THE PHILOSOPHY
OF BEING HALF SIDED
OF BEING HALF SIDED
"What is wholeness, if not the acceptance
of our beautiful incompleteness?"
of our beautiful incompleteness?"
The Beauty of Asymmetry
In Japanese aesthetics, it's called "Wabi-Sabi" – the beauty of imperfection. After a stroke, many people discover a new way of seeing: The left hand learns what the right has forgotten. Imbalance becomes a new balance.
Neuroplasticity as Poetry
The brain is a poet, constantly writing new verses. After a stroke, it invents entirely new metaphors for movement, language, and thought. Blocked paths become bridges elsewhere.
BOOK LAUNCH
ON WORLD STROKE DAY
ON WORLD STROKE DAY
HALF SIDED
A Personal Journey Through Stroke and a Brain Stem Cavernoma
By Oliver Brandt
Releasing October 29, 2025 - World Stroke Day
"When life is suddenly knocked sideways,
a new story begins..."
a new story begins..."
Deliberately chosen for World Stroke Day 2025 to add a personal voice to the global statistics.
THE POWER OF
COMMUNITY & FAMILY
COMMUNITY & FAMILY
"When one person faces a challenge,
an entire community walks the path to healing together..."
an entire community walks the path to healing together..."
The Home as a Sanctuary
For many, the home becomes a place of recovery, where every corner offers love, patience, and a sense of safety.
Generational Support
From grandparents to grandchildren, friends to neighbors, every generation contributes strength and wisdom to the healing journey.
Faith and Hope
Shared faith, prayer, and collective hope become fundamental pillars of strength through the recovery process for many families.
PERCEPTION
OF TIME
OF TIME
3:47 AM
The Moment of Truth
There are moments that divide life into Before and After. 3:47 AM – a time forever etched in memory. But what happens to time after a stroke?
Time Slowed Down
Every movement suddenly requires conscious attention. Time becomes a precious commodity you learn to appreciate all over again.
The Extended Present
The past and future blur. There is only the here and now – more intense than ever before.
A New Eternity
Small steps of progress become huge victories. Each day is a marathon of millimeter-sized improvements.
MYTHS &
REALITIES
REALITIES
MYTH
"Only the elderly have strokes."
A widespread misconception that isolates young survivors and distracts from the truth – a major reason for World Stroke Day.
MYTH
"Recovery is impossible."
This damaging belief discourages rehabilitation and ignores the brain's incredible capacity to heal and adapt.
REALITY
About 1 in 4 strokes occur in people under 65.
Oliver Brandt was one of them. His story shows: stroke knows no age – which is why World Stroke Day is so vital.
REALITY
Recovery is a journey, not a destination.
10% of survivors recover almost completely, and another 25% recover with minor impairments. Millions live fulfilling lives post-stroke.
STROKE &
HEALTH DISPARITIES
HEALTH DISPARITIES
The Numbers Reveal Deep Inequities
Behind every statistic is a human story. World Stroke Day reminds us that health disparities represent lives, families, and futures that need our urgent attention.
2X
Higher Risk
The risk of having a first stroke is nearly twice as high for non-Hispanic Black adults as it is for white adults. (Source: CDC)
15%
Increase in Young Adults
From 2011 to 2022, self-reported stroke prevalence increased by nearly 15% among U.S. adults aged 45-64. (Source: CDC)
🌍
A Global Challenge
World Stroke Day highlights that these disparities exist globally, requiring culturally sensitive and equitable solutions.
SPIRITUALITY
& HOLISTIC HEALING
& HOLISTIC HEALING
"Around the world, every culture has its own
sacred ways of healing the body and spirit..."
sacred ways of healing the body and spirit..."
Reducing Anxiety
Studies show that spirituality and mindfulness can significantly reduce anxiety and depression in stroke survivors and their caregivers.
Diverse Healing
From meditation and yoga to acupuncture and traditional medicine, many paths contribute unique wisdom to the recovery process.
Quality of Life
A holistic approach that includes spiritual and emotional well-being often improves overall quality of life and resilience after a stroke.
RECLAIMING
COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION
"Sometimes the brain speaks a language
that only patience and love can understand..."
that only patience and love can understand..."
The Challenge of Aphasia
Up to a third of stroke survivors experience aphasia—a condition that affects the ability to speak, read, write, and understand language. It's a journey of finding new ways to connect when familiar words are out of reach.
Connection
Finding a voice beyond words
The Language of the Heart
Recovery often starts with non-verbal cues: a touch, a smile, a shared look. The brain prioritizes the language of emotion and connection, rebuilding communication from its very foundation.
Emotion
The first language to return
INTEGRATING TRADITIONAL
& MODERN MEDICINE
& MODERN MEDICINE
The Healing Power of Ancestral Wisdom
Across many cultures, stroke recovery combines modern medicine with age-old traditional practices. This holistic integration can significantly improve the healing process and quality of life.
Eastern Medicine
Acupuncture, herbal remedies, and Qigong have shown scientific benefits in neurological recovery after a stroke.
Mind-Body Practices
Therapeutic massage, adapted yoga, and meditation are increasingly used to aid in motor and cognitive rehabilitation.
Indigenous Traditions
Healing circles, connection with nature, and community ceremonies provide profound spiritual and emotional support.
BETWEEN
THE LINES
THE LINES
"It's 3:47 AM.
I wake up and the left side of my body no longer belongs to me..."
I wake up and the left side of my body no longer belongs to me..."
So begins a story no one plans to tell. A journey through the world of brain stem cavernomas, hospital corridors, and new realities. A first-hand account of life after the "before" – perfectly timed for World Stroke Day 2025.
Why "Half Sided"?
Because life sometimes splits into halves. And because from these halves, something new and whole can emerge. A story for World Stroke Day.
COUNTDOWN
TO WORLD STROKE DAY
TO WORLD STROKE DAY
LOADING...
until "Half Sided" launches on World Stroke Day
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THE SILENT
REVOLUTION
REVOLUTION
What No One Tells You
Behind every stroke are countless untold stories. Of families who become care teams overnight. Of people who must learn new languages from their own bodies.
Of the quiet revolution in research labs where scientists work daily to buy back time. Of the hope that lives in each new day.
On October 29, 2025 - World Stroke Day - it's not just a book being published. It's a voice for all those whose stories have yet to be told.
A New Perspective
"Sometimes you have to lose half of yourself to understand what 'whole' really means. This book is for everyone searching for new definitions of 'complete'."
- Oliver Brandt, Author of "Half Sided"