A place of his own
Donald Mumby marks a major milestone in stroke recovery
After recovering from a stroke at 26, Donald Mumby is preparing to move into his own condo — reclaiming the independence he thought he’d lost.
Donald enjoying life outdoors.
After his stroke, Donald was determined to return to a full life.
On June 11, 2021, Donald Mumby woke up in his college room feeling groggy and disoriented. He chalked it up to a stomach bug. But as his symptoms intensified, he wandered out into the hallway, where his legs suddenly gave out beneath him. He doesn’t remember the next part: an ambulance ride to the nearest hospital, in Pembroke, Ontario. At 26 years old, Donald was having an ischemic stroke.
Doctors diagnosed him with a basilar artery thrombosis and quickly transferred him to Ottawa’s Civic Hospital for emergency treatment. There, a team performed an endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), a cutting-edge procedure that restored blood flow to the right side of his brain. It saved his life and prevented further damage.
Still, in the days that followed, Donald couldn’t speak or think clearly. He couldn’t walk. He was blind. He went on to spend a month at Bruyère Hospital in rehabilitation, relearning basic functions with occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and speech pathologists — and great determination.
“There definitely were a lot of ups and downs — it’s a difficult thing to go through mentally,” says Donald.
Recovery was slow, steady and hard-won. After rehab, Donald moved back in with his family, who supported him through everyday tasks such as grocery shopping, cleaning and getting to appointments. Over the following months, he progressed from a wheelchair to a walker, then to a cane. Today, he has full mobility. He also speaks clearly, and his vision has much improved.
Donald has nonetheless had to adapt to life with mild aphasia, a condition that can make expressing yourself, understanding others, reading or writing more challenging. He has renewed his sense of purpose through a job in a new field and volunteering.
“Getting back to work, getting my dexterity back, being able to speak clearly — these little victories pile up over time. You can stop continuously thinking about what you’re missing out on and start living again.”
Recently, Donald took part in a Heart & Stroke campaign video, playing the role of interviewer. He helped surprise Dr. Michael Hill, one of the physicians who pioneered research into EVT treatment for stroke and helped train doctors around the world in the technique.
Now, Donald is looking ahead with optimism. He’s preparing to move into his own condo by the end of the year.
“Probably my biggest milestone after the stroke,” he says, “is getting my independence back.”
- See the researchers working on more life-saving breakthroughs
- Learn more about stroke research and recovery
- See how EVT is changing outcomes for people living with stroke
Taking on impossible strokes
Dr. Michael Hill, a professor of neurology, took on the most severe forms of stroke — once believed to be untreatable. Thanks to the advances he and his team made in endovascular treatment (EVT), an ischemic stroke in 2025 doesn’t automatically lead to death or the loss of independence. Today, many people living with stroke can return to work, stay active and share in meaningful milestones with the ones they love.
After Donald had a stroke at 26, a treatment breakthrough helped him reclaim his independence.
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