A man who lost 95% of his memories after having a stroke was able to piece his memories back together with the help of his paintings and his Instagram account.
Joe Miller, a 25-year-old artist, suffered from a stroke last October just before his birthday. Luckily, he was able to survive after 17 days on life support and two weeks on coma. However, he lost almost all of his memories and his mother was the only person he could remember.
PHOTO CREDIT: People
Miller shared his incredible story of remembering his life through his artworks and Instagram with People magazine.
According to him, his art works not family photo albums triggered flashbacks of his life.
“The more art pieces that came in, the more I remembered. I kept staring at these pieces and thinking, ‘Man. I remember everything I felt when I was painting these pieces,’” he wrote in a narrative published on People Magazine.
Before having a stroke, Miller was an Instagram enthusiast. After the accident, he browsed through his account and the pictures, videos, as well as the captions brought back some memories.
“It’s been a huge help. Through Instagram, I’ve been able to relive little bits and pieces of moments that I thought were important enough to document.”
Currently, Miller aims to help young people who suffered from stroke.
“I really want to be an advocate — there should be more money in research, and more opportunities for kids who suffer from strokes,” he said.
Check out Miller’s full narrative on People.
The Warning Signs of Strokes
When blood flow to your brain stops, stroke occurs. Considered a medical emergency, a victim’s individual brain cells start to die within minutes. The damage can be temporary or permanent, but the sooner the treatment begins, the lesser the chance of serious damage to brain.
Here are some warning signs of stroke, according to WebMD.
- Sudden difficulty speaking
- Sudden confusion
- Sudden weakness or numbness on the face, leg or arm, particularly on one side
- Sudden difficulty walking or staying balanced
- Sudden difficulty seeing with one or both eyes
- Dizziness
- Severe headache with no known cause