USA Health’s Mackey shares her story on Hope Survives national podcast

By Michelle Ryan-Day
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Ashleigh Mackey, stroke program coordinator at University Hospital, recently appeared on the Hope Survives podcast, where she shared her inspiring journey from stroke survivor to healthcare advocate.  

Hope Survives is a brain-injury podcast created and hosted by survivor and advocate Cristabelle Braden as part of the Hope Survives nonprofit organization. The show features personal stories, expert interviews, and practical guidance for people recovering from stroke, traumatic brain injury, and other brain conditions.  

Its mission is to help survivors feel seen, heard, and supported by offering honest conversations about symptoms, emotional challenges, rehabilitation, and rebuilding identity after injury. Episodes highlight both education and community, giving listeners a place to connect, find encouragement, and understand that they are not alone in their recovery journey.

The episode that Mackey is featured in, titled “The Search for Hope: Overcoming Fear and Anxiety Post-TBI/Stroke,” highlights her personal journey as a stroke survivor. “Having these fears and anxieties is valid and it is so important to acknowledge these feelings,” she said. “There is no shame in feeling worried and anxious, especially during such big life changes.”

At just 23 years old, while still a nursing student, Mackey experienced her first stroke. Later diagnosed with Moyamoya disease, a rare condition affecting blood flow to the brain, she faced a difficult and uncertain recovery.  

She recalled what helped her most during that time was intentionally focusing on what was still good in her life. “Taking the time to look for all the beauty around me and to appreciate the little things helped me to soak in how much good was going on during everything,” she said. “Even on hard days, there were so many beautiful things in my life that I could hold onto.”

Today, Mackey uses her personal experience to connect deeply with patients and families through USA Health’s stroke program, where she leads patient education and coordinates monthly support groups.  

“My journey has helped me to see how important it is to feel heard and seen during such a big transition in your life,” she said. “Being a stroke survivor is such a huge life change, and it is so important to me to make people feel understood during such a hard time.”

For younger survivors who feel isolated or overwhelmed, she encourages seeking out others in similar situations.  

“My advice is to find community with others who can understand what you’re going through,” she said. “Hope Survives has been such an amazing community for me to connect with others. Finding people who can understand what you're going through, especially in settings of support groups, can be very beneficial.”

To hear her story, listen to the episode on YouTube: “The Search for Hope: Overcoming Fear and Anxiety Post-TBI/Stroke.”