When John had his stroke in September of 2013, his life changed dramatically. John was 35 years old, had a newborn baby, and was striving to become a partner at an international law firm. His cerebellar stroke left him without the ability to talk, write, or walk.
For better or worse, John became an “expert” in stroke.
Importantly, the stroke caused him to experience vocal cord paralysis, something John overcame, especially during his public speaking. During his lengthy rehabilitation, he relied upon his faith and the hope that he would eventually get better.
John graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a History and Business degree in 2000. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis in 2004. He worked at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP (formerly Bryan Cave LLP) for approximately nine years as an environmental attorney before his stroke. Miraculously, John returned to work in March of 2019.
John and John's wife, Cindy, have been married 16 years, and have three children: Ryan, Maggie, and Anna.
To put it simply, he is grateful to be alive to see his children reach many milestones.