A Night to Remember: My Stroke, My Healing, and the Birth of Natural Philosopher

There are moments in life that divide time into before and after. Moments that shake you to your core and leave you forever changed.

In June 2016, I experienced one of those moments. What began as a quiet night at home turned into a life-altering experience—one that nearly left me disabled, and ultimately gave birth to a deeper purpose.

This is the story of the stroke that changed everything. Of the fear, the surrender, the fight to come back. It’s the story of discovering healing outside the walls of conventional medicine, and of finding my way back to myself—one breath, one herb, one intention at a time.

I share this not only to remember, but in the hope that it reaches someone who needs it. Someone walking through fog, searching for answers, aching to feel whole again.

This is my story.
And maybe, in some small way, it’s yours too.

Understanding strokes

Before diving into my story, Here is a brief overview of strokes so you can better understand what happened to me. 

A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted—either by a blockage (ischemic stroke) or a burst blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Without oxygen-rich blood, brain cells begin to die within minutes. Strokes are medical emergencies and require immediate attention.

Common Causes of Strokes

Blood clots (from the legs, heart, or elsewhere)

High blood pressure

Heart conditions, such as atrial fibrillation

Undiagnosed congenital heart defects, like a PFO (patent foramen ovale)—a small opening in the heart that should close shortly after birth but sometimes doesn’t

Diabetes

High cholesterol

Pregnancy-related complications, which can increase blood clotting risk

 

Stroke Symptoms You Should Know (FAST):

Stroke Symptoms Everyone Should Know (FAST):

Face drooping

Arm weakness

Speech difficulty

Time to call 911

 

Other lesser-known symptoms can include:

  • Sudden dizziness or loss of balance
  • Numbness or tingling, especially on one side
  • Trouble seeing
  • Intense headaches with no known cause
  • Confusion or difficulty speaking

Strokes can be caused by a variety of factors—high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, or heart defects like mine. In my case, the unique combination of pregnancy hormones and a PFO created a rare but serious risk. This type of stroke, called a paradoxical embolism, happens when a clot bypasses the lungs and travels directly to the brain. Understanding these details was vital, but living through it was far more profound.

My Stroke

The night I suffered my stroke changed everything. What unfolded after was not merely healing of the body, but a delicate weaving of soul and spirit—threaded with shadows of fear, whispers of grief, and the fierce light of hope rekindled.

The journey that followed was a dance between fragility and strength, despair and discovery—a path that led not only to recovery but to the birth of Natural Philosopher.

 

It was a warm night in June 2016. I was eight weeks pregnant, carrying life while just trying to live mine. My two eldest kids were in Montreal with family, and my husband was spending the night at his mother’s. So it was just me and my 18-month-old daughter.

I remember feeling... off. Not sick, but just not myself. My daughter, who usually slept in her crib, insisted on curling up beside me in bed that night. I got up to use the washroom a few times—nothing unusual for early pregnancy. But that third or fourth time, when I returned to bed, something happened that would change everything.

I felt dizzy. At first, I brushed it off. Maybe I got up too fast? But the dizziness didn't fade—it grew. I started feeling like the room was moving around me, like I was spinning even though I wasn’t. My eyes felt like they were turning with the room, and soon after, my fingers and toes went numb. The numbness crawled up my right arm and my left leg.

I began wiggling my fingers and toes, trying to shake it off. Tried blinking, trying to will it all away. But then came a pressure—like something was physically holding me down. I couldn’t get up. That’s when I knew. This wasn’t exhaustion. This wasn’t pregnancy. This was something far more serious.

And all I could think was: What happens to my daughter if I don’t wake up?

I thought about calling 911, but I hesitated—not out of fear for myself, but because my daughter, at that time, couldn’t handle being with strangers. The thought of her waking up alone, scared, and surrounded by unfamiliar faces was unbearable to me. I needed someone who knew her. I needed to make sure someone would find her.

With all the strength I had left, I rolled myself off the bed. I couldn’t see. Everything was black. But somehow I was able to sit in the stairs like a toddler down the first flight of stairs. Thankfully I knew my way through the living room and I reached the kitchen counter where the home phone was.

I couldn’t see the numbers, but I knew the layout of the keypad. I dialed my mother-in-law. It was approximately 5:30 or 6 a.m.

“Something is wrong,” I said. “Please come. Now.”

After hanging up, I felt the wave hit—nausea, exhaustion, dizziness. I also felt like I was going to collapse. But even through that, my mind flashed to one last detail: the front door was locked. Knowing him I knew he would arrived in a panic and would most likely forget his keys to open the door and have to break it down. So I dragged myself to the next set of stairs. Step by step, I made it down and unlocked the door.

By the time I got back up to the main floor, that was it. I had nothing left.

I collapsed on the kitchen floor. In that moment, I felt at peace. I had done what I could. Someone would find my daughter. I felt myself slipping away.

Despite all odds, I felt the softest little nudge. Our kitten, Finesse—just a few days old in our home—curled up next to me and started licking my hand. Her presence, that gentle connection, kept me grounded. Kept me here.

Minutes later, my mother-in-law and husband arrived and rushed me to the hospital.
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The Questions That Followed

The doctors listened but seemed puzzled as to how I had managed to do all of this while in the midst of a stroke. I told them my story multiple times. Was it to see to what extent I had been affected? They did not understand! A healthy, athletic young woman 25—pregnant, yes, but no history that would explain this. They gave me baby aspirin and admitted me for observation.

The dizziness didn’t go away. After a few days, I asked to go home. I told them I’d recover better surrounded by my family. Truthfully, I didn’t tell them everything. I was still unwell. I still felt dizzy, lightheaded and extremely tired but I wanted to go home. The hospital was cold, uncomfortable and I did not want to stay longer then I had to. They initially said it could be that I have a PFO but that it would need more testing and Since there did not seem to be an explanation other then this being pregnancy related, and they believed I had had a 'Mini Stroke' I was given baby aspirin and allowed to go home.

At home, recovery was hard. I was tired all the time. My thoughts felt like they were moving through fog. I would forget simple things—where I put my keys, what I was doing minutes earlier. It was like watching myself from the outside, knowing something was wrong but not knowing how to fix it.

Then It Happened Again

Around Christmas, the symptoms returned—the same disorienting dizziness. But this time, there was no doubt. I recognized what was happening, took an aspirin, and headed to the hospital, heart pounding with the knowledge I didn’t want to face.


They ran a series of tests—ultrasounds, scans—searching for answers. Initially, doctors suspected a clot had formed in my leg and traveled to the back of my head, thought to be pregnancy-related since no other cause seemed likely.


Eventually, they confirmed it: a congenital heart defect known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO), a small opening in the heart that should have closed shortly after birth, was allowing clots to pass through. They also discovered that increased estrogen in my body heightened the risk of clot formation and stroke. Most likely, a clot passed through this valve and lodged near the base of my brain, triggering the event.


Two strokes. In less than two years.

 

Medication to thin my blood was prescribed, and I was placed on a waitlist to explore closing the small heart valve. The wait continues. Meanwhile, daily medication became a necessary ritual—one that unsettled me both physically and emotionally. Survival alone was not enough; the deeper desire was to reclaim a sense of wholeness, to feel truly alive again.

 

At that time, my path toward natural healing had already begun. Training as a Natural Birth Practitioner introduced me to the power of plant medicine and the art of crafting tinctures. Immersing myself further, I discovered Traditional Chinese Medicine—a world of plant wisdom, energy healing, acupuncture, and herbal remedies. I was driven not only to help others on their healing journeys but to heal my own body and spirit.

 

One discovery changed everything: Lion’s Mane mushroom. Its profound effects on cognitive function and nerve regeneration offered a beacon of hope. Integrating this and other natural therapies, my healing became holistic, weaving together body, mind, and spirit.

 

What Is a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)?

After my second stroke, doctors confirmed that I had a patent foramen ovale (PFO)—a small, congenital hole in the heart that never closed the way it should have up to 2 years after birth.

In every human fetus, there is an opening between the left and right atria of the heart called the foramen ovale. This opening allows blood to bypass the lungs while a baby is in the womb. Usually, it closes naturally shortly after birth. But in about 1 in 4 people, it doesn’t fully close—and that’s when it’s called a patent foramen ovale.

Most people with a PFO never know they have it. It causes no symptoms and rarely leads to complications. But in some cases—like mine—it can allow a blood clot to pass from the venous system into the arteries, potentially traveling to the brain and causing a stroke.

In my case, it’s believed that a clot likely formed in my leg, crossed through the PFO, and lodged in a blood vessel behind my head—triggering my first stroke. The discovery of this hidden heart defect explained so much, and it’s why my story is now used as an example in medical discussions about young, otherwise healthy stroke patients.

 

This medical diagram to the right illustrates a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) — a small, flap-like opening between the right and left atria of the heart that failed to close after birth. In fetal life, the foramen ovale allows blood to bypass the lungs (which aren’t used before birth). It typically seals shut within the first year of life, but in about 25–30% of people, it remains open. A PFO can become a hidden pathway for blood clots to travel from the body to the brain, potentially leading to a stroke—especially in young, otherwise healthy individuals with no obvious risk factors.

 

 

Image source: Wikimedia Commons – Patent Foramen Ovale
Author: Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist License: CC BY 2.5

 
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Understanding the “Slipping Away” Sensation

In the moment I described—sitting on the kitchen floor, feeling myself go—I wasn’t just fainting. What I most likely experienced was a combination of neurological shock, oxygen deprivation to the brain, and my body’s instinctive shutdown response to trauma. Many stroke survivors report a sensation of “slipping away,” where consciousness feels like it's dimming or detaching. It can feel eerily calm, like your spirit is loosening from your body. This isn’t always the same as fainting, which is usually brief and caused by a temporary dip in blood pressure. In my case, the stroke likely involved a clot—formed in the leg, traveling through an opening in my heart, and reaching my brain—which interrupted normal brain function and triggered that near-death sensation. It was my body’s desperate attempt to survive something it didn’t fully understand. If you’ve ever felt something like this, please know: your body wasn’t giving up—it was fighting the only way it knew how.

A New Beginning

Even months after the first stroke, I still had dizziness, brain fog, and migraines. I couldn’t shake the fear that my brain wasn’t the same—that I’d never get back what I’d lost.

The first time I tried a Lion’s Mane tincture, I felt something shift.

Not a miracle. But something real. Tangible. As strange as it sounds, it felt like my brain was absorbing the nutrients it had been starving for. My thoughts cleared. The dizziness faded. The migraines came less often. I felt more alert. More like myself.

Though I knew it might take time to regenerate damaged tissue or rewire my brain, the difference I felt was worth it.

Everyone’s healing journey is different. But this was mine. And it changed everything.

Why I Created Natural Philosopher

I believe I’m still here for a reason. Not just to tell this story, but to use it.

To help others who’ve had strokes. Others living with fatigue, migraines, memory loss. Others searching for something deeper than a prescription.

That’s why I created Natural Philosopher’s Sacred House of Alchemy. Not just a business—but a calling. A place to share what I’ve learned, to offer support, and to remind others that healing is possible.

If you’ve gone through something similar, you are not alone. If you’re still in the fog, still searching, please know: there is a way forward.

The Quiet Reckoning

In the months following the first stroke, I desperately wanted to believe it was just a consequence of pregnancy—a rare, unfortunate side effect that would never return. That belief became my lifeline. It allowed me to feel safe again, to cradle my newborn without fear constantly looming over me. I told myself I was fine. I wanted to be fine.

And so, little by little, I loosened my grip on the blood thinners. I was careful, but not consistent. I had a bottle of aspiring in my car, in my purse, in the bathrooms in case it ever happened again. As the months passed, the fear dulled, replaced by a fragile hope that maybe the worst was behind me.

But the body has its own truth. And it does not wait for us to be ready.

When the symptoms came back, they brought more than dizziness—they brought reckoning. A wave of realization crashed over me: this wasn’t over. And perhaps it never had been. I had mistaken temporary peace for safety, and now the illusion had shattered.

What followed was not just fear, but grief. A deep, unspoken mourning for the part of me that had believed I could outrun this. That I could will it away with positivity or time. I had to confront the truth: I had a condition that needed ongoing care, vigilance, and reverence—not avoidance.

And I had to accept that I wasn’t invincible.

Acceptance didn’t arrive all at once. It came in waves—first as denial, then as shame, then as something softer. It whispered that I didn’t fail by hoping. That it wasn’t weakness to want to feel normal again. But strength would mean facing it fully, choosing to walk forward with my eyes open, even when the path was steep and uncertain.

This wasn’t the end of my healing. It was the moment it truly began.

 

With the clarity of hindsight, the choice to ease off my medication after the first stroke is seen differently now. It was never a careless decision, but one born from quiet hope—the hope that this chapter was behind me, that the stroke was a fragile echo of pregnancy, now past. In the haze of postpartum exhaustion and the longing for normalcy, daily medication felt less like healing and more like a reminder of a brokenness I struggled to accept.

That decision did not come without consequence. The reality was far more serious than I allowed myself to grasp. What felt like gentle denial was a risk that nearly cost everything. Yet, I carry this part of my journey not with shame, but with a deepened awareness. Healing unfolds unevenly—sometimes comfort is sought over caution, and from these moments, vital lessons emerge.

Should We Start a Support Group?

This journey taught me that stroke recovery isn’t just about medical treatment—it’s about community, empowerment, and learning to trust your body again. That’s why I’m considering creating a support circle for stroke survivors, caregivers, and those navigating invisible illness—especially those who resonate with natural healing.

Would you find value in a safe, supportive space to share your experience and learn from others? If so, please let me know by clicking the email link below. If there are at least 30 to 50 requests, I will proceed to creating the support group and send an invite link. I would love to build that kind of healing space together.

The Fragile Nature of Hope

With the clarity that only hindsight brings, I can now see how the choice to ease off my medication after the first stroke might seem reckless to some. Perhaps, in truth, it was. But it wasn’t a decision born from indifference. It was born from hope—a soft, quiet kind. The kind that whispers, maybe it’s over now.
Postpartum and exhausted, I longed for a return to normalcy. The daily ritual of medication—especially for someone who had always been sensitive to pharmaceuticals—felt like a reminder that something inside me was fragile, flawed. I wanted to feel well. Whole. Unwatched.
But the stakes were higher than I was ready to admit. The denial was gentle but dangerous, and it could have cost me everything.
Acceptance didn’t come overnight. It arrived slowly, in waves—grief, guilt, surrender, and a quiet understanding. I carry this part of my story not as a scar of shame, but as a lesson etched in awareness. Because healing isn’t linear. Sometimes, we reach for comfort instead of caution. And the truth we gather from those moments stays with us, shaping how we rise.

“We do not grow in straight lines. We bloom, we break, we begin again.”

To anyone who hears the faintest whispers of dizziness, numbness, or disquiet within—listen closely. The body speaks in soft tones before it must scream. Trust your own voice. Seek answers. Stand fiercely for your own healing. Healing is never a straight line. It twists and turns, dips and rises like the breath of the earth itself. Sometimes it is found in the quiet embrace of herbs. Sometimes in tears that cleanse the soul. Sometimes in the stillness when the world demands motion. But always, healing is possible.

The body, the mind, the spirit—they hold deeper wells of strength than we often know. There is always a path forward, even if it means crawling through the dark to find the light.

 

For all who journey toward wholeness, know you are seen, heard, and welcomed here.

 

With reverence and quiet strength,
Alexandra Chartier
Founder, Natural Philosopher’s Sacred House of Alchemy

References & Further Reading

Stroke Facts, Causes & Recovery
  1. American Stroke Association. (n.d.). What is a stroke? Retrieved from https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/types-of-stroke
    (Overview of different types of stroke, their causes, and warning signs.)
  2. Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Patent foramen ovale (PFO) – Symptoms & causes. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/patent-foramen-ovale/symptoms-causes/syc-20353485
    (Explains how a PFO can contribute to stroke risk by allowing blood clots to bypass the lungs and travel to the brain.)
  3. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (n.d.). Stroke information page. Retrieved from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/stroke (In-depth facts on stroke types, outcomes, and current research.)
  4. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Stroke rehabilitation. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/stroke/stroke-rehabilitation
    (Details different phases of stroke recovery and types of therapies involved.)
  5. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17502-transient-ischemic-attack-tia
    (Explains TIAs or "mini-strokes" and their role as early warning signs.)
  6. Stroke Foundation. (n.d.). Recovering after a stroke. Retrieved from https://strokefoundation.org.au/What-we-do/Support/Recovering-after-stroke
    (Helpful tools and guidance for stroke survivors and their families.)
  7. British Heart Foundation. (n.d.). Patent foramen ovale (PFO). Retrieved from https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/congenital-heart-disease/patent-foramen-ovale (Overview of congenital heart defects including PFO and related risks.)

Natural Healing & Herbal Support for Stroke Recovery
  1. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (n.d.). Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus). Retrieved from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/lions-mane
    (General introduction to Lion’s Mane mushroom and its potential cognitive benefits.)
  2. Mori, K., Inatomi, S., Ouchi, K., Azumi, Y., & Tuchida, T. (2011). Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 23(3), 367–372. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2634 (A placebo-controlled study showing cognitive benefits in individuals with mild cognitive impairment.)
  3. Wong, K. H., Kanagasabapathy, G., Naidu, M., David, P., Sabaratnam, V., & Abdullah, N. (2012). Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers., a medicinal mushroom, activates peripheral nerve regeneration in mice. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 12, 157. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-12-157
    (Provides evidence for Lion’s Mane’s role in nerve regeneration.)
  4. Yuan, R., & Lin, Y. (2000). Traditional Chinese medicine: An approach to scientific proof and clinical validation. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 86(2), 191–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0163-7258(00)00039-5
    (Explores how TCM formulations are based on synergy and holistic principles rather than isolated compounds.)
  5. Wang, L., Wang, H., Ye, J., Xu, S., & Wang, S. (2021). Plant-derived natural products for ischemic stroke: Pharmacological evidence and underlying mechanisms. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, 646911. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.646911
    (A comprehensive review of plant-based remedies for stroke recovery.)
  6. Wang, J., Zhang, X., Lan, H., Wang, W., & Zheng, Y. (2012). Traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of ischemic stroke: A review of the literature. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, 835784. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/835784
    (Describes the use of Chinese herbal formulas and acupuncture in post-stroke therapy.)
  7. Li, W., & Wang, Y. (2020). The role of nutrition and diet in stroke recovery. Nutrients, 12(8), 2476. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12082476
    (Explores how specific nutrients may support neuroplasticity and healing.)
  8. Khawaja, N., & Campbell, N. (2013). Complementary and integrative approaches to stroke rehabilitation: An overview. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 2(3), 36–42. https://doi.org/10.7453/gahmj.2013.035
    (Outlines non-pharmaceutical strategies including mind-body techniques, nutrition, and herbal medicine.)

Resources for Stroke Survivors and Families

If you or someone you love is recovering from a stroke, you are not alone. Below are trusted organizations offering information, support, rehabilitation programs, and community resources to help navigate recovery and regain quality of life.

 

1. Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada

Website: https://www.heartandstroke.ca
Support Line: 1-888-473-4636
Provides free information on stroke signs, prevention, and recovery. Offers online support groups, survivor stories, and rehabilitation tools tailored for Canadians.

2. American Stroke Association (a division of the American Heart Association)

Website: https://www.stroke.org
General Info Line: 1-888-4-STROKE (1-888-478-7653)
A comprehensive hub for understanding types of strokes, finding care providers, and accessing stroke support groups across the U.S. Their "Support Network" lets survivors connect with others globally.

3. March of Dimes Canada – Stroke Recovery Program

Website: https://www.marchofdimes.ca/en-ca/programs/src
Contact: 1-800-263-3463
Offers in-person and virtual support groups, educational programs, and home-based recovery services tailored to Canadian stroke survivors and caregivers.

4. Stroke Recovery Association of British Columbia (SRABC)

Website: https://www.strokerecoverybc.ca
Phone: 604-688-3603
Provides rehabilitation-focused clubs, emotional support, and fitness programs across BC. Excellent for long-term community connection and peer encouragement.

5. March of Dimes After Stroke Program (Canada-wide)

Website: https://afterstroke.marchofdimes.ca
Toll-Free Help Line: 1-888-540-6666
Canada's only nationwide community-based stroke support service. Connects survivors and families with personalized recovery plans and peer mentors.

6. Young Stroke Survivors Support – Facebook Groups

Group (Canada): Young Adult Stroke Survivors Canada
Global Community: Search “Young Stroke Survivors” on Facebook
These online communities offer peer support for young survivors navigating career, parenting, and emotional healing post-stroke.

7. Brain Injury Canada – Stroke & Brain Health Resources

Website: https://www.braininjurycanada.ca
Email Contact: info@braininjurycanada.ca
Offers stroke-specific resources, caregiver support, and accessible learning materials on brain health and neuro-rehabilitation.

8. MedlinePlus Stroke Recovery Directory

Website: https://medlineplus.gov/strokerehabilitation.html
U.S. National Library of Medicine portal offering medically reviewed resources for post-stroke rehabilitation, therapies, and mental health recovery.cific nutrients may support neuroplasticity and healing.)


Our Promise to You 

Each remedy is a sacred vow whispered through time—rooted in ancient tradition, blossoming in ritual.
We gather whole herbs, alive with earth’s quiet pulse, tended with reverence and intention.
In every drop, a story unfolds—of healing, hope, and the sacred dance between body, mind, and spirit.

This is medicine without compromise—crafted for the seekers, the dreamers, the healers who listen beyond the surface.
For those who know that true wellness is not just a destination, but a journey held tenderly by the earth’s wisdom and the heart’s quiet resilience.

Here, the unseen speaks, and the soul remembers how to heal.
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“This apothecary began as my healing story. It became a mission. What I use for myself and my family is what I offer to you crafted with reverence, tested with care, and delivered with soul.”

                                                                                                                                                        

-Alexandra Chartier, Founder
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