Steven Yost was finishing his daily mile for his running club when a sudden pain changed everything. What seemed to him like a headache turned out to be something far more serious.
“I began to experience what I thought was a migraine,” Steven says. “The pain eventually had subsided substantially, but I had double vision and could barely stand after resting. At that point, I thought I needed to be seen and agreed to go to the ER.”
At the hospital, the doctors discovered that he was experiencing a brain bleed, and it would test his strength, reshape his outlook on life, and ultimately inspire others.
When Life Takes a Turn
Initially evaluated at Atrium Health Cabarrus, doctors quickly recognized the severity of Steven’s condition, a subarachnoid hemorrhage in his cerebellum. He was immediately airlifted to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center’s neuro ICU for specialized care.
At Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, neurosurgeon Dr. William Stetler with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates confirmed Steven had suffered a rupture of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a tangle of abnormal blood vessels that can suddenly cause bleeding in the brain.
“AVMs are often present since birth and can be monitored and treated before complications occur,” explains Camron Young, a stroke navigator at Atrium Health. “However, once they rupture, blood covers areas of the brain where it is not supposed to be, creating stroke-like symptoms and potentially life-long disabilities.”
After undergoing several imaging tests, Dr. Stetler recommended surgical resection to remove the AVM, which was successfully performed just days after his stroke. He recovered within a few days and was discharged home with recommendations for outpatient therapy.
His recovery wasn’t easy. Due to complications affecting his brainstem, Steven initially couldn’t swallow and faced significant challenges with balance and mobility.
Steven once weighed over 300 pounds but transformed his life through exercise and holistic health. He started running and even became a certified yoga instructor, and it was this experience that he drew from that accelerated his recovery.
“The daily routine of personal hygiene was even exhausting. Due to sitting and lying down the majority of the day, my hips began to hurt,” remembers Steven. “I knew the answer, so I took the courage to get on the floor and practice things I had learned in yoga.”
That determination made all the difference. Steven’s yoga expertise helped him to create a supplemental recovery program at home. And within two months, Steven was walking without a walker or cane and beginning his journey back to running.
Helping Others Along the Way
For Steven, surviving a stroke wasn’t just about personal recovery; it became a mission to give back. He’s become an active member of the Atrium Health Cabarrus Stroke Support Group, where his calm demeanor and positive attitude provide comfort to new patients and families.
“Steven is very close with all of our patients. He recently spoke to the group about his stroke and recovery, and shared tips that helped him mentally recover,” says Liz Reeck, a stroke navigator at Atrium Health. “He even recently led the group in chair yoga!”
But the support group has been equally important to Steven’s own healing journey.
“It’s where your feet hit the ground and you start a new journey,” he explains. “They listen as you cry, even though you don’t understand why you are crying. They relate their experiences with the emotional roller coaster of having a stroke and offer their support as you go through your own ups and downs.”
Steven’s stroke navigators have also been crucial to his recovery. Young and Reeck have witnessed Steven’s remarkable journey firsthand and understand the importance of the role in recovery.
“A stroke doesn’t just affect the patient, it also affects their families and loved ones,” says Young. “As navigators, we help support not only the patient but those who care for them.”
Today, Steven has returned to running with renewed passion. He participates in numerous race events, including completing the Charlotte Marathon, his first marathon after the stroke. He also ran 47 miles in a 24-hour ultra-event at Hinson Lake earlier this year.
But one of his most cherished racing memories happened recently, when he helped train his 76-year-old father for his very first 5K.
“He won 3rd place in his age group,” Steven says proudly. “It’s the best feeling ever to cross a finish line with my dad!”
Finding Gifts in the Unexpected
Steven admits that he has found the silver lining.
“Perspective! It was the greatest gift of having a stroke,” he reflects. “I understand what it feels like to stand close to the ‘finish line.’ Every breath and every moment are gifts from God. Things you thought were important fade into the background. You value friends, family, prayer and time in a new way.”
His bucket list continues to grow: completing a 100K race, visiting Israel, and continuing his unique “Psalms Travel” project — writing down Bible verses, and traveling one mile per verse. And appreciating every experience, even the ones that landed him in the hospital.
“I’ve never had brain surgery before… and I had never been in a helicopter!” Steven recalls with excitement. “The doctors, nurses, pilot, aides, the people who brought me food, the people who cleaned my room, the ones who took all the pictures of my brain. They were all amazing!
All of this is why everyone who meets Steven says his attitude is what makes him special.
“Steven is always smiling,” says Reeck. “He’s never met a stranger. He is determined to not let this stroke take away his passion for running, or for life.”
“Having a stroke was a blessing for me,” Steven says. “I discovered that you’re never stuck in any certain place in life. There is HOPE! Life changes in so many unexpected ways that we have no control over. In the middle of the chaos, there is opportunity for something new.”
Learn more about Atrium Health Neurosciences Institute and our expert stroke care.
