Origin

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke was founded by Molly Buccola, a stroke survivor and retreat facilitator. For fifteen years, she assisted faculty, staff, and students in drafting and delivering their life-lesson stories to hundreds of people, each week. She has always been in awe of the depth and unique wisdom each person carries. When Ralph Cortese from Stroke Warrior Radio asked Molly to host a weekly show, she knew she wanted to create space for stroke survivors to share their stories. Such a dramatic event forces us to reflect and connect. And now, Beyond Stillness envisions an engaging community that supports every stroke survivor in sharing ways their unique recovery story inspires wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

Stroke offers a powerful, life-changing, shift in perspective.  The moment stroke strikes, we are forced to be still. Thankfully, for survivors, that’s not the end of the story. There is much, much more beyond. Beyond Stillness offers pause for storytelling and reflection.  Ultimately, Beyond Stillness is a welcoming environment that reveres the movement beyond stroke’s paralysis.  Still moments unite humanity and divinity.

Recovery stories are as unique as people themselves and yet similar threads tie the stroke community together. Beyond Stillness reminds us that we are not alone on the recovery journey. In our uniqueness, we are part of a community. We are bound by Something Greater and are invited to serve as a source of inspiration and hope.

We envision an engaging community that supports every stroke survivor in sharing ways their unique recovery story inspires wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

We are guided by our mission, vision, and shared commitment to:

• Individuality - We believe each person has gifts to be discovered, nurtured, and shared.

• Community  - We find strength and purpose in supporting one another.

• Spirituality - We believe we are part of Something Greater

• Service - We are all able to offer our unique talents with purpose.

• Hope - We believe there is always an inspired way forward.