

SPEAKER_02 24:05

Um her the strength that she came out of that with, you know, really was impressive. I mean, I I can't say that I would have been as strong, you know, and I don't I'm sure a lot of people, if they're being honest with themselves, would say the same. Yeah, might just slip into a spiral of depression or you know, just shutting down. You know, which she went the opposite way, and that's that's it's rare.

SPEAKER_01 24:32

Yeah, she showed what a fighter she is for sure. Okay, so advocating together, uh, she's walked in New York Fashion Week multiple times since the stroke. Um what was it like to see her back on that runway? Pride, fear, relief. I mean, I know that the last time that I saw you um two years ago, we had taken a picture, uh, me, you, and Kristen, and um I had really did a great photo shoot of her that day. And I remember seeing you like really happy and proud. So, from your perspective, how was that all feeling for you?

SPEAKER_02 25:17

Oh, proud is absolutely the right word. You know, I there's no words to describe how proud I am, and especially when you let life slow down enough and you know, think about how far she's come and you know all the different struggles and the ups and the downs, you know, but always trending upward. You know, it's uh very proud of her. Proud of us, yeah, you know.

SPEAKER_01 25:42

Yeah. Um, now that she's a stroke and aphasia advocate with a podcast, a book, Billboard, and Times Square, did you ever imagine this is where you'd end up?

SPEAKER_02 25:54

No, no, even with the the better case scenarios that run through your brain at you know 4 a.m. in a hospital waiting room. No, I didn't I didn't see this one coming.

SPEAKER_01 26:04

Yeah. Um, what do you want people to know about being a caregiver spouse to a stroke survivor that nobody talks about?

SPEAKER_02 26:13

Yeah, I mean, you know, take your time. You know, there's help out there for you. Um if you're feeling stressed, you you gotta you gotta talk about it, you gotta get it out there. Um, it's not gonna be easy every day, but you you just you gotta give yourself enough time, you know, so you can actually be the caregiver that that person needs you to be.

unknown 26:37

Right.

SPEAKER_02 26:37

You know, whatever it might be. You know, it's gonna be different for everybody. Yeah, and that's the one thing don't just suffer and you know, now all of a sudden two people need to get taken care of, you know.

SPEAKER_01 26:50

So well, in some ways, you're kind of like the unsung hero because people don't realize behind the scenes um how it alters and changes your life, and it's such a incredible testament of love that you know you could have just said, screw this, because a lot of selfish people would probably do that, people that didn't have such a strong marriage would do that, but it's a it's a testimony to your love and being unselfish, and so I just want you to kind of speak to like to the people that are spouses, and even for the people who aren't, to just to give them an understanding of you know how this has changed your life.

SPEAKER_02 27:44

Yeah, I mean, you know, that's another answer that's not gonna be, you know, overnight or even a year, you know, where you know, snap, things just changed. You know, you you gotta you gotta let you gotta let life come towards you a little bit, you know, react, try to anticipate it, you know. But um, you know, there's always gonna be those surprises in life that come out of left field. And you know, just take it slow. You know, listen to the experts, you know, get educated a little bit, take your time. You know, just you can slow down. You know, it feels like things are going 100 miles an hour, but when you put stop and take a few breaths, you'll you'll figure out that it's not as fast as you think it is.

SPEAKER_01 28:29

Right. So now that Kristen's book, Finding My Voice, A Stroke Survivor's Journey, is coming out fairly soon. How does that feel? You're nervous, proud? Is there anything in there that was hard to relive?

SPEAKER_02 28:43

I mean, it all is, you know. Um even that was progressive over years, but there was um you know a good stretch of time there where I couldn't watch like any medical shows or anything like that without you know just tearing up and thinking about it. You know, that's it you know, it goes back to just giving yourself some time too, you know. You're not gonna always you know be as stressed or as upset or as worried as you are in that moment. You know, it's only gonna get better, so just take your time with it. Yeah. But yeah, I mean, you know, like I said, it's uh it's all very progressive, you know, especially with brain injuries and stuff like that. You know, so you just have some patience.

SPEAKER_01 29:25

Patience for sure, and adaptability, I'd imagine.

unknown 29:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:31

Um, all right. So if you could tell on September 10th, 2018, John, like you in on September 10th, 2018, if you could tell yourself one thing then, what would it be?

SPEAKER_02 29:46

And besides just go to the hospital now. Yeah, I don't know. I I don't know. I'd have to get back to you on that one. That's that's one you you got me. I was doing good.

SPEAKER_01 29:58

Fair enough. Uh that's that was a tough question for sure. What's the biggest misconception people have about stroke survivors about being married to one?

SPEAKER_02 30:11

Well, I'm sure that there's a huge spectrum there. I mean, just um, you know, you can have a stroke and you know, recover and not have any deficits to you know, never waking up again, you know, but I think um it's never gonna be as bad. You know, as you know, those initial few weeks, you know. That's as worse that that's as bad as it's gonna get, you know, as long as they pull through, obviously. But you know, it it's only it's only going to get better. You don't know how good it's gonna be, you don't know how bad it's gonna be, you know, and educate yourself as best you can, you know, talk to the doctors, talk to the therapists. Um, you know, they're they're there to help her as well as you. And just take take your time with it. You know, like it seems very fast and then everything's moving 100 miles an hour, but it slows down and it gets easier.

SPEAKER_01 31:11

That's good. Uh we're gonna be wrapping this up. So um Kristen says you give the best hugs, and that sometimes that's all it takes. Is it really that simple? Sometimes. Yeah, I can imagine. Hugs go a long way. Um, sometimes that's all somebody needs, is just a hug. So it's good advice for people out there that sometimes people over overthink things, and it could just be so simple. It's just something like that. Yeah. Uh so questions for the both of you. Is Kristen still here? Yeah. All right, got a couple more. Kristen, what do you want people to take away from your book?

SPEAKER_03 31:59

I want people to know from both sides of the my stroke my stroke story from the my perspective and their perspective.

SPEAKER_01 32:16

Yeah, very good. John, what do you want caregivers and family members to know?

SPEAKER_02 32:23

Well, I mean, I hope uh anyone that reads it learned something. You know, and and can take away some positivity that they could bring into their own lives and trials and issues and challenges. Yeah, because the stroke uh is very similar to other brain injuries. You know, it could be a car accident or a bicycle accident, or you know, who knows, brain injuries that are you know a terrible thing, but there's a lot of similarities.

SPEAKER_01 32:53

Pre-order for your book is gonna start uh and it's gonna be found on Kristen Topford.com for all the pre-order information, and everything's gonna be on also the social media link. So it's coming. You're gonna start promoting and pre-ordering your book. Um so what's next for you both? More advocacy work, speaking engagements, future projects.

SPEAKER_02 33:25

I just try to keep up.

SPEAKER_01 33:30

You're just gonna keep going, Kristen, keep doing more stuff, maybe another book? Maybe see how this one goes.

SPEAKER_03 33:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:42

It's gonna go great. People are gonna love this story, it's gonna help so many people. Um, and then I'm sure there'll be more podcasts that we'll do and uh really start making this take off. I I would love to start seeing if we could put this book in the hands of hospitals for you know stroke centers and rehab centers, and I think really be uh a big difference in people's lives. So final thoughts for stroke survivors and their families listening right now.

SPEAKER_04 34:18

What do you think? Every stroke is different.

SPEAKER_01 34:28

That's true. You happen to get one of the worst ones.

SPEAKER_03 34:33

Yeah, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 34:36

So the good news is if you can do it, anybody can do it, right? Hey, look, you guys are striving now as a couple, you guys have stuck by, you show what love is all about, and you can't ask for anything more than that. And you are just a testament that every day you just keep resetting yourself and putting one foot in front of the other, and that's really like all anybody could ever ask for, because there are so many people that would just give up on life, and you haven't, and it's not that you haven't had doubts, it hasn't like you haven't had grief or depression, you've experienced all those things, yet you keep going. So your story deserves to be told, and I'm proud of you, and I'm proud of the both of you, and you're you've been in this together, and I I I thank God that you guys have survived and are doing well.

SPEAKER_03 35:38

Thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 35:40

Thanks, John, for joining us today. It was really, really great. The listeners are gonna really love hearing your perspective. Anytime?