The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, has announced the recipients of the 2026 Stroke Hero Awards, honoring seven individuals and groups whose actions are redefining life after stroke. Recognized annually during American Stroke Month in May, the awards celebrate survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and community organizations that support people affected by stroke through connection, education, and shared experience.
Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States, and recovery often involves navigating lasting physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges, as noted on the Association's website at stroke.org. This year's honorees demonstrate how personal experience can become a source of strength for others.
The winners include Felicia Veasey of Summerville, South Carolina, honored as Caregiver Hero for becoming her mother's full-time caregiver after a second stroke and organizing a public webinar on caregiver mental health. Lamont Causey of Detroit, named Community Impact Hero, regained his ability to speak, swallow, and walk after a 2019 stroke and now shares his story to support survivors in under-resourced communities. Nasheel Joules of McKinney, Texas, received the B.E. F.A.S.T. Hero award for recognizing stroke signs in her husband and calling 911, leading to prompt treatment for a transient ischemic attack (TIA); she and her husband raise funds through an annual Christmas light display.
The Aphasia Recovery Connection, based in Leland, North Carolina, was named Group Hero for providing free aphasia support and education to over 20,000 members and subscribers. Marina Ganetsky of Needham, Massachusetts, at age 15, is the Pediatric Hero; after suffering multiple strokes from a ruptured AVM at age 10, she has made remarkable progress and authored a book for children with brain injuries. Gabriela Raso of Missouri City, Texas, honored as Survivor Hero, insisted on a CT scan that confirmed her stroke after doctors initially missed it; she co-founded The Stroke Foundation to advocate for expanded access to therapies. Stacie Barber of Peoria, Arizona, received the Voters' Choice Hero award for her caregiving role after her husband's severe bleeding stroke, documenting his recovery on social media for over a million followers.
Winners were selected by a national panel of volunteer judges from the American Stroke Association, except for the Voters' Choice Award determined by online popular vote. The awards underscore that stroke can happen at any age and that recovery varies for each person, highlighting the importance of community and advocacy. For more information, visit Stroke.org/HeroAwards.
