As a 21-year-old college senior at Virginia Commonwealth University, Olivia Lewis suffered a massive brainstem stroke in her sleep, leaving her locked inside her body, paralyzed from the head down, yet fully cognizant. Despite a poor prognosis for recovery, she defied all odds and fought her way out of the incredibly rare neurological diagnosis of Locked-In Syndrome. She made a surprising recovery that she credits to her strong desire to recover, amazing family support, and access to advanced rehabilitation services. Olivia’s spirit of resilience carried her through learning to communicate, breathe, swallow, and walk all over again. She went on to graduate from VCU. She is working to raise awareness by speaking to groups about her journey and recovery, which she calls her opportunity to pay her privilege forward.
