Who am I?

Hi, I’m Josefine! I’m a Swedish-American writer, psychology nerd, and young stroke survivor.

On March 14, 2025, at 24 years old, I had an ischemic stroke caused by a spontaneous vertebral artery dissection. At the time, I was living in New York City and working as a consultant. I would never have expected that this could happen to me in what was supposed to be the prime of my life.

I spent the following weeks in the hospital, both in the ICU and in inpatient rehab, relearning things that I had previously taken for granted. I ultimately moved home to Stockholm, Sweden to be closer to family during my recovery, which is where I am living now. I have spent the time since my stroke reflecting on what I want my life to look like going forward. You can follow my journey through my blog posts or my TikTok (@jojosefine)!

Why I created “Young Stroke Survivor”

When I had my stroke, I was desperate to connect with other young stroke survivors. Despite the support of my family and friends, I felt completely isolated without knowing anyone who related to my experience of surviving a life-threatening event and having your life come to an abrupt stop at such a young age.

I found myself grappling with so many questions. What does recovery actually look like for someone in their 20s? Is it normal to be exhausted all the time? What am I supposed to do when it seems like everyone else is moving forward while my own life has been put on pause? How do I deal with the anxiety and “what if”s?

This website is the resource I wish I had found while in active recovery. It’s a place for information, stories, and conversations about having a stroke when you’re wrong.

What am I not?

I have created this website in a personal capacity, not a professional one. I am not a doctor, neuroscientist, physical therapist, or medical professional. I am also not an expert on anyone’s stroke other than my own. Each stroke, and each recovery journey, looks different.

I am a stroke survivor sharing what I have learned through my own experience, recovery, and personal research. I wanted to make information easier to find and share the things that I wish someone had told me when I had my stroke at 24.

I always do my best to use reliable sources when sharing health information or statistics (I am a researcher at heart, after all!) but nothing on this site should ever be considered medical advice or a subsitute for care from a qualified healthcare professional. Strokes, bodies, and recovery journeys are incredible individual. I am just one person — what was true for me may not be true for you!