Illinois pediatric stroke survivor honored as finalist for national Stroke Hero Award

KEWANEE, IL, March 10, 2025 ­— A Kewanee, Illinois survivor is in the running for a national honor—the 2025 Stroke Hero Award from the American Stroke Association—and needs community support to win. Lauren Cinnamon is one of just 12 finalists nationwide for the coveted “Voters’ Choice Hero” award, which recognizes individuals making a difference in stroke awareness, prevention or recovery.

The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health of all, is honoring individuals and groups in the stroke community from around the U.S. who have shown resilience and outstanding progress with its annual Stroke Hero Awards program. Lauren was selected from more than 250 nominations nationwide to be a candidate for the “Voters’ Choice Hero” award, chosen from outstanding finalists in the Stroke Hero Award categories.

The public may vote at Stroke.org/HeroVote now through March 18. Winners will be announced on May 1, 2025, during American Stroke Month.

Lauren Cinnamon, affectionately known as “Warrior Lauren” was born with a congenital heart defect and suffered a stroke as an infant weeks after her first open heart surgery, beginning a long health journey. Throughout her life, Lauren has undergone multiple surgeries including two open-heart surgeries and a complex neurosurgery called a pial synangiosis surgery, which likely prevented her from having a second stroke. Lauren is now a first grader, continuing her physical and occupational therapy while being involved in various activities including dance, trampoline, piano and volleyball.

To express their gratitude, the Cinnamon family created “Fueling a Future,” a nonprofit that supports families traveling for medical appointments by providing them with gas cards. To date, the family has provided more than $25,000 in support for families commuting for medical treatment from their rural area in Kewanee. They hope to continue using Lauren’s journey to shed light on pediatric stroke. The Cinnamon Family has also used social media to document Lauren’s story on two Facebook pages, “Fueling a Future” and “Warrior Lauren’s Heart Journey.”

“We want to continue to raise awareness for pediatric strokes so that more children can have outcomes as successful as Lauren’s journey,” said Brea Cinnamon, Lauren’s mother. “Pediatric strokes don’t always have symptoms as obvious as adult stroke presentation.  We appreciate the care from all of Lauren’s family, caregivers, and teachers who … are helping her reach her full potential.”

Each year, approximately 800,000 people in the U.S. suffer a stroke[1], according to the American Heart Association’s 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics. Those who have had a stroke often must overcome physical, emotional and cognitive changes to move forward. Doing so requires strength and support.

For more information, visit Stroke.org/HeroAwards.  

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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.   

About the American Stroke Association
The American Stroke Association is a relentless force for a world with fewer strokes and longer, healthier lives. We team with millions of volunteers and donors to ensure equitable health and stroke care in all communities. We work to prevent, treat and beat stroke by funding innovative research, fighting for the public’s health, and providing lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based association was created in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit stroke.org. Follow us on Facebook and X.
 

For Media Inquiries:
Jorie Goins; Jorie.Goins@Heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org