Growth, Renewal, Passion: A Stroke Survivor’s Transformative Artistic Experience
Amanda Ziemendorf has a message for fellow stroke survivors: Even though stroke changes your life, don’t let it define you.
This is something she’s learned first-hand, after surviving three strokes within the short span of the past five years. Amazingly, she has taken these potentially devastating experiences and transformed her personal mission into one of helping others.
Amanda has created two pieces, one of which hangs on a special wall in her home in east Mesa. “The golden yellow center is my emerging self, surrounded by green, the color of growth and renewal. The black represents passion,” she explains. “This has led to discussions with my kids about art, feelings, and turning something negative into something amazing.”
Growth, Renewal, Passion: A Stroke Survivor’s Transformative Artistic Experience
Amanda Ziemendorf has a message for fellow stroke survivors: Even though stroke changes your life, don’t let it define you.
This is something she’s learned first-hand, after surviving three strokes within the short span of the past five years. Amazingly, she has taken these potentially devastating experiences and transformed her personal mission into one of helping others.
Amanda has created two pieces, one of which hangs on a special wall in her home in east Mesa. “The golden yellow center is my emerging self, surrounded by green, the color of growth and renewal. The black represents passion,” she explains. “This has led to discussions with my kids about art, feelings, and turning something negative into something amazing.”
It’s actually not a far cry from her chosen profession of nurse practitioner, as well as Assistant Dean at US University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Her desire to help others has been pervasive throughout her life, beginning with her Oklahoman upbringing, where her parents taught high school (her father was also a pastor). She earned her B.A. at Oklahoma State University before heading to Grand Canyon University in Arizona, where she received her Master of Nursing Education (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees.
The year following year, though, everything changed. One evening, she awoke with a splitting headache. As a storm raged outside, she heard a loud noise in her head and was convinced the thunder was the culprit. When nobody could confirm her suspicion, she saw a chiropractor, but her headache remained.
Finally, a doctor advised her to visit the ER at a small local hospital, where a CT scan revealed she had suffered an intracerebral hemorrhage. Amanda was immediately sent to Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. Working in health care, she was impressed with the staff and facility; however, her pain was so intense, she believed it could be the end of her life.
While in the hospital, doctors also identified a vertebral artery dissection, a leading cause of stroke in young and healthy individuals. A year later, it happened again.
By this point, she was in her early 30s with two young children and finding neurorehabilitation more difficult than ever. Compounding the debilitation headaches were her inner doubts. “I would wonder how much time I have left and if I don’t make it, who will sing to my kids?” she recalls. “I had to get past that fear and start looking at the good things in my life.”
Fast forward to 2020. As Amanda developed ways to deal with her fears while actively recovering from her strokes, COVID hit, and she and her kids found themselves more isolated. She realized the silver lining in that she could take advantage of the time with them. “I got to teach my kids about the world. It’s incredible what they’ve been through and have come out stronger,” she shares.
Her desire to connect with others led her to the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona, in particular their Art of Healing – acrylic pour class. This abstract technique involves pouring fluid paint onto a surface and manipulating it with different tools, such as a hairdryer, to create unique patterns that result in an original work of art. With no experience necessary, she felt it might be a safe and fun way to get out of her comfort zone. The Brain Injury Alliance funds these classes for survivors of brain injury, family members, and professionals that are overseen by art studio owner, instructor, and mental health advocate Brandon Lee.
What happened, though, was more than she’d expected, and as she describes it, blew her away. “I’ve always been reluctant to share my stories outside my family,” she admits, “but this environment gave me the power to do so. By hearing what other people have gone through, I realized that if they can be brave, so can I.”
Laura Johnson, Survivor Engagement Coordinator for the Brain Injury Alliance, says the program is perfect for survivors like Amanda. “Art has a unique way of encouraging self-expression, and Brandon Lee truly inspires people with his own story.”
Amanda has since created two pieces, one of which hangs on a special wall in her home in east Mesa. “The golden yellow center is my emerging self, surrounded by green, the color of growth and renewal. The black represents passion,” she explains. “This has led to discussions with my kids about art, feelings, and turning something negative into something amazing.”
No stranger to the art of new beginnings, she asserts, “In my personal and professional life, I never stop growing. That’s how you heal. The Brain Injury Alliance has shown me the importance of sharing with other survivors and are skilled at providing the support and resources they need.”
Amanda waited five years to reach out to the Brain Injury Alliance and only wishes she had done so sooner. “Now I want to do whatever I can to support this organization and help other survivors of brain injury transform their new lives in the most meaningful way possible,” she affirms.
And that’s the art of her recovery.
There is no charge for The Art of Healing: Acrylic Pour Classes, but space is limited, and registration is required. Professionals, survivors, and caregivers are welcome to join us for our designated studio time.
For more information, contact the Brain Injury Alliance at (888) 500–9165, info@biaaz.com.
See our list of available sessions and register, here: biaaz.org/aoh
ABOUT BRAIN INJURY ALLIANCE OF ARIZONA
The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona (BIAAZ) is the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of adults and children with all types of brain injuries through prevention, advocacy, awareness and education. BIAAZ also houses the Arizona Brain Health Resource Center, a collection of educational information and neuro-specific resources for brain injury survivors, caregivers, family members and professionals.
What began in 1983 as a grassroots effort has grown into a strong statewide presence, providing valuable life-long resources and community support for individuals with all types of brain trauma at no charge.
The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona:
- Works with Congressional Brain Injury Task Force
- Houses Arizona Brain Health Resource Center
- Hosts Statewide Opioid Use Disorder & Cognitive Impairment Workgroup
- Has Statewide Opioid Use Disorder & Cognitive Impairment Response team with peer support, training, and family wraparound services
- Facilitates Brain Health Advisory Council
- Manages statewide Neuro Info-Line: 888-500-9165
