**From Off-Grid Peace to Hospital Alarms: Our Stroke Survival Journey**
Two weeks ago tonight, our peaceful, off-grid life in the New Mexico desert took a sudden and frightening turn. Brent—also known as Advocatus from our band *Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band*—began experiencing facial twitching. What we initially thought was a pinched nerve quickly spiraled into something far more serious.
Just a month earlier, Brent had lost movement in his arm and hand. Urgent Care diagnosed it as a pinched nerve and recommended an orthopedic visit. We booked the appointment, unaware that something much more dangerous was brewing beneath the surface.
The night we walked into the ER, everything changed. After hearing his symptoms, the medical team rushed Brent back immediately. That’s when real fear set in. X-rays and a CT scan revealed that Brent was having a stroke—and that the symptoms in his arm had actually been from a previous stroke, likely occurring around the time we visited Urgent Care weeks earlier.
A follow-up MRI confirmed it.
During his week-long hospital stay, Brent struggled with speech, and doctors were uncertain if he’d ever be able to sing again. For a man whose life revolves around music, it was a devastating possibility. But Brent is a fighter.
He underwent surgery to repair a clogged artery in his neck. Now he’s home, slowly regaining his strength. He’s singing again—his voice may not be at full strength yet, but it’s there. His arm is still affected, but we’re seeing small signs of progress. Only time will tell how much mobility he’ll recover.
These last two weeks have been filled with fear, uncertainty, and hard adjustments—but also love, resilience, and hope. I couldn’t be more proud of Brent. We are thankful for every day, every note sung, and every small step forward.
If you’ve followed our journey or are new to it, thank you for being here. Life off-grid isn’t always easy—but it’s real, it’s raw, and it’s ours.
http://www.advocatusdiaboliandthegrimleaferband.com
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
—
#StrokeSurvivor, #AdvocatusDiaboli, #OffGridLife, #HealingThroughMusic, #DesertLiving, #MusicTherapy, #RecoveryJourney, #IndieBand, #InspirationalStory, #LifeAfterStroke, #GrimLeaferBand, #NewMexicoLife, #SupportLocalMusic, #StrokeAwareness, #NeverGiveUp
Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center 