We're All Insane - Stroke at 18 Years Old

Host: Devorah Roloff
Guest: Courtney
Date: February 9, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of "We're All Insane" features Courtney, who shares her raw, unfiltered account of surviving a stroke at just 18 years old. The conversation navigates her journey from a healthy, active teenager through the harrowing moments of sudden illness, the challenges of recovery, and the profound ways this experience reshaped her perspective on life, relationships, and purpose. The episode focuses on Courtney’s authentic storytelling, touching on trauma, resilience, and finding community through adversity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Courtney’s Background and Life Before the Stroke

• Healthy, Active Teen (02:03–03:11)

  • She had a "ton of sports" growing up, was always active, and lived what she considered a normal healthy life.
  • ("I loved sports… Every time as I went to the doctor, they're like, oh, yeah, you're good, right? …So, I'm like, oh, well, I'm fine." – Courtney, 03:12)

• Family and Life Transitions (03:29–05:09)

  • Recalls parents’ divorce as amicable and "better now."
  • Recently graduated in 2019, unsure of future plans, considering a gap year or starting college.

2. The Day of the Stroke

• Lake Powell Family Trip (05:09–10:20)

  • The family was gathering to spread great aunt’s ashes at a beloved location.
  • Courtney recalls feeling off that morning, attributing it to her period but thinking, "maybe I'm just being dramatic."

• Describing the Symptoms (09:46–10:20)

  • Felt “sick to my stomach,” “not right,” and homesick—debated whether to stay or return home.

• Decision to Stay & The Incident

  • Followed mom's advice to stay two more days and tough it out (14:43).
  • Was tubing with older cousins, and after a wipeout, began to feel her body shutting down.
  • ("I felt like all the energy was being drained from my body… my right arm stopped working… I wiped out, I landed into the water. Thankfully, I had a life jacket on." – Courtney, 19:45)

3. Realizing Something Was Seriously Wrong

• Acute Emergency (20:38–23:53)

  • Attempted to respond to family but couldn't speak; only able to nod.
  • Family noted a facial droop—classic stroke symptom.
  • ("I tried to get words out, but I physically could not. I knew what I wanted to say, but I couldn't." – 22:00)

• Race for Medical Help (24:52–32:59)

  • Family drove the boat urgently across atypically calm water (regarded as a “miracle”), got rare cell service to call for help.
  • At the dock, encountered a doctor and a nurse by chance who recognized the stroke and demanded immediate helicopter medevac.
  • (“They were able to come assess me… and they're like, yeah, you need to get an ambulance—like a life flight out here, like now.” – 34:35)

4. Hospitalization & Diagnosis

• Hospital Arrival & Uncertainty (35:23–54:49)

  • Faced profound communication challenges and right-side paralysis.
  • Emotional reunion with her mother.
  • Doctors struggled to determine the cause due to her age and lack of risk factors (not on birth control, no drug use).

• Diagnosis: Ischemic Stroke (54:25)

  • "It was a clot that went up to my brain." – 54:28
  • Missed the treatment window for TPA (stroke reversal drug) due to remote location and transport delays.

• Immediate Aftermath (60:35–66:21)

  • Complete reset: “Had to relearn how to talk, eat, swallow, walk.”
  • Rehab involved occupational, speech, and physical therapy "non-stop" for two years.

5. Finding the Underlying Cause & Further Complications

• Search for Answers (67:52–75:44)

  • Doctors discovered two undiagnosed heart defects: a PFO (common but sometimes problematic) and a larger ASD, believed to have allowed a clot to reach her brain.
  • ("If we wouldn't have found these holes, she would have been in heart failure and drop dead by 35." – 75:44)

• Life-Saving Heart Surgery (76:35–78:24)

  • Underwent surgery to close both holes a month later.
  • Also suffered sepsis and a severe intestinal infection (C. diff) during recovery, compounding her ordeal.

• Enduring Nerve Pain & Lingering Effects (91:29)

  • Developed “severe nerve pain” post-stroke, now chronic for six years: “The nerve pain is constant… it doesn’t go away, even with medication.” – 91:47

6. Emotional and Relational Impacts

• Family Dynamics During Crisis (55:35–60:35)

  • Brought estranged family members together.
  • "That, in itself, was a miracle." – 55:35

• Mother’s Support & Advocacy (82:41–87:36)

  • Her mother was “my saving grace… she was my son of voice in the hospital… [she] never left my side.” – 83:01
  • Pushed for answers when Courtney was misdiagnosed with C. diff.

• Lasting Mindset Shift (87:36–88:58)

  • Courtney describes adopting a positive, almost childlike outlook post-stroke.
  • “I was able to feel the good in a mostly bad time.” – 87:36

7. Adjusting to a New Normal & Helping Others

• Adapting and Acceptance (89:06–90:28)

  • Now 24, feels “90% better,” but continues to struggle with residual effects.
  • (“From where I was at the beginning… where I am right now is a blessing in itself.” – 90:17)

• Inspired to Become a Nurse (96:05–101:46)

  • Moved by her nurses’ care, determined to support others.
  • Describes emotionally connecting with nurses who went “from cold to soft” through her vulnerability.

• Community & Advocacy (104:15–106:52)

  • Shares her story via TikTok and Twitter, which went viral, connecting with others and offering hope to fellow young stroke survivors.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Recognizing the Moment
  “I felt like all the energy was being drained from my body, like, super fast… and then my right arm stopped working.”
  – Courtney (19:45)

• Facing Her Own Mortality
  “I was scared because I didn’t know what was happening and didn’t know. I’d never felt this ever. Am I dying?”
  – Courtney (23:53)

• The Power of Family Advocacy
  “My mom is my saving grace… she never left my side.”
  – Courtney (83:01)

• How Trauma Changed Her Perspective
  “I was 18 and ready to start my life and be an adult… But to be transformed back into a kid again, relearning how to do things, it’s just… frustrating.”
  – Courtney (95:03)

• On Finding Community
  “Before the stroke, I had heard nobody my age having a stroke ever. And then after, I started to hear, like, so many people, like… opened up a major door to me… made me feel I’m not the only one out there.”
  – Courtney (115:52)

• Why She Shares Her Story
  “Use my story to tell everybody that, you know, you can get to where I am… It’s a long road, but it’s going to be okay.”
  – Courtney (105:34)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Introduction & Courtney’s Background | 02:03–05:09 | | Day of the Stroke (Lake Powell trip) | 05:09–14:43 | | The Medical Emergency & Realization | 19:45–23:53 | | Getting Help: Boat, Dock, and Life Flight | 24:52–34:35 | | Hospital Arrival and Diagnosis | 35:23–54:49 | | Discovering the Cause: Heart Defects | 67:52–75:44 | | Surgery & Complications (Sepsis, C. diff) | 76:35–79:43 | | Recovery Journey and Mental Perspective | 89:06–91:47 | | New Purpose & Connecting with Others | 96:05–106:52 | | Social Media, Advocacy, and Closing Reflections | 110:53–116:52 |

Tone and Style

The episode is deeply conversational, candid, and marked by Courtney’s vulnerability and humor. Host Devorah offers frequent empathy and encouragement, maintaining a warm, supportive tone that allows Courtney’s story to unfold organically.

Takeaways

• Medical crises do not discriminate by age; even young, healthy people can experience sudden, life-changing health events.
• Advocacy by loved ones is vital in medical emergencies, as is persistence when something feels wrong.
• Sharing personal stories can connect, inspire, and heal—both the teller and the listener.
• Trauma can create unexpected blessings, such as closer relationships, new clarity, and a calling to serve others.
• Recovery is non-linear, and invisible disabilities remain misunderstood—don’t judge on appearances.

Closing Reflection

Courtney’s journey from athletic teen to stroke survivor—and now aspiring nurse—demonstrates remarkable resilience and how traumatic events can spark unexpected growth and a drive to help others. Her story is a powerful reminder to cherish daily abilities, seek community, and never stop fighting for your own health and healing.