Assisting stroke victims and their families.

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Gods Will

After a stroke or other life-changing events, you may question your faith and you may ask: Why me? Why Us? Are we being punished?

Barb's Story

Chapter I: Barbie’s Stroke: Ground Zero

Barb’s stroke hit the morning of Dec. 21, 2006, her daughter Britt’s birthday. The previous night, Barb flew home from a company Christmas party with her husband, Bruce...

Chapter II: Time for Recovery

It turned out Barb’s stroke was significant, affecting the right side of her body and her speech. The year 2007 would be one of recovery for her and the Knutson family...

Chapter III Re: Making Progress, THANK YOU

We hope this card and note finds you having a wonderful holiday season. This is a great time to reflect and be thankful for what we have...

Chapter IV: Committed to Therapy

Barb has always been committed to her profession as a physical therapist because she believes in the value of her work. Further, she saw the fruits of her labor every day with her patients’ recovery from their injuries...

Chapter V: Turning Lemons into Lemonade

You know you’re not well in the minds of others when six months into your recovery from illness or injury, you go to the mailbox and there’s another half-dozen get well cards. Then someone comes to the door with dinner that evening to see how you are doing...

Chapter VI: BBF’s Affiliation with AHA

Happy New Year! We hope that 2009 is healthy & prosperous for you and yours. What a wonderfully crazy start the BARBIE “B” & FRIENDS has had...

Chapter VII: Life After Stroke

Four years after Barbie’s stroke we’ve learned how resilient you can be and how you can adjust to a tough situation. It is so unfortunate to see families and friends give up on loved ones when the going gets tough with stroke and other afflictions one might encounter in life...

Chapter VIII: Planes, Trains and Automobiles

We have always loved to travel. Never assume that stoke will limit these great opportunities to enjoy God's beauty, friends and family. In spite of Barb's stroke disabilities, she has learned to travel well...

Chapter IX: BBF Vision 2021

We look forward to working with the American Heart Association and other related organizations that we support. It has been so fulfilling for us to be involved with such great people and good causes that have had a positive impact on others over the last decade...

Chapter X: Choose to Have Fun

We have been recovering from a stroke for the last 16 years. By “we,” I mean our entire family. As you may know, strokes change the victims’ lives and the lives of those close to them...