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A New Kind of Nurture
From Horticulture to Special Education Teacher, a brainstem stroke survivor tells his story
Doyle Fitz
6/23/20253 min read
“PAIN. So much pain. It was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life to date and it just kept getting worse.”
That’s how it began. For months, unbearable pain radiated from the left side of the neck. Ice, heat, over-the-counter meds—nothing worked. A visit to the doctor was scheduled, but life had other plans. On what seemed like an ordinary night in January 2016, something didn’t feel right. After an intimate moment with his wife, he noticed changes in his voice and difficulty swallowing. Water simply spilled out of his mouth. That’s when he told his wife: “Call 911.” Later, doctors discovered a deep vein thrombosis in his vertebral artery. The result: a brainstem stroke and a battle with pneumonia due to aspiration. A feeding tube was inserted. Learning to walk and eat again became his new mountain to climb.
💬 When Everything Fell Apart
“I was actually having suicidal ideation at one point.”
The stroke didn’t just damage his body. It shook his identity. He was a horticulturist, someone who loved plants and shared his knowledge freely. That was gone. Overnight, he became unable to work in his field, exhausted by tasks that were once second nature. He hid his spiraling mental health from loved ones, only breaking down during an unexpected moment in a grocery store parking lot when the song “Rise Above This” came on the radio. Therapy helped—so did acknowledging what he’d lost.
🧱 Barriers and Emotional Hurdles
The hardest parts?
He felt like a financial burden on his family.
Grieving the loss of a beloved career. Adjusting to a “new normal” in his body. Activities he once enjoyed could now leave him exhausted for half a day. To make matters worse, the nursery job he held for nearly a decade was given to someone else. Though his boss visited him in the hospital, it was to ask about a plant order. He fought to retain his salary, facing a system that didn’t support him in his hour of need. “In my state (TX), you have to be out of work for at least 6 months before you can qualify for disability. Guess how long I was out of work for? 5.5 months. 😒”
🙌 Biggest Milestone
“My biggest achievement…I guess it’d be walking unaided again.”Just three wobbly steps. But those steps were golden. His wife was there. Her pride and smile remain etched in his memory.
🧠 Recovery Tips from Lived Experience
“DO THE HOMEWORK YOUR THERAPISTS GIVE YOU!!!” No sugarcoating. Stroke recovery is exhausting. But if you want to get close to your old normal, you must push through. He swears by consistency, no matter how tired or discouraged you feel.
🌱 A New Definition of Success
“Success is a hard thing to quantify as what it constitutes differs widely from person to person.” This journey taught him how strong he really was. He now sees success in small victories—taking a few steps, learning to eat again, teaching students with empathy rooted in lived experience.
“Celebrate the small victories because though they may be small compared to others, they still constitute your celebration!”
💬 Three Words That Describe Him Now
Resilient. Capable. Stubborn
🎉 Rediscovered Joys- Despite the changes, joy found its way back in.
Board Gaming (he owns 92!), Baking, Sewing, Gardening, Video games
🧭 Words for Anyone Feeling Hopeless
“Remember that recovery is a journey, not a destination. Like any journey you’ll experience some roadblocks, but also some truly memorable and magical moments too. Focus on the latter.”
