Our Team
Founder & Facilitator
Molly Buccola
In 2005, Molly Buccola suffered a stroke due to venous sinus thrombosis. A clot the size of a whole pinky forced blood into both hemispheres of her brain. When she woke from the coma, her left side was paralyzed. Molly’s family served as carepartners as she relearned to walk, eat, bathe, on and on. Once she regained enough abilities to hide the effects, she tried to “move on” with her life. Now she knows, stroke survivors never fully “move on.” They move beyond. Molly found that stroke offers a powerful, life-changing, shift in perspective. She founded Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke to offer 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.
Molly believes reclaiming and reframing one’s story can be a transformative source of healing, empowerment, and connection. In an interview, she shared, “I’m inspired by each stroke survivor I meet. I have found a stroke community and our conversations and connections are purposeful. Every story is unique yet there are beautiful threads of insight and growth that tie our community together. Together we cultivate hope. Together we thrive beyond stillness. We are more than supportive. We are inspirational.”
Story Stewards
Abbe Simon
Abbe Simon, M.A., CCC-SLP is a speech language pathologist, integrative health coach, and yoga teacher with over 27 years of experience helping individuals impacted by stroke regain communication and connection. Through her private practice, iCommunicare, Abbe empowers clients to rediscover new possibilities and live fulfilling lives after stroke. She believes that language goes beyond words, with connection and storytelling playing pivotal roles in healing. As a Story Steward for Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, Abbe guides stroke survivors through the transformative process of reflective narrative framing. She recognizes storytelling as a powerful tool, especially for those with aphasia, offering them a platform to express their experiences and connect with others. Abbe is deeply committed to helping individuals reclaim their voices, find strength in their journey, and share their resilience with the world.
Tania Saiz
Tania is a mindset facilitator, advocate, and neurodivergent artist who celebrates the beauty of showing up just as you are. After surviving an ischemic stroke in 2020, she began a journey of reconnection—with herself, her community, and her sense of purpose. As a facilitator, she creates supportive spaces where honesty, reflection, and shared humanity are always welcome. Living with a brain injury means navigating each day with patience and grace, and she brings that same energy into her work with others. Tania crafted and shared her story “Facing the Mirror: Finding Myself” with Beyond Stillness and found it to be a transformative experience. She now serves as a story steward with Beyond Stillness, accompanying fellow survivors through their own story crafting journeys with care, presence, and a deep belief in the power of authenticity and connection.
Board of Directors
Chris Wilder
Chris brings over 40 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, grounded in a commitment to social impact, collaboration, and community. For two decades, he led the Valley Medical Foundation, raising millions to expand access to high-quality care across Santa Clara County. His leadership launched innovative programs that continue to serve the region. Throughout his career, Chris has advanced missions in health, youth development, and public advocacy—including roles at the Vanished Children’s Alliance and City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley. After surviving a stroke in 2021, Chris embraces a new chapter of service as a dedicated stroke advocate. He now serves on the boards of Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke and the Stroke Awareness Foundation. His story, “Part of Something Greater,” reflects a lifelong dedication to purpose, perspective, and meaningful connection. Chris lives in Los Gatos with his wife Kate and their ever-growing family of beloved animals.
Kelly has lived in the Pacific Northwest since high school and loves traveling, spending time outdoors and creating community. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Willamette University and her Masters of Science and Technology Management from Oregon Health & Science University. She has spent her career in and around program and process management and her superpower is creating calm from chaos. For the last decade, she has worked at Nike in various functions supporting teams across the globe. Her passion is helping others and she co-led Nike’s Disability Network employee resource group for almost three years, where she elevated the voices of employees experiencing disability at Nike. The opportunity to support the mission of Beyond Stillness threads perfectly into her goal of being of service to others and helping everyone meet their full potential.
Kelly Golden
Danny Schultz
Danny grew up in Santa Cruz, CA, with a deep love for the ocean, mountains, and all living beings. His curiosity and sense of wonder draw him to nature and drive his passion for problem-solving. He studied psychology and computer science and now works as a System Architect at UC Santa Cruz, where he enjoys uncovering how things work and finding creative solutions to complex challenges.
As an integral part of Beyond Stillness from the start, Danny provides sound engineering, tech support, and innovative solutions for the online platform. His keen attention to detail, combined with his visionary thinking, helps shape Beyond Stillness into a platform that amplifies diverse voices of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.
Cat holds a BA in International Political Economy and Business Administration from the University of Puget Sound and a Masters in Education in school counseling from Lewis & Clark College. With eight years of experience as a high school counselor and certifications in Youth Leadership Coaching and Youth Mentor Coaching, she helps people set and achieve educational, career, and personal goals while fostering self-discovery. As a Board Certified Coach, Cat utilizes evidence-based approaches to illuminate individual strengths and empower individuals to overcome challenges. She believes in the inherent resilience of individuals and creates a supportive environment for growth. Dedicated to youth development, she has served as a high school counselor and youth life coach in Portland, where she lives with her husband and three children. Outside of her professional life, Cat enjoys outdoor activities like running, biking, and snowboarding, finding great joy spending time with loved ones in nature.