As my daughter began taking notice in toys and figuring out her world, I started to notice that she never unclenched her left fist. I had to try with all my might to get her little thumb out of her fist to introduce toys too her left hand or to clip her nails. It was strange to me, but I had no knowledge to be overly concerned. At first thought, we believed she was born to be a righty. When she continued to disregard her left hand in play I became scared that her arm or a nerve may have gotten hurt during delivery.

It was at her 6 month checkup with her pediatrician that he met my concern. Something was preventing her from using both hands. My concern of injury was met, but as well he added to my concern and shared the rare possibility of a stroke. Words that no matter how hard anyone tried to explain away the rarity of it, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. A child having a stroke, how is that even possible?

It’s been four years, not only have we learned so much about stroke but we learned that we have to take it one day at a time. To say that it has been easy would be a lie. To be completely transparent there have still been moments of feeling lost in emotion and worry, this journey is not easy. I talk to families often that ask when they will come to terms, when will it get easier. That’s an answer that’s different for all of us. For me, I remember that moment in that room where I found my grace again and I hang on to that as tight as I can.

I try to remind parents that regardless of what that MRI entailed or that diagnosis, they are words and pictures. They serve an undeniable purpose, but it has been my daughter who has defined her journey. Not knowing what walking would be like for her, she showed us all that she was going to walk without the aid of her walker. While Cerebral Palsy very much still affects her left side, she’s learning how to use her "helper hand" and often finds her own way to do two handed activities. Our new normal simply includes the weekly therapy appointments and teams of specialists to help her reach her greatest potential and that is ok. In fact, it’s better than ok, we are grateful to all the care we have found. It’s taken a village.

The reality that stroke in children is still viewed as rare is saddening. Countless families have firsthand experience with pediatric stroke and with stroke not being preventable in children, more families will receive that diagnosis with their child. More will come to learn how to navigate the emotions, the appointments and learn how to find their strength. My hope is they never have to do it alone and that they never lose sight that their child is going to move mountains, in their own way and in their own time.

To find out more about Pediatric stroke or to connect with other families in support please go to the family support section at pediatricstrokewarriors.org,

Be Brave. Be fierce. Be mighty. It’s a line we adopted that speaks not only to our children, but to all of us. It takes a lot of compassion and openness to get behind a cause that is new to many. If you aren’t directly impacted by pediatric stroke – you took the time to learn the importance of the education and that the need exists. You take the time to share or comment on a post, bring light to new studies or education about stroke among children that come forward. You help create change.

When we talk with families that are newly diagnosed or that have been struggling in this journey, it is other families we work with that continue to step up and embrace each other and walk together. Making those connections and building that family to family support.
Support and growth has come from many. Families impacted, other organizations with like missions, hospitals, small businesses, every day folks simply seeing the importance. The net cast continues to widen and that is simply amazing!

Many have contributed financially this year as we started to expand and each and every donation has gone back into our mission, whether to support the education or the uncompensated care with the Stroke program at Seattle Children’s. Every single dollar has made a difference.

We’re excited to start 2016 with more initiatives and programs for children and families impacted by pediatric stroke. We are launching our Newsletter this January which will dive into further details but before we leaped into the new- we wanted to recognize 2015 for how far we’ve come and the support you've given. It easy to say we’re passionate, dedicated and long winded. But the message here is that we could not do this alone, and all of you- whether you knew it or not- have contributed to Pediatric Stroke Warriors, and we thank you whole heartedly.

Many thanks and have a blessed beginning to 2016!

Kaysee Hyatt- President of Pediatric Stroke Warriors

Shopping for toys that encourage play for children with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities was once a very difficult task. However, each year more and more companies are looking to create toys that help kids flourish in these areas.


With the ease of online shopping anyone can now purchase toys that are suitable for a child’s particular abilities. There are many online stores that specialize in or have special sections geared for educational and developmental growth. We have put together a list of some of these sites to help you shop from this holiday season and all seasons to come.


Amazon.com With the wide reach of Amazon, they can show you many options very quickly and usually fairly reasonable prices. Amazon even has a “Special Needs Toys Section” that offers everything from Action Figures to Tricycles.


ChildTherapyToys.com ChildTherapyToys.com was founded by child psychologists to provide therapy products to mental health professionals who work with children. These toys and activities have been specially selected and tested. They are great for developing skills which makes them perfect for special needs children who often need just a little extra help.


Different Roads to Learning Different Roads to Learning specializes in supporting, educating and inspiring all people affected by Autism or Sensory Spectrum Disorder. Different Roads offers more than 600 tools and resources to help individuals succeed both academically and socially.


Discovery Channel Store The Discovery Channel store focuses on offering the most informative, engaging, and entertaining products available. As an extension to the television network, the store provides educational and fun (mostly science related) activities, games, and toys.


Fat Brain Toys Fat Brain Toys is a retailer and developer of unique specialty toys, games, and gifts they’ve carefully chosen from around the world. They stock over 6,000 high-quality products, most shipped the same day, including: Erector Sets, Science Projects, Games, Puzzles, Educational and more.


FunAndFunction.com The FunAndFunction.com husband and wife duo decided to design and develop their own line of sensory disorder products to build skills and self-esteem in every child. Their products are fun for all children, but especially helpful for children with SPD.


Marbles, The Brain Store Marbles started with the simple idea of finding the best brain games out there and putting them all in one place. Products for anyone who want to improve focus and attention, enhance creativity, become better multi-taskers and get the most out of the smartest supercomputer out there: the brain.


MelissaAndDoug.com For over 25 years the Melissa and Doug brand has created award winning toys, games, and more with an emphasis on value, quality, and design. The simplicity of their designs make many of their products very helpful in developing motor skills, cognitive skills and spatial skills.


Toys''R''Us collaborates with the National Lekotek Center to identify items that best contribute to the development of children with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities. The organization reviews hundreds of products and selects those with exceptional qualities. Toys featured in the Guide are everyday playthings suitable for children of varying skills and abilities.


Vtechkids.com VTech Electronics is a world leader of age-appropriate learning products. Since 1980, VTech has been developing high-quality, innovative educational products that enrich children’s development through fun and smart play. VTech offers many digital products that Special Needs children are able to understand and use


Do you know of another resource not listed that has been helpful in finding products for your child? Please reach out to us and share!

Tanner was diagnosed in January of 2015, right before his first birthday, of having an in utero stroke during birth. Due to Tanner’s stroke he has motor skill and developmental delays, but boy he has come so far in his journey!

A little back history about our Tanner Vaughn, Tanner was born at 39 weeks and 4 days, via C-section. His Apgar score was 9 and 10, he was born 7lbs 2oz 21 inches long…PERFECT. Two days after birth he was transported to the Children’s hospital due to a weak suck and swallow and spent 2 weeks in the NICU, he received EEG’s, MRI’s all his metabolics were tested along with hearing and vision, again… PERFECT. He was discharged with having GIRD, severe acid reflux. Fast-forward some time, Tanner started rolling at five months, he was a happy healthy little boy, but I realized that reaching his milestones had come to a halt.

At his 6 month checkup Tanner’s pediatrician brought up early intervention services for developmental delay and suggested that if he hadn’t began hitting more milestones that we would start services after his 9 month check –up… and so it began.

He started with developmental therapy through our Birth to Three program in November 2014, at this time Tanner wasn’t doing much, he would lay on his back and enjoy his surroundings but was unable to explore. Tanner had a follow up MRI in December, this was to follow up with his MRI at birth just as precaution. Due to it being the Holiday season we had to wait till the middle of January to receive the results.

 I remember going into the neurologist and waiting thinking it would be an in and out kind of visit, never in a million years was I prepared for what they were going to say. The neurologist pulled up his MRI, showed and explained to me the extremely slight thinning of part of his white matter on his left side right under his occipital lobe saying that the damage happened literally right before birth or during birth, but to get an exact time would be difficult, emphasizing it was nothing that I did. I gave her this look as if to say "So what exactly happened", she looked and said Tanner took a stroke.

A STROKE, a baby took a stroke… is this even possible. Honestly, up to this point I had cried, thinking what does this mean? Will he take strokes throughout his life, will he walk, will he talk, how he will do in school, and the other thousands of question that begin to form in your mind. Of course, as the mother, you blame yourself, even though all the specialists are telling you, " it’s just one of those things that happen", is that even allowed as a response, we all want our crystal balls so we can see exactly what the future holds for our babies. To top it off, his neurologist explained to me, that most strokes happen due to a clot, Tanner’s however was not, their thinking is either his blood pressure went to high or an issue with my placenta, either way, we will never have an exact answer.

Straight after receiving his diagnosis which in medical terms is a Neonatal Cerebral Infarction, we went for more testing, I received a genetic test and Tanner received a blood clotting test, and an EEG all which thankfully came back normal.

That day I remember coming home sitting, and crying, but the crying surprisingly didn’t last long. I made calls to my family, as we live away from home, and I explained everything we found out that day. Then I looked into my living room and there were my two beautiful boys laughing, and something clicked, just like everything in life, you have two options, you either play the victim or you be your own hero. This has been my mantra throughout my whole life. I could sit here and cry and feel bad for myself or I can find knowledge and let it become my power. Every parent knows their child/children have the ability to make a difference in this world, however I knew this was Tanners mission, our family’s mission. Not only educating about the medical aspect, but also showing people that a diagnosis doesn’t have to end dreams that you once had for your child, yet open doors for them to inspire others. I wasn’t going to sit and feel bad for myself, because I am not ashamed of Tanner, I don’t’ feel bad for Tanner and in no way shape or form is Tanner ever a burden to this family, he is our heart and soul.

So, in February we added PT to our team, In May we added OT and speech, and in July of 2015 we added outpatient OT and PT as well. In total Tanner has 6 therapies a week. Our family has built a team of therapists and specialist to help push Tanner so he can become the very best version of himself. This little boy, through hard work and dedication has become quite the inspiration around here. In less than a year, in some cases 6 months, Tanner has gone from barely rolling to now working on walking!

The biggest part of Tanner’s success comes from not only his medical team, it comes from family and friends that are Tanners biggest fans. Along with Tanner’s big brother Kevin, his daddy and I, Tanner has a long list of supporters that range clear across the states including, Hawaii, Texas, Colorado, to Pennsylvania and his home of West Virginia. It’s not just his grandparents, Aunts, Uncles or cousins, it’s all those who we have been so blessed to meet along our military and oilfield journey. Every single one of his supports has helped, they are the fire behind his fight and without them we wouldn’t be the team that we are. Having a support system to spread awareness and share the stories of not only Tanner’s story but the stories of all the warriors, is the real inspiration. These people love Tanner and have joined their families to ours and for that I will be forever grateful.

With all the support being shown for Tanner I designed this shirt for all of us to wear in support of not only Tanner, but all of our Pediatric Stroke Warriors out there, these children are beyond amazing and are nothing short of a miracle, they are the true definition of hero.

I ask all of Tanner’s team, to purchase a shirt and wear it with pride and help advocate the importance of early intervention and raising strong amazing children, give them their voice to be inspirations and true Warriors. We are all a part of something bigger than a diagnosis, and together our children will have the strength to make a true difference!

You can see the TEAMTANMAN design at https://www.booster.com/teamtanman

Today marks a day of importance to many families. Today, is World Cerebral Palsy Day. For families and organizations like ours, this is a day to celebrate resilience.

This is our daughter, Addison. She had her stroke at birth, and as a result has Hemiplegia Cerebral Palsy. Years ago, we would have given no thought to the chances of either happening. But through this journey we have learned, pediatric stroke and cerebral palsy are two medical matters that can affect our children. This month especially, marks specific days of recognition for both, and we hope you partake in the support.

There is much awareness and research needed for pediatric stroke and cerebral palsy. But, there is also much hope and inspiration that can just as easily be cultivated in sharing. We hope you take some time today to do just that. If you haven't already, check out worldcpday.org for further information regarding Cerebral Palsy and stories of hope. A little awareness goes the distance.

We have always shared that above any diagnosis, any medical label, our children are indeed perfectly and wonderfully made. So, especially today, when you think of pediatric stroke or cerebral palsy, please remember this: While there are moments of struggle, there are many more moments of celebration and resilience!


Kaysee Hyatt-President of Pediatric Stroke Warriors

We find that it is so important to ensure increased awareness for pediatric stroke. Through our Outreach and Education Initiative we have been networking among community hospitals, pediatricians and those that work directly with children, to build the awareness and resources for pediatric stroke. There is strength in numbers and we can always use support, especially if you are in the healthcare field, to encourage sharing these documents.

Be sure to check out our Outreach and Education link on our website where you can download this graphic, along with others and additional information on pediatric stroke.

Early signs of stroke in infants can often be missed until further devlopment.

If a child presents one sided neglect when using their hands in activities, prefers one hand significantly over the other, or presents a tight fist in one hand, please seek an appointment with your child's provider or an early intervention service.

While these signs may not always indicate a stroke has taken place, they are significant enough concerns that warrent further medical review.

Dare to be different. All children are faced with being bullied for their differences. Hair color, eye glasses, how they talk, the way they dress, how fast they run etc.  Sadly, bullying among children and for what reasons, just continues to grow.

Children who have had a stroke, spend much time throughout their childhood receiving therapies to help their bodies adapt to what stroke impacted. Many kids will wear a hand or foot orthotic or use a walk- aid to help support their bodies in their movement. These differences can be noticeable, especially among their peers.

Talk to your children about compassion and that differences should celebrated. It’s huge for any child to know that they are accepted for exactly who they are.

By the very design of our bodies, our own fingerprints are proof that each one of us is different. Not another person in this world will have the same fingerprint as you! That’s pretty amazing when you think about it- share it with your kids, use it as a bridge for conversation. Differences should be celebrated!

Adelynn "Ady" is a spunky, loving, caring independent little girl. She is a warrior! When Ady was born, her parents were unaware that a child, let alone a newborn, could ever have a stroke. Her mother, Danielle, recalls their journey in the beginning and shares in hopes of creating awareness and education that stroke in children happens. "People need to know it is at least a possibility for children to have strokes. There needs to be support and a plan of treatment available for families."

"I had an uneventful pregnancy, great in fact, minus the terrible months of morning sickness! On the day I went into labor, doctors were concerned because Ady’s heart rate was elevated. After　delivery they whisked her out of the room. I held Ady for the first time in the Adventist nursery　12hrs　after she was born,　it was there that she had her first seizure and she turned purple in my arms. It was any mother’s purest nightmare. She had 7 more heart wrenching seizures in the nursery before we were transferred to Emanuel via ambulance."

"We were at Emanuel for a week before we were told that she had suffered an acute stroke to the entire　right side and middle areas of her brain. They cautioned us not to be alarmed if doctors used the term "cerebral palsy", it just meant a brain trauma. They told us that it was too early to tell what her future may be like, that there was a chance she may never crawl, walk, or talk. My heart just sank. It was just so much to take in. I　continually tried to focus and remind myself what the doctor had said to me "don’t blame yourself", because I couldn't have done anything to prevent this. However, as a mother, it played over and over in my head of every possible thing I could have done better or different."

"When we all came home, I spent every extra moment researching what we needed to do, and the steps we could take in helping our daughter. Seeking doctors and different therapy for our daughter. I felt like most doctors had no helpful avenue for me, just a lot of wait and see, dead ends. The doctors we talked with knew it was "possible" for a child to have a stroke, but there was not a typical treatment plan. In 2010, there was such limited information about children and stroke, not even the larger organizations for stroke had any helpful information."

"Needless to say overtime, we got there, we forged our way and advocated for Ady. We built a team of doctors and therapists that all support Ady and continue to do so. We have our ups and downs, daily appointments and melt downs- for both of us, but she is our walking, talking, spunky little girl that is the heart and glue　of our family. Our journey may have been difficult, and it impacted all our lives, but it has made us nothing but closer as a family. It reminds us daily to take nothing for granted."

Many children, just like Ady, receive a diagnosis of cerebral palsy from having had a pediatric stroke. Danielle, along with other stroke impacted families and friends formed the "BA Warriors Team" for the United Cerebral Palsy- Walk Roll Run event held each September in Portland, Oregon. Honoring childhood stroke survivors and supporting the UCP's "Family Support Department" that helps over 800 families in Oregon and SW Washington. If you are in the Portland area and would like to join up with the BA Warrior’s, please go to their team page to register!

Stroke, cancer, diabetes, heart defects; these are all important causes as a society we have had to face. When you add the word "pediatric" before any of them, it becomes even more challenging, it can take the air right out of a room knowing and accepting that these things happen among children. When it impacts you directly it becomes necessary to take in information,　however when it doesn't, it can often be easier to avoid the discomfort of supporting the awareness in it.

The reality is, that as much as we hope, children are not immune to difficulties. They are not immune to diseases that once were viewed as restricted to adults. Any organization that has ever come together on behalf of a cause for children's health, have all started with hope. They have all started at a beginning. Growing that awareness and advocating for that research that leads to supported childhood treatments and resources is the ongoing goal among many causes.　

When organizations, communities and families share about pediatric stroke, we all come from that same place of hope, that same beginning for a crucial cause. Stroke among children is not new, and in the last decade more has been achieved through awareness, advocacy and research, but more needs to continue to be done. When we are still at a place that general communities are unaware of the signs and symptoms of a stroke in a child and what steps to take, and when medical communities still don’t all have a rapid response among hospitals in place, it becomes even more apparent that the need is real for that awareness to grow for pediatric stroke.

Large organizations committed to the research and awareness for stroke in adults have made some greater advancements that our children may still benefit from as they grow into young adults, however having only minimally focused on the pediatric side of stroke, family resources and approved childhood treatments are still currently limited. At times, rehabilitation treatments are so new that they are not yet covered by insurance for children. All these mentioned opportunities are currently some of the obstacles preventing the most vital thing of all, a child receiving the greatest care and support that they need after a stroke.

As awareness grows out of a need, and more voices come together, changes can happen for stroke impacted children and their families. This is why we share, why we are committed to our mission. This is why a number of other organizations founded for pediatric stroke exist, because there is still such a huge need to be filled. Support for pediatric stroke awareness is always deeply felt and appreciated and because of that, we thank you.

Each of our lives can be filled with triumphs and difficulties. One of the greatest human abilities is simply, compassion. Compassion for one another and what their everyday journey may be, can help to shape our children and change a society.

With all the differences in this world, choose compassion.

Dare to be different. All kiddos are faced with being bullied for their differences. Hair color, eye glasses, how they talk, the way they dress, how fast they run etc.  Sadly, bullying among children and for what reasons, just continues to grow.

Children who have had a stroke, spend much time throughout their childhood receiving therapies to help their bodies adapt to what stroke impacted. Many kids will wear a hand or foot orthotic or use a walk- aid to help support their bodies in their movement. These differences can be noticeable, especially among their peers.

Talk to your children about compassion and differences being ok. It’s huge for any child to know that they are accepted for exactly who they are.

By the very design of our bodies, our own fingerprints are proof that each one of us is different. Not another person in this world will have the same fingerprint as you! That’s pretty amazing when you think about it- share it with your kids, use it as a bridge for conversation. Differences should be celebrated!

One Google search can sometimes change everything.

After learning something new about our child’s health or condition, especially for worried parents and caregivers, leveraging online search as a resource in diagnosis, clarification and education is typical behavior. Searching out support, camaraderie and tips online just makes sense. In fact, 2013 data from the Pew Research Center finds that 1 in 3 Americans goes online to search for information and support in finding a diagnosis. If you’re a woman, college-educated, or younger (under age 49) the likelihood of searching online increases and approaches 50%. Not only are we searching for health info and connection online, we’re doing it more so with mobile devices. Pew data from April 2015 finds that 64% of Americans have a smartphone and that 6 in 10 are searching for health info on a mobile device.

That smartphone in your pocket can connect you to information yes, but also to others like you.

Of course most clinical care still happens in the office and most decisions, especially important ones, are made offline. Yet preparing for visits, strengthening resolve, finding other parents in similar situations can potentially improve the way we care for and raise children with underlying medical challenges. It can also change how we feel about it. In my mind, one of the most precious resources will always be the people. This includes our family, our nurses, our therapists, our relatives, our clinicians and our peers. In the words of Susannah Fox, a technology and health researcher who is now Chief Technology Officer at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, when it comes to caring for yourself or others in your life, “Community is your superpower.”

I’m still the doctor who encourages online search, especially when looking for resources in networked communities. Social networks have simply shrunk the distance between us and facilitated robust connection. Finding others like you, who’ve been down the road before you, can often provide support, help reduce anxiety, provide tips and connect you with resources you didn’t even know existed. As a pediatrician, there’s no question that expert patients and their families often teach me about resources available to them I’ve not previously known — as a clinician I’m grateful. Once I review the sites and organizations, I can then share those communities and education sites with other patients I’m lucky enough to partner with.

Community is your superpower   ~Susannah Fox

Mom Kaysee Hyatt drives this point home. After months of concern surrounding her infant daughter’s delayed development, Kaysee Hyatt finally got the diagnosis: her daughter Addison had suffered a perinatal ischemic stroke at birth. After receiving the news, Kaysee was told to go start therapy but in her words “there really was no plan.” Out of curiosity and intent, she turned to the Internet. A Google search on pediatric stroke led her to CHASA.org (Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association), a nonprofit group founded by parents that provides resources and dozens of discussion groups for families dealing with pediatric stroke. Kaysee told me that when she found the site and learned more, “It changed everything.” When talking with Kaysee what stuck with me most is how Kaysee’s sense of isolation dissolved when she found these resources online. She remembers that she was stunned to find so many families with strikingly similar stories to her own. “It was amazing,” she told me, “we all shared the same stories.”

Kaysee learned how other families were searching for diagnosis, how they leveraged specialists and how they worked to get care covered by insurance. Kaysee talks about how she built a better medical team for her daughter thereafter. Kaysee isn’t shy about the power in this connection saying, “We would have been lost without that support. It was inspirational to know that even though there’s not a lot of information about pediatric stroke available, there are families who have gotten through it.” Kaysee told me she shares resources with physicians, therapists and others on her daughter’s medical team. Even more, she’s now actively paying this forward.

About a year after Addison’s diagnosis, Kaysee realized she wanted to help other families struggling with the same diagnosis gain easier access to medically-vetted resources and information. She started bringing therapy ideas from other hospitals around the country to Addison’s therapy appointments and encouraging her doctors to tell other parents about online resources available to them.

The first blow (diagnosis) is hard … and just knowing that there are other families, that there’s support, that there are resources, that’s huge. The first thing I tell parents is ‘You become your child’s best advocate.’

Kaysee soon realized she was becoming more comfortable with sharing her family’s story and knew that she wanted to encourage others to help each other through the diagnosis and recovery process. A few months ago she created the Pediatric Stroke Warriors Facebook page, a community designed to share medically-vetted information and connect families going through similar situations. Kaysee says the next step is establishing a nonprofit group to improve awareness and connect other families like hers in the PNW. She says her goal with Pediatric Stroke Warriors is to gain awareness. Not simply for her daughter, but for the cause. Community: a superpower, and a super way to hone advocacy, build better teams for your own family and find others so often, just like you…

Wendy Sue Swanson is a pediatrician who blogs at Seattle Mama Doc. She is the author of Mama Doc Medicine: Finding Calm and Confidence in Parenting, Child Health, and Work-Life Balance.