When “Back to Normal” Doesn’t Happen: The Part of Recovery No One Talks About
- maryrburrell
- Jul 31, 2025
- 2 min read
Redefining “Normal” After Illness
The bridge between real stories and how care should be designed
After a major health scare, surgery, or diagnosis, everyone talks about “getting back to normal.” But what if that version of normal is gone?
For many of us, the real journey begins after the hospital stay—when things don’t feel the same. Doctors focus on healing your body, but what about your emotions, identity, and sense of self? Fatigue, brain fog, body changes, and grief over what was lost can all linger.
And healing? It’s not a straight line. One good day doesn’t mean it’s all behind you. There are ups, downs, and moments where it feels like you’re starting over. That doesn’t mean you’re failing—it just means you’re human.
What’s Missing in Healthcare
Here’s the part no one talks about enough: we need more than medicine to heal. We need connection. We need community. We need to hear from people who’ve been through it and come out the other side.
That’s where peer support changes everything.
Studies show that patients who have strong support systems feel less alone, have better mental health, and are more confident navigating recovery. One analysis even found that good social support can reduce the risk of death by up to 50%—as powerful as quitting smoking.
Why HeartBridge Collective Exists
That’s exactly why I started HeartBridge Collective—a space built by patients, for patients. Because sometimes what we need most is to sit across from someone who says:
“I’ve been there. I get it. And you’re not alone.”
We connect heart valve patients with mentors who’ve lived it, felt it, and found their way forward—not with medical advice, but with real talk, real empathy, and real support.
We’re not just sharing stories—we’re using them to shape care from the inside out. We’re bridging the gap between lived experience and how care is designed.
We’re turning survival into leadership and stories into change.
Got questions about what recovery really looks like after a heart valve procedure?
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
🤝 At HeartBridge Collective, we connect heart valve patients with peer mentors who’ve walked a similar path. It’s not medical advice—it’s real talk from someone who’s been there and gets it.
🫀 We’re bridging the gap between lived experience and how care is designed—so patients aren’t just included in the system, they’re helping build it.
✨ We’re turning survival into leadership and stories into change.
📩 If you’re a heart valve patient (or caregiver) who’s been through or preparing for a transcatheter valve procedure—message me to see if HeartBridge is the right fit for you.
I’ll personally follow up with more info and next steps.
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