Pictured: Tranicia Hankins at Franciscan’s Stroke Camp in 2024.

A stroke can hit anyone at any time, even an 18-year Army veteran, who is in tip-top shape. That is exactly what happened to Tranicia Hankins in December 2016, while on a family vacation in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

The morning began just like any other, as she was getting dressed and ready for a day of fun. Then, it struck. First, her legs stopped functioning, so she sat down. Next, her arms stopped working and then she could not sit up. When the ambulance arrived, she was laying and not sure what was going on with her body.

Hankins had suffered an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a rupture of a cluster of blood vessels in the brain that caused a stroke.

“At that point, I was super healthy,” said Hankins. “To have a stroke was not something that was expected. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.”

In the early years after her stroke, the now-Indiana resident, who moved from Cleveland after her last deployment, was looking for a support group for those who had suffered a stroke. She found the Franciscan Health Stroke Support Group which meets once a month. The group provided the community and family-like atmosphere she yearned for, which helped her understand what was happening to her after having a stroke.

Through the Stroke Support group, Hankins learned about the annual stroke camp, which Franciscan has been hosting for over 20 years. This year’s camp is set for July 11-13 at a new location, Higher Ground Conference & Retreat Center in West Harrison, Ind. The theme for the camp is ’70s peace, love and recovery. Campers stay in hotel-style rooms with private or nearby bathrooms.

“Each stroke camp, I feel like I learn something different about myself and about the people around me,” Hankins said. “Stroke camp is a place that has allowed me to be comfortable traveling to because I know that I will be taken care of. That makes me feel at ease going to stoke camp. We have pampering, crafts and activities. It’s just a good time.”

Higher Ground Conference & Retreat Center is located on 264 acres of rolling hills in the beautiful farm country of Southeastern Indiana. The conference and retreat center has modern amenities and conveniences for campers.

The weekend is designed specifically for survivors and caregivers in a comfortable and informal setting that focuses on education, relaxation, crafts, games, socialization, discussion, pampering and entertainment.

“I would tell a survivor or a caregiver that would like to attend stroke camp that it’s good to give each other a break,” Hankins said. “It helps you get off your chest what you are going through and then you can go home and still have a good relationship and maybe have a better understanding of each other and the process that we are going through. I think that is beneficial to anyone who wants to go to stroke camp.”

The mission of stroke camp is to improve the quality of life for stroke survivors, caregivers, and their families. Franciscan Stroke Camp is the only stroke camp in Indiana, with 2025 marking the 21st year of the camp.

“I want to say to the people who sponsor stroke camp, that it’s one of the greatest things for me,” Hankins said. “Every year, I feel like maybe I have outgrown stroke camp and I go and learn something new. I come back with new ideas and am so grateful that there is someone behind the scenes, who is willing to give us that space, be able to have those things, create those relationships and have that community, so that I feel like I belong somewhere. I would like to thank Franciscan Health for continuing to sponsor it.”

The cost of the camp is $150 per person and scholarship opportunities are available through United Stroke Alliance.

For inquiries about stroke camp, please email: Laura.Williams2@FranciscanAlliance.org.

Stroke camp is made possible by the work of the Franciscan Health Stroke Center, the Franciscan Health Foundation, Franciscan Rehabilitation Services, as well as sponsorship from Uplift Johnson County and Medtronic.

Media Contact
Tony Veneziano
Media Relations Specialist
Phone: 317-528-7986
Email: Tony.Veneziano@FranciscanAlliance.org