June 30, 2025 – Joe Malinowski spent decades standing up and advocating for abused children. However, on January 6, 2021, Malinowski experienced a major medical condition that would threaten his life and the advocacy work his life centered around.
“Early in the morning, I felt some numbness in my left arm, so I texted my wife saying that I thought something was going on,” Malinowski recently shared with the Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke podcast. “She headed home, and in the meantime, I lost my balance, went down and realized I left my phone in the kitchen. I dragged myself to the kitchen only to realize I couldn’t reach the phone, so I laid there.”
Malinowski spent 13 days in a neuro intensive care unit. A CT scan showed he suffered a brain aneurysm, which led to a hemorrhagic stroke. Malinowski eventually arrived at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts to start his recovery journey.
“I was in a wheelchair, totally paralyzed on my left side,” Malinowski shared with the podcast. “My OT and PT were amazing. They helped motivate me. The empowerment came from them. I didn’t think I was going to be able to do it. Every time I went, I wanted more and would ask for more PT and OT.”
Malinowski shared that it was the encouragement and the laughter of his care team that enabled his rehabilitation success. And now five years after his stroke, he is continuing to advocate and encourage people, albeit in a different way.
“About a year after I left Encompass Health, I was invited back to speak to stroke survivors,” Malinowski said. “I wondered what I could possibly say. Now as a stroke survivor, I’m finding that my giving back is talking to people. Telling my story. Telling them ‘you’re doing good, push, don’t give up.'”
Malinowski makes it a point to visit Encompass Health Western Massachusetts often to be part of the stroke survivor support group and help survivors advocate for their needs.
“We are so appreciative and proud of Joe,” said Deb White, enrichment therapist at Encompass Health Western Massachusetts. “It was an honor to provide him with care after his stroke, but to see him now at our hospital - speaking to our stroke survivors and offering encouragement - it’s very impactful for our patients.”
To listen to Malinowski’s full interview with Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke podcast, click the links below.
Encompass Health Western Massachusetts holds The Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care Certification in Stroke Rehabilitation, which recognizes the hospital in providing safe, high-quality care.
Beyond Stillness Podcast: Part 1
Beyond Stillness Podcast: Part 2
