Every month, abc15 honors a member of the community with the Carolina Champion Award, which recognizes individuals who lead through exceptional actions. This Friday’s honoree exemplifies what it means to have an 'iron will.'
He transformed a pivotal circumstance into an occasion to deeply alter the lives of those he refers to as a neglected community.
Seventeen years back, a day that Ralph Preston can never erase from memory occurred. While he was going through his usual routine on his exercise bicycle, something unimaginable took place.
I had only fifteen seconds remaining," explained Ralph Preston, "but my legs felt strange. They weren’t moving as they should have been. So, I thought, 'This is absurd. Only fifteen seconds left. I'll just dismount and check what’s going on.'
Ralph had a stroke.
I was 58 years old, and it was because of high blood pressure," stated Preston, "and I was attempting to lose weight and manage it through natural means.
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A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is disrupted, leading to brain cell death and potential damage to the brain's functions. That can lead to various physical and cognitive impairments. While Ralph is thankful to have survived a medical emergency that many don’t, his recovery journey was just beginning.”
What was your journey to recovery like?" asked Jennifer Abney. "That's quite a nuanced question," replied Preston. "To put it simply, I began my physical therapy the very next day after returning home.
The primary drive for Ralph was demonstrating to his physicians that they were incorrect.
"I was informed by two physicians that you could potentially spend the remainder of your life in that wheelchair. I sort of glanced at them and responded, 'you don't know me,'" stated Preston.
However, a third physician noticed something distinct.
He remarked, "You’re being stubborn." I replied, "Did you catch onto that?" Stubbornness and perseverance play crucial roles during stroke rehabilitation. It isn’t an easy process; it doesn’t resemble catching the flu. You don’t just recover from it. A stroke leaves lasting effects behind,” he explained.
As Ralph started looking for resources to help with his new lifelong condition, he saw a vast deficiency in options for stroke survivors. He realized that many didn’t get the necessary rehab they needed, due to various limitations like insurance or location.
Preston remarked, "So many individuals fall through the gaps. They’re unsure about their next steps. Among those who experience a stroke, one out of every three develop aphasia, difficulty with communication. However, very few receive speech therapy. Our community remains largely overlooked, which prompted me to establish Stroke Buddies and begin assisting these individuals."
Thus commenced his journey. Ralph mentions that he chose to venture into the field of education – with the aim of combating strokes through information dissemination. Additionally, he leveraged his expertise in video production.
When I left the rehabilitation hospital, I couldn't locate a single stroke-related video on all of YouTube, even though I was using Google searches," Preston explained. "So, I began with basic exercise videos. Now, my YouTube channel has more than 400 videos, each focused on strokes.
Ralph intentionally created his videos to be relatable.
The aspect that folks truly appreciate is that I'm a stroke survivor," Preston said. "It's something they can visibly recognize. Moreover, seeing me improve gives them hope.
He ensured he used materials for therapy that were budget-friendly and readily available.
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Each and every one of those scenes was filmed either inside this house or on the driveway," explained Preston. "I consistently showcase the home environment and utilize items such as hammers, chip clips, or soup cans as weights.
However, Ralph went beyond making videos; he established a network for survivors. This wasn't merely about pooling resources—it was also about offering hope to strangers connected by an uncommon and difficult experience.
Preston mentioned, "She wrote to me saying, 'You have no clue how significant your impact has been on my journey to recover.' She told me she follows my YouTube channel. She’s seen all of my videos and wanted to express her gratitude. Even after a whole year, this makes me emotional."
Ralph Preston finds himself on an unplanned journey, yet he remains resolute in making the best out of this unexpected turn and continues to advocate for his fellow stroke survivors.
When you experience a stroke, you can feel completely isolated," Preston stated, "It makes you feel utterly alone. You might think you’re the only one enduring this, but that’s not the case.
Ralph’s network of resources has expanded considerably. He collaborates with neurologists, medical doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and psychologists. All these efforts aim to assist other stroke survivors in achieving independence.