Many years after my ischemic stroke at the age of 10 left me frozen with fear on my middle school blacktop (school playground), I am proud to say that I have continued following the dream that I set out for myself. My desire to pursue medicine, which is the excellence that saved my life, has instilled within me a steadfast passion for the medical field. However, the recovery process was initially difficult.
I recall feeling unsure of how much mobility I would be able to regain during the immediate aftermath. I was discharged after 3 months in the ICU and the next few years were slow. I was diagnosed with involuntary muscle contractions called dystonia, a result of my stroke. Dystonia has an incidence rate of nearly 20% in stroke patients and can cause debilitating effects. In my case, the left side of my body was partially paralyzed, and I had difficulty doing routine tasks such as opening the fridge. However, through years of physical exercise and therapy, my condition has improved drastically.
The stroke affected my childhood in various ways. I was not as confident in my ability to live a fulfilling life, yet over time I have been fortunate enough to meet many people that have dismissed this notion. After completing my Bachelor’s degree during the pandemic and finishing a post-baccalaureate program (locally in San Francisco), I was able to apply to medical school this year.
As I embark on the next steps of this journey, the support of my family and friends has been invaluable. I can only imagine how difficult the moment they heard the news may have been for them. Terrified that their eldest son wouldn’t be able to live a normal life, my parents worked tirelessly to encourage my passions. They have been a pillar of support. My extended family, many of them also in the medical field, have also been an inspiration to me. I recall my uncle, a critical care doctor, flying to see me when he heard the news.
For other children with strokes, I want them to understand that their process is just beginning. I want them to know that the process is hard – and that there are going to be many challenges on the path to recovery. However, I would urge them to lean on their support networks and try to enjoy building their own paths to success. In time, I hope to afford others the same opportunity to experience and appreciate life that I was given the day the doctors saved my life so many years ago.
About the Author
Subhagya Joshis
Born in an immigrant household, I moved to the United States at the age of five. I don’t recall much of my early youth, aside from the fact that the sky was always littered with kites – a staple pastime from my background. My grandfather owned a tiny shop below our home that supported my mother, myself and my uncle. I recall spending much of my time watching soap operas with my mom along with various horribly dubbed cartoons such as the Powerpuff girls and Dexter’s Laboratory. After moving to Georgia, I spent some time with my extended family. I recall learning much of my English through my family who patiently taught me through any means they could. I spent hours copying sentences while struggling with a language barrier. After my primary schooling my family moved again, settling in Lakeport, Ca. My family owns and operates a few convenience stores around Lake County, which has been my home ever since. The community that I have been fortunate enough to be a part of taught me the importance of patience and instilled within me an understanding of what a hard work ethic can ultimately culminate in. I completed my Bachelors in Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of California- San Diego. My time at University was a bit scattered to say the least. I recall struggling to reconcile the homesickness I initially felt – having grown up in a small community – with the larger world that was suddenly available. Some of my favorite memories in San Diego involved volunteering through my fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, as well as through an on-campus service organization, Circle K. Academically however, I struggled to find my voice in the crowd. Through my experience there I learned what values I hoped to embody in the future. Hoping to salvage my dream of becoming a physician, I enrolled in the San Francisco State University Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health Program. My time in San Francisco once again reconnected me to my roots. I was able to excel in a smaller cohort of like-minded individuals that all were similarly aligned in their efforts. I was able to excel and while solidifying the foundations that I struggled to understand during my Bachelor’s, I managed to find solace in knowing that my colleagues were doing the same. The community I was able to find instilled within me a steadfast confidence in the journey. I applied to medical school this year and have recently been able to dive deeper into my hobbies, some of which include table tennis, reading and running. One of my favorite books would be The Alchemist by Paulo Cohelo. I have one younger brother who has recently begun his own collegiate journey in San Francisco as well. I consider him the person I am closest to, and he is the person that I am most proud of.
Medical Editor: Ilona Kopyta, MD
Junior Editor: Neha Suresh Ramiah
