2026 Voters’ Choice Hero:
Stacie Barber
“I am deeply honored to receive this award. For me, it stands for something bigger — it represents a journey that went against what we were told to expect. This is about bringing awareness to what’s possible after stroke and challenging the narratives that can unintentionally limit recovery. My hope is that it empowers survivors and families to advocate for more, expect more, and reminds people that when nothing is certain, anything is possible.” – Stacie Barber
Stacie Barber, a physical therapist and business owner, refused to accept doctors’ dire outlook after her husband, Logan, had a large bleeding stroke in September 2024. He spent a month in intensive care on a ventilator.
Guided by her resolve and professional knowledge, Stacie’s caregiving fueled her husband’s striking recovery, including his return to full-time work. She has tracked each step of Logan’s journey and shares it with her more than 1 million social media followers, who have learned from and been inspired by Stacie’s posts.
Logan was a healthy 37-year-old with no warning signs. Yet he had a stroke so severe that it led to several serious problems in his lungs that could have killed him. He required advanced life support, including a medicine that keeps muscles from moving. During this time, Stacie was deeply involved in his care — using physical therapy techniques to support his strength, body and brain health and ability to move, even when he could not respond.
Stacie was told that if Logan survived, he would likely never walk again and would remain very impaired. She refused to accept that. When therapy was delayed, she brought her own therapy gear to the hospital to provide strength-based and brain-focused strategies she uses with her patients and athletes.
Seven and a half weeks later, Logan came home in a wheelchair. Now, Stacie balances the roles of caregiver, mother to their young daughter and business owner, while continuing to lead his rehab care.
Throughout, Stacie logged their journey on social media. She shares Logan’s recovery, what caregiving is really like, the importance of speaking up for patients, and the often-overlooked potential for recovery after brain injury.
Her message is clear: Limits are often defined too early, and outcomes cannot always be foreseen. With the right support, resources and persistence, recovery can be better than expected. Through her platform, Stacie focuses on helping stroke survivors and care partners manage uncertainty, press for better care and redefine what is possible.
