Who is Ian S Grindey?
👋 Hi, I’m Ian—the forgotten stroke survivor and curator of The Stroke Diaries.
In 2018, I had a stroke that changed everything. The hospital discharge came quickly. The recovery did not.
What followed was a long, messy, and deeply personal battle—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Some days, I made progress. Other days, I hit a brick wall. Sometimes going backwards.
We’re talking fatigue that hits like a juggernaut. Balance issues. Coordination problems. Spasticity. Neuropathy. And that’s just the physical stuff.
Then there’s the emotional rollercoaster…
Anger. Frustration. Grief. Anxiety. Depression. Dissociation. I lived in fear, disconnected from my body and unsure of who I was anymore.
But, I’m finally fighting back.
🧐 What are The Stroke Diaries?
The Stroke Diaries is where I share that journey—the wins, the setbacks, and the slow, stubborn progress forward.
diary
plural: diaries
: a record of events, transactions, or observations kept daily or at frequent intervals : JOURNAL
especially : a daily record of personal activities, reflections, or feelings
Seven years on, I’m still here—an acquired brain injury survivor sharing my unconventional path back to full health.
What I Write About
I'm documenting everything in real-time through my content pillars:
🧠 Stroke Recovery Mastery
The 5 pillars that shaped my healing: Physical, Cognitive, Emotional, Social, and Lifestyle—and what actually works when you’re doing it alone.
💪 Simplified Health & Fitness
No gimmicks. Just real advice on weight loss, sugar addiction, strength, and mobility—when walking 10,000 steps is easier than doing one push-up.
🗂 Life Systems & Productivity
Simple tools for journaling, note-taking, and getting your life in order—because time’s precious when you’re over 50 and recovering.
What you’ll get:
✅ Honest, relatable stories from life after stroke
✅ Practical lessons I’ve learned the hard way
✅ Encouragement for the days that feel too heavy
✅ Gentle reminders that you’re not alone
✅ Tools and reflections to help you make sense of your recovery
I am going to share with you what I’ve learned about life, nutrition, and exercise—getting and staying healthy—and what may lurk around the corner on your road to recovery.
👀 The Bottom Line
Look, I’m not a doctor or therapist. I’m a mechanical engineer turned stroke survivor. Still figuring it out, still improving, still writing.
I’m not selling miracle cures. I’m documenting what worked—and what didn’t.
I’m just a ‘grumpy old git’ who's been where you are and refuses to believe this is as good as it gets.
If I can keep improving using simple, real-world systems…
Then so can you.
⏰ What can you expect
I publish for FREE on Monday & Friday—sometimes in between.
All Free Subscribers will get:
✅ Practical breakdowns of each recovery pillar
✅ Bonus reflections, guides, and tools I use in daily life
✅ Occasional Q&As or subscriber-only community content (coming soon)
The best bit is that once you’ve subscribed, you will receive everything in your inbox—for FREE—so you won’t miss a thing!
Why Subscribe?
✅ Because you’re not meant to go through stroke recovery alone.
✅ Because the stories out there don’t often show the full picture.
✅ Because there’s strength in sharing.
✅ And because even small steps forward are worth celebrating.
This isn’t just about me.
It’s about us.
Let’s keep going—one step at a time.
👉 Subscribe for free to get every new post in your inbox.
One final ask before you go…
All my posts will remain free to read—forever! But, if you can afford it, please consider supporting me by upgrading to a paid subscription for as little as 14p per day.
I’ll continue writing for you for free1, no matter what you decide—you’ve earned it. We’re #strokesurvivors, and we’re in it together!
All posts are free for 56 days; thereafter, they’re paywalled. You can still access these posts by supporting me with a paid subscription.
