When Brains Bleed

02/04/2026

After trying three different orthoses to help improve my hand function post-stroke for over a decade, all of which had their own benefits, but this one looks especially promising.

What got me intrigued by the Ventura Regrip is that it seems to focus on reteaching the hand how it’s meant to move. Even just watching people use it gives my motor strip abit of an itch to try it 😂

I’ll be pairing it with mirror therapy to keep encouraging those neurons to reach for new pathways. And honestly, even if it only improves my hand positioning while at rest, that’s still a win in my book.

Consider this Martin’s highly scientific, extremely controlled, one-person clinical trial 😜
Results pending… stamp of approval still under review. 😂

Stay tuned - I’ll report back on what works, what doesn’t, and what just looks cool in theory.
basically what I’ve been doing for 14 years now. just documented this time. 😅

01/18/2026

Après Ski / January 17, 2026

Phenomenal conditions for a 2nd ski with my mom. Given the temperature and recent snowfall, the trails were slow and controlled. great for focus, less great for the legs 😂 so breaking trail turned it into a solid workout.

Logged 2 km again, which has been my norm lately… probably a sign it’s time to push past it. Patti says I should start manifesting 4 km, so consider that officially manifested 😆

Also tackled a slope I’ve been side-stepping down recently. Took it clean this time. So that’s a win 😏

01/07/2026

Après Ski / WhenBrainsBleed Style
January 6, 2026

Put my skis on independently again, still hasn't gotten old 😏

I Headed up the trailhead I conquered solo last time… this time? Not so much 😂
I bailed, which according to Logan’s expertise is the best way to start a ski, get it out of your system early 😆

Got myself back up without taking my skis off and without any assistance 🎉💪 (HUGE win considering I only did that once last year), and ended the day with a new personal best of 2km 😏 and had to take my skis off standing again because I made it down the trailhead again without falling 🙄 such a pain 🤣

Bonus: first ski with a new partner. My mom officially started skiing! I’m starting to feel like that annoying friend who forces people to exercise… considering I got her biking in the summer too 😅 she didn't do the hill tonight but managed 2km which is wild for a first ski 🤯

01/01/2026

"The Things No One Sees"

Today it wasn't just about a watch that I couldn't put back together.

It was about years of objects and people reminding me that the world isn’t built for someone who can only use one hand.

When something breaks or doesn’t work for me, it doesn’t stay small. It taps into every other time I’ve hit a wall. Every time I’ve had to work harder for things most people take for granted.

Living one handed means constant adapting, trial and error, planning ahead, and asking for help when you don’t want to. It’s a mental load that never shuts off.

Even today at work, I had to ask a coworker to zip my coat because an extra layer made it too tight for me to manage alone. A tiny moment but one of many.

It’s not one hurdle. It’s the endlessness of them. And that’s what wears you down.

12/31/2025

Great wins today in the name of independence.

Skied 1.5 km in -26°C, which is obviously a win on its own 😏

But the real wins for me:

-Getting my skis on independently while standing

-Reaching the trailhead solo, a slight uphill that last year required two people assisting me, a clear sign of how much my balance and confidence have improved

-Finishing the ski by heading down the incline at the trailhead… just so I could take my skis off on my own 😂

The taste of independence is sweeter than conquering 1.5 km of bulletproof, fast snow.

Apres ski, WhenBrainsBleed style 🧠

11/30/2025

How to put on a shirt with one hand after stroke (Step-by-Step)

49 likes, 11 comments. “How to put on a sweater with one hand after stroke (Step-by-Step)”

08/22/2025

Had a very beneficial cue to add to my ride on Tuesday at Kivi, on top of starting to ride the trails solo now, my trainer Patti suggested I start holding the handlebar with my affected hand, rather than just have it on my chest/lap.

Major game changer as it gives me extra stability and forces me to concentrate on keeping the grip. Considering my tone tends to decrease with exercise this becomes challenging after 3/4 of a ride but it's bound to get better when the neuropathways strengthen 💪🧠

Today I was even steering my bike solely with that arm, I wouldn't say it's safe to rip through kivi with yet 🤣 but it's fascinating being pushed outside of my box and seeing all the benefits that have been coming along, to the point I need to be reminded that I was biking at walking speed just last year 😏😅

Couldn't have gotten this far without the Kivi Para-Nordic Program 🙌

07/30/2025

Tonight was a revolutionary ride, the staff at Sudbury's Children's Treatment Centre modified a bike pedal with the assistance of Cambrian College to create a custom made bike pedal with the use of a 3D printer to help fasten my weak foot properly.

I can't even describe how big of a positive impact this had on tonight's ride, not having my heel hitting the crank bolt during a hill, not having to adjust my foot whatsoever during my ride, just pedaling hard with no interruptions
Every hill I encountered I demolished tonight 💪
Gotta love new connections being made while exercising with the Kivi Para-Nordic Program

06/25/2025

Last night's 30° temps didn't stop the Kivi Para-Nordic Program from our training, I managed a 12km hour, with this being my norm lately, though I've been improving considerably on my hill climbs with less spin outs and better gear changing, so it's still a W. 🏆

Tomorrow I plan on getting myself past my 15km PR 💪 it's crazy to think how much distance Im able to travel in an hour this year, especially on trails that have elevation like at Kivi

We also ran into Franklin again, were 75% sure its the same turtle 😆