My Story

My name is Hugo Huerta and I had a brain injury (stroke) in 2010 caused by a fungal infection (fungal endocarditis) around my heart after surgery to replace an aortic heart valve.  The fungus grew undetected for five months after which it formed blood clots that traveled down my leg and to my brain causing mini strokes and a brain aneurysm that burst, which required brain surgery. As a result, I experienced loss of control on the right side of my body (hemiparesis). I lost the ability to speak, my brain's processing speed was minimal, completely lost the ability to understand my second language, and encountered emotional and impulse control issues. My family was told that I would most likely never talk, walk or really live independently ever again. I remember thinking back then that they must be talking about someone else.  

Today, I am independent, read and write in my second language, drive a car, have meaningful relationships, volunteer as a peer visitor in hospitals, teach classes on recovery, am a business owner, and love to share my testimony. Through the grace of God, a lot of hard work, therapy, and recovery steps developed on my journey, I continue to make gains in my brain and body. I am so grateful to be alive and I thank God for such a great recovery so far. I want to pay forward what I have received and learned in the process.