Please excuse our appearance-the new site is being updated!
Don’t worry, all the great content at Know-Stroke.org is still available! While we are adding new resources and getting ready to launch our Bright Minds Kids Campaign please visit the link below. Thank you!
“At age 39 I had a stroke without any known risk factors, except for a “silent” heart defect that you might want to know about… ”
David Dansereau, Stroke Survivor (founder of know-stroke.org)
David Dansereau (Know-Stroke.org)
About David Dansereau / Blog
I am a health professional with a private physical therapy practice in Attleboro, MA. I made my first post to this blog at the end of 2006. At the time of this first post, I was experiencing delays in medical care and uncertainty about my stroke/PFO diagnosis and proposed treatment. My first post and the creation of this blog was a way of outlining my medical history and trying to perhaps vent/keep my sanity during a difficult time in my life. My goal in building upon this blog later became to launch an awareness campaign to help better understand the causes of crypotogenic stroke and the connection between PFO/the heart and brain. My own experiences and uncertain medical course inspired me to take action. See this article about my story in the New York Times.
Quick Background: I had a stroke without warning or having typical stroke risk factors. After months of testing it was revealed that the cause of my stroke was from a previously undiagnosed heart defect called a PFO (patent-foramen-ovale). Read my full story here
Progress / Update: I continue to work towards an “Oprah moment” to improve screening and patient education for PFO and stroke awareness. Recently, this goal took a giant step forward with the hard work of a great team of patient advocates. I’ve been serving as Vice President with helping launch a patient driven initiative, the PFO Research Foundation.
The PFO Research Foundation seeks to educate the public about patent foramen ovale (PFO) and support research into the condition’s related disorder with the goal of improving patient care by ensuring patients have access to the latest scientific information related to PFO and research into the condition is well funded. The PFO Research Foundation (PRF) was formed by patients for patients and is supported by leading experts in the field of PFO medicine.
I need your help
If you have a similar stroke story to share or especially if you know someone with frequent unexplained migraines with aura please share this information with them. I hope to continue to develop this site into an expanded resource for better understanding on this subject and to make available more tools for stroke education and rehabilitation.
Know-Stroke Goals for 2013
In addition to staying involved with improving patient care and research for PFO/Migraine/Stroke, I will focus on community and corporate campaigns that expand the reach for stroke education and target primary prevention by early recognition of the stroke warning signs. My mission with my Bright Minds Kids Campaign will be my main goal in 2013. My goal is to launch locally and build it to a nationally recognized toolkit of resources for kids stroke education. Be sure to follow our progress by liking our know-stroke page on facebook!
