Episode 1546 — Fighting the Shark: Life After Stroke and Post‑Stroke Epilepsy

In episode 1546 of Blind Magic, host Murray Stewart shares an intimate, first-person account of living with an acquired brain injury (ABI) and post-stroke epilepsy. Murray opens with a vivid metaphor — a shark waiting on the other side of the net — to describe the ever-present anxiety about seizures. He recounts a recent brain event that affected his voice and how his puppy, Santa, instinctively helped him through the moment. The episode touches on a recent appointment with his neurologist, Dr. Angela, and explores the difficult trade-offs around adding more medication versus using a multi‑faceted approach to recovery. Murray emphasizes that there is no single solution for ABI: he advocates combining faith and prayer, daily exercise, hydration, medication when necessary, a positive mindset, and the fulfillment that comes from helping others. Murray also speaks about practical and emotional strategies that sustain him — morning routines that include prayer and exercise, maintaining a sense of purpose through service, and planning restorative experiences like an upcoming trip to Cairns for sunshine and rejuvenation. Throughout, he stresses the importance of chipping away at recovery with patience and resilience, hoping for long seizure‑free stretches ahead. This episode is a candid and encouraging conversation for anyone living with ABI or post‑stroke epilepsy, offering personal insight into coping mechanisms, the role of loved ones and service animals, and the spiritual and practical tools Murray uses to keep the “shark” at bay.