I had a stroke at 29 and went back to work weeks later. It taught me how to lead through a crisis - and to give grace to myself and my colleagues

"I was off work for a few weeks, but without paid leave I had to return sooner than doctors advised. I worked from home for a few months since I still couldn't drive. I loved the challenge of the work, the way no day was ever the same, and I had thrived on that pace. But I was still recovering. Winded by the smallest physical activity, I struggled with memory, and words sometimes came out scrambled or not at all."

"Still, I tried to keep up with new initiatives as if nothing had happened. My coworkers were sympathetic, but with no formal HR and a fast-moving team, there was little room for weakness. People noticed when I struggled to articulate myself or keep up. I noticed it even more. I felt like I was drowning, fighting to heal and failing at work."

A stroke occurred at age 29, later partly attributed to hormonal birth control. The survivor returned to meetings within weeks and ran communications while still recovering. Work-from-home arrangements followed because driving was not possible. Recovery involved fatigue, memory struggles, and difficulty finding words. A fast-paced team without formal HR created pressure to perform and little room for visible weakness. The experience taught that healing and leadership both require attention. The survivor now values empathy, trust, balance, and gives herself grace while leading others and managing demanding responsibilities.

Read at Business Insider