LIFE. After Dawne: The Story Behind the New Brand

Joey Montes @jrm

The Things I Wish I Had Never Seen: PTSD, Loss, Stroke, and Finding Peace

Losing Dawne was devastating, but the trauma of trying to resuscitate her left another wound entirely. PTSD affected me physically, psychologically, and emotionally. I lost more than 100 pounds, stopped caring for myself, lost hope, questioned my faith and worth, and later suffered a stroke. Peace finally began when I...

Joey Montes @jrm

Learning to Live With Grief: Dawne, Healing, and Finding Peace

Losing Dawne changed the shape of my life. Grief did not follow a schedule, and neither did healing. Over time, and even while dealing with the effects of a stroke, I learned that grieving was not something I needed to defeat. I needed to allow myself to feel it, carry it, and eventually make room for peace beside it.

Joey Montes @jrm

Learning to Walk Forward Again: Preparing for TLIF After a Stroke

Walking became an important part of preparing for my L4-L5 TLIF fusion, but after my stroke it was no longer automatic. Persistent left-side weakness, stiffness, visual impairment, and the need to retrain my left leg changed every mile into both physical preparation and neurological practice.

Joey Montes @jrm

The Miles Before Surgery: Walking 8–10 Miles a Day Before My TLIF Fusion

Before my L4-L5 TLIF fusion on August 4, 2026, I made walking a major part of preparing myself physically and mentally for surgery. On many days, I walked eight to ten miles—not because everyone facing spine surgery should do the same, but because it was something I could do, and it became part of how I prepared for wh...