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Stacie Broek
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(al)ONE: Thriving a Stroke Kindle Edition

by Stacie Broek (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 15 ratings
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The frank, unapologetic memoir about a woman’s struggle to start again after a devastating stroke.

Stacie Broek was living the expat dream––three children in a central Tokyo private school, house and travel back home all paid for––until the morning when her carotid artery spontaneously ripped, causing blood to pool in her artery wall.

Upon waking from a ten-hour surgery, Stacie couldn’t walk, talk or feed herself. She couldn't remember her name, her children's names, or her own address. The new ignorance was menacing and dangerous. This once independent, full-of-moxie woman was reduced to a needy lump.

Driven by instinct, Stacie threw off the shackles of expectation and forged ahead with blind fierceness. She defied the white coats and bulldozed her husband… along with anyone who told her no. While her neurosurgeons tried to insist that she follow their advice, she broke all of the rules, from sneakily trying to walk by herself to rejecting the rehabilitation centers that the doctors pushed her towards. From the outside, she appeared brash, reckless and out of her mind. That deepened the divide between her and everyone who was sucked into the stroke-abyss with her. Still, she was relentlessly determined to find her own way forward.

In a brutally honest, sometimes raw, introspective narrative, Stacie takes her readers on a harrowing emotional journey through the destruction that the stroke wreaked on her… and how she clung to her steadfast belief that she could use it as her impetus for change.

A stirring journey of the heart and soul, (al)ONE is both a heartbreaking testament to what it means to be lost inside trauma, and a call-to-action for those who are suffering.

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  1. Print length
    180 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    September 14, 2022
  5. File size
    10817 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BB9RC3P7
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 14, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 10817 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 180 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 15 ratings

About the author

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Stacie Broek

Stacie Broek

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Stacie Broek is an ex-marketing pro turned lifestyle blogger, who had to teach herself to write all over again after a devastating stroke at age 46, while living in Japan.

With excerpts taken from her highly appreciated blog, Stacie’s first book (al)ONE is about the metamorphosis that she experienced during her first year of recovery and her desire to emerge as a stronger, wiser and better version of herself.

Stacie is a shameless advocate for stroke recovery and she believes that it’s not just surviving that counts, it’s thriving and transforming.

Stacie currently lives in Zürich with her husband, Johan, and their three children, Lulu, Friso, and Cleo (the Squidge).

For more information: https://www.staciebroek.com.

Customer reviews

5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5
15 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

NM Ahlberg Kleiterp
5.0 out of 5 stars Gift this book to a survivor and their support network!
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2022
Verified Purchase
SPOILER ALERT: Stacie is most definitely thriving! I attempted to upload a photo of Stacie 2.0 and me as we crossed the finish line of Stacie's first half marathon together in 2020. Unfortunately the upload to amazon failed, Stacie didn't. Not only did she complete that event she went on to complete several more. We'll lace up again this weekend for another in Lucerne, Switzerland. So, yes I know Stacie. You get to know someone during long runs, during 15+ years of friendship and during exchanges of mothering experiences, not to mention the conversations about Dutch husbands.
Reading Stacie's genuine account of her first year post stroke is emotional and inspirational. I swept away tears at times; burst out laughing more than once; felt tremendous pride and admiration of my friend's determination; and punched the sky to celebrate her victories. The audio version of (al)ONE is an accessible story for stroke survivors and will most certainly provide nuggets of inspiration to ultimately create more THRIVERS. If you're in a network of stroke patient caregiving or a family member of a stroke survivor you won't want to miss Stacie's (al)ONE.
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Amy SB
5.0 out of 5 stars Truly inspirational
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2022
Verified Purchase
One cannot imagine how terrifying it must be to suddenly lose their capacity to talk, walk, read, write…basically to be reduced to living in cage that is your own body. Stacie’s story is heartbreaking and inspirational at the same time. Her ability to describe her emotions as she progresses through each phase of her ongoing recovery is instrumental in helping those of us who have not suffered from a stroke begin to understand what it’s like. Most notable about this book is how Stacie includes her family and friends and what they go through as she navigates recovery. A must read for not only stroke survivors but their caregivers and family will gain insight into the mindset of a stroke survivor looking for the support and understanding they need to get through.
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Thomas J. Gergel
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful book.
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2022
Verified Purchase
This was an excellent book about the impact of a stroke from the survivors point of view.
I found it to be incredibly helpful as a caregiver of a family member who had a stroke. It helped me to gain insight to what they are experiencing. It is a hopeful and encouraging read for survivors and their loved ones.
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Seth Koster
5.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes heart-wrenching, but absolutely fearlessly honest.
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2022
Verified Purchase
Stacie shares her story in a riveting fashion that lets the reader join her on her journey through stroke recovery, but her self-realization and actualization of her 2.0.

Truly a whirlwind that can leave you gasping for breath one moment and throwing your fist in the air in solidarity with Stacie the next.

Read it.
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kay mcneal
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful!
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2022
Verified Purchase
This extremely well written book would be an excellent read to help anyone who has had a stoke or any caregiver. It will definitely help to understand what the person dealing with a stroke is going through-their pain, frustration, therapy and healing.
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CARLOS PONCE
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!!!
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2022
Verified Purchase
heart warming!
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kara fagan santucci
5.0 out of 5 stars Determination and sheer grit!
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2022
This book blew me away. For those of you who have listened to The Hamilton soundtrack, there is a song "Blow Us all Away" Well, Stacie Broek continues to blow us all way. I was drawn to this book because I have faced health challenges at a young age and my husband is an amputee so I am always looking for inspiration. Sheer determination, grit, strong will and self advocacy are my takeaways. As a mom and a mental health professional, I truly believe that one must advocate for oneself. Well, I don't know how Ms. Broek did it on a completely different continent, different culture, all while remaining a mom and a wife. I found this book to be inspiring, raw at times, but incredibly hopeful.
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Maureen
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring!
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2022
Stacie Broek’s book is a masterpiece of humanity, clarity, motivation and love for her family, mother and friends, all of whom pitched in to help in any way they could. They were invaluable to Stacie, her three young children and her husband.

As a fellow stroke survivor, reading anything of any length has been extremely difficult for me, but Ms. Broek’s book hooked me immediately and I never looked back! It’s truly the first time in seven years I’ve been able to finish anything that isn’t one page long, or less! A testament to her gifted recounting of the trauma she and her family experienced!
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Top reviews from other countries

Gabrielle
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, gripping story!
Reviewed in Germany on November 8, 2022
Verified Purchase
I devoured this book in a few days! It is an incredible story including raw emotion, honesty, and the challenges a woman faces after her stroke. I cried, laughed, and will forever be grateful for Stacie's written story. Even more so, for knowing her personally. I highly recommend reading this inspiring novel!
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Gordana Labuda
5.0 out of 5 stars More naked than a Swedish sauna.
Reviewed in Sweden on November 5, 2022
Verified Purchase
Wow!!! Having just finished this book, I instantly come to think of the Japanese art and philosophy of kintsugi, mending what’s broken with gold, making it even more beautiful and interesting.
With “al(ONE)” the writer makes a full kintsugi on her broken physical and mental self, having suffered a stroke.
Stacie manifests this philosophy (applied on human life) in her book, resulting in the metamorphosed Stacie 2.0, appearing even more real and beautiful with all the scars, flaws and imperfections now filled with golden glue of relentless hard work going even beyond recovery.
This unique piece of a book from a stroke survivor, takes the reader on a hell-of-a journey. However, to come out on the other side of a stroke, with golden dust all over, and publishing a book about it, is more than an admirable achievement.
This book not only serves as an inspiration and example for stroke survivors, but for everyone fighting their own battles. Including their surrounding families and friends.
With her book, Stacie fills the void of the recovery process for stroke survivors. And she fills it with gold!
Just read it!
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bmarieke@hotmail.com
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational for all Stroke Survivors, Families & Friends
Reviewed in the Netherlands on September 20, 2022
Verified Purchase
Great book from a truely strong and inspirational first time author #StacieBroek. I hope this is an inspirational to other stroke survivors but also for families and friends. Truely recommended read
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