Heart Month Special: Conversations with Stroke Survivor Natalie Poli

Let’s end Heart Month with an empowering story from a stroke survivor, former beauty queen, principal of School District U-46, fantabulous mom and wife, and a lightning bolt of energy and positivity — Natalie Poli. Natalie is living her dream — basking in the spotlight and cheers of the crowd, confidently sharing her grace and talent as a Chicago Bulls dancer. She cared for her health and stayed physically active, yet something unexpected changed her life. She was only 29 when she suffered from a stroke. Luckily, Natalie got immediate medical help when a police officer recognized the symptoms of stroke when he got into Natalie’s home. Natalie’s road to recovery from her heart surgery has been challenging. It all happened while she was pursuing a Master’s Degree and caring for her nine-week-old and two-year-old children. This experience awakened something inside Natalie. She made it her life’s purpose to educate, support, and inspire stroke survivors, their families, healthcare professionals, and organizations. She became the voice that tells you to listen to your body. She became the voice that created urgency for taking actionable steps to save lives.  Being crowned Mrs. Illinois and Mrs. Midwest International also gave Natalie a platform for heart health and stroke advocacy. Natalie further expanded her reach when she started a podcast called Stroke of Insight, where she interviewed individuals, families of survivors, and organizations to share their experiences and knowledge about the common enemy — stroke.  You will undeniably learn and realize a lot from this episode. So tune in to The Ripple Effect Podcast and prepare to get struck by Natalie’s contagious confidence, charm, and resilience.  This video will leave you thinking, “If she can, I can.” ____________________________________________  If you suffered from stroke and other heart-related issues, know you’re not alone in the journey to recovery. As mentioned by Natalie Poli in this video, you can reach out to these organizations for support:  American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/en/ Mended Hearts International: https://mendedhearts.org  Little Hearts: https://www.littlehearts.org If you’re a medical professional who is passionate about heart health awareness, be a part of the PICS Society or The Pediatric & Congenital Interventional Cardiovascular Society: https://www.picsymposium.com Listen to Natalie’s Podcast called Stroke of Insight: https://open.spotify.com/show/4ztgq0MpG0L1CllmNnSljm?si=6eb5a70861b64786   #TheRippleEffectPodcast #SteveHarper #NataliePoli #HeartHealth #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeSurvivorJourney #HealthandWellness #HeartMonth