{"id":32630,"date":"2026-02-09T10:08:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T17:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=32630"},"modified":"2026-02-19T09:52:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T16:52:46","slug":"hemorrhagic-stroke-treatment-aided-by-positivity-and-perseverance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/hemorrhagic-stroke-treatment-aided-by-positivity-and-perseverance\/","title":{"rendered":"Life after a hemorrhagic stroke: How Jeff rebuilt a life full of hope and purpose"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"Each
Each year, stroke survivor, Jeff Greve, joins other stroke survivors for an art class at the Loveland Museum, which underscores the power of creativity in recovery. Since suffering his stroke, Jeff has focused on helping other stroke survivors. He participates in multiple UCHealth support groups. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you are ever feeling down and need some hope, spend time with Jeff Greve. His optimism is contagious.<\/p>\n

After a stroke in 2018 left Jeff with physical and cognitive challenges, he rebuilt his life through support groups, volunteering and creative pursuits. His journey shows how connecting with others and finding purpose can help people who must deal with difficult health challenges.<\/p>\n

On the wall of Jeff\u2019s home hangs a saying that sums up his outlook: \u201cI love my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jeff and his five younger sisters first gave the framed quote to their dad after he suffered a stroke at age 72, and now it inspires Jeff.<\/p>\n

Jeff\u2019s positive outlook comes after he had to deal with many challenges. He doesn\u2019t shy away from the reality of how much his life has changed since his stroke, but he\u2019s learned to focus on strengths rather than losses.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want people to know that yes, life changes after a stroke, but you can still do something to excel and blossom,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not a stroke victim. I\u2019m a stroke survivor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Helping
Helping stroke survivors rediscover confidence and purpose has become one of Jeff\u2019s greatest motivations. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When a hemorrhagic stroke occurs<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Jeff collapsed in his bathroom in the home he shared with his then 25-year-old grandson, Kyle, on Jan. 28, 2018.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember wondering, \u2018Why did that happen?\u2019 And I tried to get up, but I couldn\u2019t,\u201d said Jeff. \u201cMy mind was super coherent, and I could tell I was having a stroke, but Kyle said I was mumbling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Be informed about strokes<\/a>, risk factors and the signs.<\/div>\n

Jeff previously was healthy at 58. He had spent most of his life on the go as a project manager, and when he wasn\u2019t working, he loved running and hiking. He started competing in long-distance running events during college, doing the Boston Marathon during his freshman year, then competing in half marathons into his 50s.<\/p>\n

But Jeff also was dealing with high blood pressure, which runs in his family. Several of his sisters and his mother coped with high blood pressure, and it also contributed to his father\u2019s stroke, Jeff said.<\/p>\n

Stress from work also didn\u2019t help.<\/p>\n

For many years, Jeff managed his blood pressure with medication and regularly kept tabs on his blood pressure. But he stopped taking medications, and his blood pressure got out of control. That\u2019s when he had his stroke.<\/p>\n

Strokes disrupt blood flow to the brain. There are two main types: ischemic, in which a blood vessel in the brain is blocked, and hemorrhagic, in which a blood vessel ruptures and causes bleeding in the brain. High blood pressure damages arteries, raising the likelihood of both types of strokes.<\/p>\n

\"For
For Jeff, art has become a way to document his stroke journey. He embraces new opportunities and works hard to keep growing, recovering and inspiring other stroke survivors. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What to do when you suspect a stroke<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When a stroke occurs, surrounding brain tissue begins to die quickly because it cannot get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to survive.<\/p>\n

Jeff was lucky that his grandson was with him on the day when he had his stroke. Kyle immediately called 911, and paramedics with UCHealth Emergency Medical Services arrived within three minutes, Jeff said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an amazing start to everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is vital to call 911 immediately if anyone witnesses stroke symptoms, including sudden weakness, confusion, trouble speaking, vision changes, loss of balance or severe headache. Some people drive to an ER, but it\u2019s much better to call for help because medical teams can begin treatments immediately and can notify hospital workers to be ready to help stroke patients the moment they arrive at a hospital.<\/p>\n

Patients who suffer from ischemic strokes need to receive proper medication within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. And people with clots in large vessels can undergo a procedure called a thrombectomy<\/a>, during which doctors remove the clot.<\/p>\n

Ischemic strokes are much more common, accounting for about 85% of strokes. But Jeff experienced a massive hemorrhagic stroke.<\/p>\n

Medical experts cannot use clot-busting medications like TNK for hemorrhagic strokes, said\u202fDawn Eeten<\/a>, a physician assistant at\u202fUCHealth Neurology Clinic \u2013 Fort Collins<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead, the treatment involves careful monitoring and control of pressure within the skull over time. Supportive care and control of blood pressure are also critical,\u201d Eeten said.<\/p>\n

\"Jeff's
Jeff’s therapist helps him with his physical rehabilitation after his stroke. Photo courtesy of Jeff Greve.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWith a hemorrhagic stroke, we are looking at and responding to the growing size of the bleed and the swelling, which can push on other areas of the brain,\u201d she said. \u201cThe first 48 hours of treatment are important, and the severity of symptoms can change a lot depending not only on the size and location of the bleed, but on the swelling and pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jeff calls Eeten his \u201cneuro hero from day one.\u201d<\/p>\n

After being assessed at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital,<\/a> Jeff\u2019s medical team transferred him to\u202fUCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies<\/a>\u202fin Loveland.<\/p>\n

Doctors wanted Jeff to have access to the hospital\u2019s team of neurosurgeons who specialize in caring for stroke patients<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After several days in the intensive care unit, Jeff moved to the neurology care unit, and a week after his stroke, he began inpatient rehabilitation.<\/p>\n

Working toward normalcy after a hemorrhagic stroke<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Immediately after the stroke, Jeff struggled with his new reality. All his life, he\u2019d been on the move. And now, the right side of his body no longer was following his brain\u2019s commands. He would need to learn to walk and feed himself again. Thankfully, a team of great supporters was there to help, and they took advantage of Jeff\u2019s can-do approach to life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always had a positive attitude, but my rehab therapists seized it and got it going again,\u201d Jeff said.<\/p>\n

\"Jeff
Jeff attends stroke support groups across northern Colorado, where he\u2019s become known as a steady, uplifting presence. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAlthough my right side didn\u2019t work, I knew I did not want to be confined to a wheelchair,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I finally could walk, I felt like Rocky. I was slow and awkward, but I felt like Rocky.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jeff progressed through his recovery and, in the hospital’s rehab gym, practiced challenges he might face at home, such as going up and down stairs, opening car doors, and getting in and out of the shower.<\/p>\n

\"After
After his stroke, Jeff Greve had to work hard to get his motor skills and balance back. Photo courtesy of Jeff Greve.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jeff suffered from what many stroke patients experience: proprioceptive deficits. Strokes can disrupt pathways that allow a person\u2019s brain to communicate with their limbs and muscles. Jeff had lost about 90% of the feeling and usage on his right side, and he often wasn\u2019t aware of what the right side of his body was doing.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, these proprioceptive deficits have never gone away.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know where my body is in space,\u201d he said. \u201cI must look at my right side to know what\u2019s going on. I\u2019m so used to it now, so I often assume I know what it\u2019s doing, but that\u2019s why I end up falling. My left side will turn to go do something I want it to do, but my right side is still turned the other direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

After leaving the hospital, Jeff started walking with trekking poles for balance and worked up to walking miles every day. Though frustrated by deficits that remain from his stroke, he keeps working to move, to challenge himself and to inspire other stroke survivors.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the main thing to remember: Everything that happens is not the end of the world,\u201d Jeff said. \u201cI was mad because I couldn\u2019t do anything, but I went back to physical therapy and occupational therapy to see what I could do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seeking more physical and occupational therapy after his hemorrhagic stroke<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Long after his stroke, Jeff decided to keep working with his UCHealth physical and occupational therapists. They used a lift to support his weight while Jeff worked, smoothing out his movements on a treadmill. They provided him with home exercises, which he\u2019d do alongside his then 5-year-old grandson, who playfully challenged him in the driveway to see who could do the tasks with better form and balance.<\/p>\n

\"Jeff
Two years after his stroke, Jeff Greve competed in a 10K in Moab. Photo courtesy of Jeff Greve.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Eventually, Jeff\u2019s therapists taught him all they could and celebrated his last rehabilitation visit by doing a 2-mile run together. Jeff says his version of running these days is more like a fast walk. But he moves well enough to hike and compete in races.<\/p>\n

About seven months after his stroke, Jeff completed a 10K, and two years later, he completed his first post-stroke half-marathon.<\/p>\n

Keeping a positive outlook years after a stroke<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Jeff still jogs outdoors but faced another common stroke challenge. It\u2019s called foot drop and is related to his proprioception deficits.<\/p>\n

Foot drop happens when muscles weaken and cannot lift the foot.<\/p>\n

Due to his foot drop, Jeff suffered a bad fall in 2025. But, as is typical with him, he was determined to recover and keep moving. After months of dealing with bruised ribs, Jeff is once again able to run two miles at a time. He now uses a foot brace that uses an electrical stimulation system to reduce his foot drop problems and keep him safer while he moves.<\/p>\n

Jeff\u2019s doctors and rehabilitation specialists have helped keep Jeff on his feet, but what truly moves him forward is a passion for helping other stroke survivors.<\/p>\n

\"Jeff
Jeff volunteers with new stroke patients, offering encouragement and a listening ear during the earliest, hardest days of recovery. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finding new motivation after a hemorrhagic stroke through stroke support groups<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Since he first had his stroke, Jeff became a regular at UCHealth\u2019s stroke support groups. Initially, Jeff\u2019s medical team in northern Colorado offered one support group in Fort Collins, but the program later expanded and began offering groups in Loveland, Greeley and Johnstown. Jeff attends all four groups whenever he can.<\/p>\n

\u201cJeff\u2019s been the driver of those groups \u2014 the ringleader,\u201d said Jamie Baker, UCHealth\u2019s stroke coordinator in northern Colorado. \u201cThese groups help stroke survivors find a new way of living and the passion to get through the grief of losing the life they once had.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a shared experience,\u201d Baker said. \u201cOnly they know what that feels like. A stroke is a really complicated, complex and difficult thing to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n

To help stroke survivors find new passions, Baker finds opportunities to collaborate with community groups, including the Loveland Museum<\/a>. Loveland had a rich history of supporting artists. So, Baker arranges for stroke patients to attend an art class every year at the museum. Then, patients display the art they create during shows at the Medical Center of the Rockies. Jeff has participated in the program annually since its inception in 2023.<\/p>\n