In January of 2020 my father, Jatinder Parkash, suffered from a hemorrhagic stroke alone, in the back of a van as he awaited assistance from a car towing service. Due to the length of his comatose state and the severity of his stroke, he was unable to recover completely. His speech, motility and cognition were impacted and he was bedridden in a long term care facility. After fighting through the stroke, several kidney infections, renal failure, and substantial changes to his physical and emotional state, Jatinder showcased utmost strength and courage. Unfortunately, he suffered from an infection in his abdomen that spread to his entire body. He took his last breath on February 5th, 2021.
My father was an incredible, creative and loving man. His commitment to religion, family, and work inspired me on a daily basis. For every accomplishment or failure, he was there to support me and my dreams. My father’s journey is not an anomaly. In fact, strokes are quite common within North America. I knew that I wanted to do something to honour him, and those alike him, that have suffered the consequences of stroke, heart disease, and other cardiovascular related problems.
Prevention and proactive action are key to reduce the prevalence of heart disease in North America. We have an amazing team of committed individuals that want to make changes within their local and global communities. Our goal is to provide health resources to members of low socioeconomic status and individuals disproportionately affected by heart disease (i.e. BIPOC groups). Through our blog, infographics and video platforms, we aim to communicate science in a way that is easy to understand and easily accessible.
This one is for you dad. I hope I’m making you proud. Love you more than the stars in the sky.
Author: Radha Sharma
JP Stroke Foundation 
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