Calli Varner and I don't have a lot in common. Calli is athletic and into sports. I … am not. I was born in New York City; Calli was born in the Midwest. Calli thrives in Phoenix, AZ. I still don't understand whatever possessed someone to put the 5th largest city in the US in the middle of an oven.

We do have a few things in common, though. We both like cats. We both like to write. And we both experienced stroke at a relatively young age.

Sportswriter Calli Varner survived her stroke at 35 Thanksgiving weekend in 2021.

I first read Calli's story through the America Heart Association's profile and wanted to learn more. You can read that original profile here. I wanted to hear more so Calli joins me in this episode to share her adventure.

If you don't see the audio player below, visit http://Strokecast.com/MSN/Calli to listen to the conversation.

Click here for a machine-generated transcript

Calli was lucky in her recovery, but luck isn't just about the randomness of fate in the universe. I like the definition that says luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Getting to an ambulance quickly made a difference for Calli. Getting tPA quickly made a difference. Already being athletic made a difference. Determination in her recovery made a difference. Simple, clear goal setting made a difference. And the help of Lt Dan, pushed it over the top.

Who is Calli Varner?

Calli is a sports lover and writer in Scottsdale. At 35, she never expected to experience a stroke at such a young age. She is active, attending cycling classes three times a week. While visiting her parents over Thanksgiving, Calli suffered from a moderate acute ischemic stroke when a blood clot traveled to her brain.

After eight months of recovery that included living with her parents, and going back and forth to doctor's appointments, Calli is now fully recovered and ready to get back to football games. Here is how she was able to become stronger after her stroke thanks to the support around her (especially her cat, Lt. Dan) and keeping her eye on the prize, attending a Chiefs game in the fall.

You can follow Calli on Twitter at @CalliDoesSports

Calli and Lt Dan

Fast Treatment

The BEFAST stroke warning signs (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, Time) includes time in the list because it is so essential.

Many ischemic (clot-based) strokes can be stopped with a drug called tPA. It has to be administered within the first 3-4.5 hours after stroke symptoms first appear, though.

While research is looking to extend that window, today, those limits apply.

Every minute of stroke means more dead brain cells. tPA can reduce the damage by restoring the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to starving cells before they die, but can't bring them back once they're dead. Calling an ambulance is the essential first aid step when someone MIGHT be experiencing a stroke.

In Calli's case, she got treatment quickly which helped drive her recovery and get her to the life she lives today.

Fibromuscular Dysplasia

According to the Mayo Clinic, Fibromuscular Dysplasia is a condition that leads to changes in the size of blood vessels, often supplying the brain or kidneys.

Narrower blood vessels mean less blood flow to critical parts of the body. These choke points in the circulatory system can also lead to turbulence and turbulence makes clot formation more likely.

Calli has this condition in the vessels in her neck and it MAY be what led to her stroke.

Ultimately, up to 20% of strokes are "cryptogenic," meaning there is no known cause. It's frustrating because it means survivors don't know how to prevent it.

In Calli's case, they speculate that the reason her fibromuscular dysplasia didn't cause issues before was because she was in such great physical shape.

Being in great shape doesn't mean you won't have a stroke. It just makes it more likely and potentially delays it to a later point in life. And that could well be why Calli had her stroke at 35 instead of 25. But, again, I'm not a doctor. Just a random marketing guy.

Strokecast Gift Guide

Calli recommended the book, "Fear is a Choice" by James Connor.* James survived cancer and went on to an American football career in the NFL. Calli found great inspiration in the book. You can find it here.*

You can also find it in the Strokecast Gift Guide. If you're looking for books by guests on the show, books related to stroke or recovery from other folks, gadgets to help with recovery, or gadgets to make life a little easier, check out the Strokecast Gift Guide.

It's a list of neat stuff with links to buy it on Amazon. You can check it out at http://Strokecast.com/GiftGuide. *

THE Game

On Sunday, September 11, 2022, the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL journeyed to Phoenix, AZ to battle the Phoenix Cardinals, and Calli was at the game.

Congratulations, Calli, on achieving one of your main stroke recovery goals. I hope the stadium experience was everything you hoped it would be.

And to top it off, Calli's Chiefs won the game 44 to 21.

https://twitter.com/CalliDoesSports/status/1569752438298800130

Hack of the Week

Calli suggest you let yourself feel what you feel.

So often after stroke or other trauma, we don't want to explore our feelings. We want to pretend things didn't happen or that they didn't affect us. But they did.

Denying our feelings delays dealing with them but we can't delay forever. It's like we're borrowing from the future and we'll have to pay back that emotional energy with interest.

Dealing with this stuff, though, helps us become the new person we are. I think every survivor I've talked with describes the "new me." We're transformed by stroke.

The old life is gone. We may get back to aspects of it, or parts of it, and the person we are now may (or may not) be substantially similar), but we are new. And how do we grow into that?

It starts with letting yourself feel your own feelings.

Links

Where do we go from here?

Follow Calli on Twitter and Instagram
Share this episode with someone you know by giving them the link http://Strokecast.com/Calli
Subscribe to the Strokecast Newsletter at http://Strokecast.com/News
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