Contact Us
Meet the Founder
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My name is Kristian Doyle
As an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona and a stroke scientist with over two decades of experience, I have dedicated my career to developing stroke treatments. Despite our best efforts, the path to effective clinical solutions remains fraught with challenges, and no pharmacological treatments aiding recovery in the days and weeks following a stroke have yet gained approval. This reality, compounded by the continued failure of numerous clinical trials, inspired me to create RebuildAfterStroke. This platform emerged from a desire to provide immediate, practical support that can significantly impact the lives of stroke sufferers.
The motivation for this project comes from my years of attending stroke conferences, where I consistently see pharmacological interventions fail to improve stroke recovery—except for simple, practical measures. For instance, a recent study highlighted the benefit of a straightforward action: lowering a patient’s head in a hospital setting to enhance blood flow and outcomes. This finding emphasizes the potential of basic, practical interventions that can substantially aid the recovery process for the 800,000 stroke patients in the US and more than 15 million people worldwide who experience strokes annually. Many of these patients are often discharged with minimal guidance on how to effectively manage their new challenges.
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At RebuildAfterStroke, we aim to empower survivors and their families with knowledge, guidance, and resources to navigate the complexities of stroke recovery. While our individual impact may be limited, collectively, our efforts can lead to remarkable outcomes. For more information about my research, please visit my lab website at thedoylelab.org. Meanwhile, join us in building a community where every step forward is a shared success.
Meet the Co-Founder
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My name is Dominica Padilla
I am a mother of three boys and a stroke survivor, deeply committed to helping others rebuild their lives after a stroke. On September 9th, 2023, my life changed in an instant. What began as a normal day quickly turned into a life-altering experience when I collapsed unexpectedly, suffering a cryptogenic stroke that left me paralyzed on my left side. As a healthy, active mom with no prior risk factors, this diagnosis was both shocking and devastating.
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My journey to recovery began in the ICU, where I spent 10 days before moving to an intensive rehabilitation center. There, I underwent rigorous therapy that helped me regain much of my mobility, but the road was far from easy. Being one of the youngest patients in the rehab center, I realized that strokes do not discriminate—they can happen to anyone, at any time.
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During my recovery, I sought out every available resource to heal and rebuild my life. From vision therapy to Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, red light therapy, and mental health counseling, I explored a variety of treatments that have significantly contributed to my progress. This experience has fueled my passion for helping other stroke survivors navigate their own recovery journeys.
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At RebuildAfterStroke, I am dedicated to providing the support, resources, and community that I wished I had during my recovery. My journey is ongoing, and although I still face challenges, including partial blindness, I am proud of how far I’ve come. My mission is to inspire and empower others to keep moving forward, one step at a time.
At RebuildAfterStroke, our goal is clear: To empower stroke survivors and their families with the knowledge, resources, and support they need to reclaim their lives after a stroke. We believe in a holistic approach to recovery, addressing not only the physical effects of stroke but also the emotional, social, and practical challenges that arise along the way. For more information or support, please don't hesitate to reach out.