MIND OVER
MATTER
Following a massive hemorrhagic stroke due to Moyamoya Disease while driving my 18 month old daughter on the 92 freeway nine years ago and undergoing two Moyamoya bypass brain surgeries, one week apart five months later, I now live my life with a new maxim: “Mind over matter.” Despite having a rare brain disease that affects only less than 1 in 100,000 and being physically compromised with hemiparesis on the left side, my mind is strong and I’m able to go out into my community to raise awareness about rare brain disease and to give other patients hope that not only can you survive after stroke, but that you can also thrive.
My Moyamoya journey helped me realize a higher calling to use my mind despite ironically suffering a severe brain injury with a stroke that required being hospitalized for almost half a year at acute rehab hospitals around the San Francisco Bay Area. The experience enabled me to rise above my stroke related physical limitations to raise awareness and to inspire others to employ their own “Mind Over Matter” strategies so that they can thrive in their daily lives.
MIGHTY WARRIOR
Orlena Shek is a former in-house open source software technology licensing attorney double brain surgery stroke survival patient turned inspirational speaker and writer, raising awareness about rare brain disease and stroke survival in the San Francisco Bay Area.
After suffering a major hemorrhagic stroke in late 2011 due to a rare congenital condition called Moyamoya Disease, she put her law career on hold to focus on her rehab and her family.
In her spare time, Orlena volunteers at her daughter’s school and goes out into the community to help raise awareness about rare brain diseases and how to not only survive stroke, but to thrive, after stroke. Originally from Los Altos Hills, she lives in Burlingame, CA with her husband and their two children.
MEANINGFUL, PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE
GET IN TOUCH
Are you seeking guest speakers to speak on inspirational topics? Please contact me and I will develop a speaking engagement that can be tailored to fit your specific needs. Topics include: motivational lessons on how to overcome challenges, health related or not, and to find meaning in your life while learning how to employ mind over matter techniques.
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area in California.
By using my mind over matter technique, I have been able to rise above my physical limitations to seek personal independence and to give back to the community by helping others use this technique to find meaning in their lives.
Orlena Shek
Within all of us is the capacity to manifest and accomplish all that we need and desire by using mind over matter.