Episode 32: Role Reversal – When the Child Becomes the Caregiver with Tiffany Cardwell

When a person has a stroke, life changes for family members as well. Host Rosa Hart is joined by Tiffany Cardwell, who shares a deeply personal journey of love, responsibility and unexpected role reversal after her father experienced a stroke while traveling overseas. What began as a season filled with travel plans quickly turned into a crisis when her father suddenly was stranded in the Philippines, requiring rehabilitation before he could make the long journey home.

Tiffany opens up about the emotional toll of navigating her father’s stroke from afar, the stress of coordinating international medical care and the moment she realized she had become her father’s primary caregiver. She shares candidly about the heartbreak of watching her strong, independent father face physical and cognitive challenges — and the strength it took to step into a caregiving role while honoring his dignity.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What it was like coordinating medical care and rehab internationally
• The complexities of flying a stroke survivor home after an overseas hospitalization
• The emotional impact of becoming a caregiver to a parent
• How caregiving redefined their relationship — and deepened their bond
• Tips for others suddenly thrust into long-distance or primary caregiving roles

Whether you’re a caregiver, stroke survivor or loved one, Tiffany’s story is a moving reminder that stroke changes everything — but it also creates space for resilience, connection and reimagined futures.

Key takeaways:

• Stroke recovery doesn’t just impact the survivor — it reshapes family roles and dynamics.
• Long-distance caregiving and international rehab and travel come with logistical, legal and emotional challenges.
• Communication, compassion and flexibility are key to adapting during a medical crisis.
• Even amid grief for what was lost, it’s possible to find new meaning and purpose in the caregiver role.

Want more inspiring stories and real-life resources? Subscribe and share “Stronger After Stroke” with someone who needs a little extra support navigating life after stroke.

For more support after stroke, check out the programs available online and in person through Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Centers: https://nortonhealthcare.com/services-and-conditions/neurosciences/patient-resources/resource-center/

If you enjoyed this podcast, listen to Norton Healthcare’s “MedChat” podcast, available in your favorite podcast app. “MedChat” provides continuing medical education on the go and is targeted toward physicians and clinicians.

Norton Healthcare, a not-for-profit health care system, is a leader in serving adult and pediatric patients throughout Greater Louisville, Southern Indiana, the commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond. A strong research program provides access to clinical trials in a multitude of areas. More information about Norton Healthcare is available at NortonHealthcare.com.

Date of original release: July 14, 2025

Episode 31: Stronger After Stroke – Can I Drive Again? Legal Realities After Brain Injury

Driving is more than just transportation—it represents autonomy, identity and freedom. Host Rosa Hart welcomes attorney and brain injury survivor Cameron Fathauer, J.D., for an enlightening conversation about the emotional and legal complexities of driving after a brain injury. With firsthand insight and legal expertise, Cameron guides listeners through the critical considerations survivors and caregivers must understand when it comes to regaining the ability — and the right — to drive safely and legally. Cameron helps us unpack it all with clarity, empathy and real-world perspective.

After surviving a severe brain injury in 2015 and losing one-third of his skull, Cameron’s life took an unexpected and transformative turn. He went from seminary student to licensed attorney in Indiana and Kentucky, while also becoming a father to triplets and authoring a memoir.

In this episode, Cameron shares:

• His personal recovery story and what driving again meant to him
• The legal and medical criteria often used to determine fitness to drive
• Common pitfalls and misunderstandings about license reinstatement
• Advice for navigating state-specific laws, physician reporting and assessments
• How caregivers can advocate for safety and independence

Key takeaways:

• Legal rules vary by state, and medical clearance doesn’t always guarantee license reinstatement.
• Honest conversations with your care team — and your family — are essential.
• There are safe and supportive paths back to driving, including evaluations and retraining programs.
• Every survivor’s path is different, and advocacy plays a powerful role in reclaiming independence.

About Cameron:

Cameron is a licensed attorney in Indiana and Kentucky, a brain injury survivor, a father of four (including triplets) and author of “Saving the Subject: How I Found You When I Almost Lost Me,” a memoir that blends his personal story with poetry, philosophy, theology and creative writing. Cameron lives in Southern Indiana with his wife, Chelsea, and their children.

Want more inspiring stories and real-life resources? Subscribe and share “Stronger After Stroke” with someone who needs a little extra support navigating life after stroke.

For more support after stroke, check out the programs available online and in person through Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Centers: https://nortonhealthcare.com/services-and-conditions/neurosciences/patient-resources/resource-center/

If you enjoyed this podcast, listen to Norton Healthcare’s “MedChat” podcast, available in your favorite podcast app. “MedChat” provides continuing medical education on the go and is targeted toward physicians and clinicians.

Norton Healthcare, a not-for-profit health care system, is a leader in serving adult and pediatric patients throughout Greater Louisville, Southern Indiana, the commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond. A strong research program provides access to clinical trials in a multitude of areas. More information about Norton Healthcare is available at NortonHealthcare.com.

Date of original release: June 9, 2025

May 12: Stroke Awareness Month Episode

Episode 30: Stronger After Stroke – From Patient to Purpose: Adam Maddox’s Journey

In this powerful episode of “Stronger After Stroke,” host Rosa Hart, stroke nurse navigator, sits down with Adam Maddox, a stroke survivor who’s rewriting his life story. At just 26 years old, Adam suffered a hemorrhagic stroke at his brother’s funeral — a devastating event that led to a lifesaving intervention at Norton Brownsboro Hospital.

Now a nursing student and patient care associate at the very hospital that treated him, Adam shares how his experience transformed him from a professional DJ into a future nurse. Motivated by the care he received and inspired by his care team, he’s committed to helping others recognize the warning signs and prevent strokes in young adults.

Adam opens up about his blood clot disorder, lifestyle habits and the reality that young people can have strokes too. He also shares how his recovery has inspired his 5-year-old daughter, who now wants to become a doctor herself.

Tune in to hear Adam’s compelling transformation from patient to caregiver, and learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones — no matter your age.

Key takeaways:

• Strokes can happen at any age. Know the signs: sudden numbness, confusion, slurred speech and/or loss of balance
• Lifestyle choices matter. Blood pressure, diet and movement play critical roles in prevention.
• Personal stories like Adam’s help break the myth that strokes only affect older adults.
• Purpose can be found even in life’s most challenging moments.

Want more inspiring stories and real-life resources? Subscribe and share “Stronger After Stroke” with someone who needs a little extra support navigating life after stroke.

For more support after stroke, check out the programs available both virtually and in-person through Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Centers: https://nortonhealthcare.com/services-and-conditions/neurosciences/patient-resources/resource-center/

If you enjoyed this podcast, listen to Norton Healthcare’s “MedChat” podcast, available in your favorite podcast app. “MedChat” provides continuing medical education on the go and is targeted toward physicians and clinicians. Norton Healthcare, a not-for-profit health care system, is a leader in serving adult and pediatric patients throughout Greater Louisville, Southern Indiana, the commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond. A strong research program provides access to clinical trials in a multitude of areas. More information about Norton Healthcare is available at NortonHealthcare.com.

Date of original release: May 12, 2025