Jen Brueton

Last month marked a significant shift in my practice as I said goodbye to the hospital we have served for over eight years. We worked inside the walls of an acute hospital—some of the many frontline clinicians trying to make a difference in people’s lives. But over time, the truth became too loud to ignore: we weren’t helping people get better. We were watching them suffer, slowly and painfully, with entirely preventable conditions.

On this Stroke Awareness Day, it’s important to understand that a stroke is not typically a random, instantaneous event. According to The Noakes Foundation, while a stroke appears sudden — a blocked or ruptured artery in the brain — the reality is it often follows years of quietly building metabolic and vascular damage.

For many families, cognitive decline and dementia are not just medical diagnoses — they’re life-altering experiences. Watching a loved one lose their memory, personality or independence brings heartbreak, stress and financial strain. Daily routines can change overnight; spouses become caregivers; children take on new responsibilities. It’s no wonder so many people feel powerless in the face of these conditions.