#StebbinsStrong

Feb 27
2 min

2023 Bismarck Brain Walk

And that's a wrap on the 2023 Bismarck Brain Walk! On February 22nd we celebrated World Encephalitis Day around the globe and Encephalitis Day right here in North Dakota. We logged steps, we wore red, and we showed up in a BIG way! 40 Brain Walkers braved the warmth, the cold, and the treadmills in 6 states! We had AE warriors reppin' in OH, we had runners in Caly, we had beach walkers in Fla, and we had Bismarck people taking over the YMCA track (it was somewhere between -10

Feb 21
2 min

Encephalitis Day ND

JM Stebbins friends, this is NEWS if we've ever had it! February 22nd is World Encephalitis Day ... AND, thanks to Governor Doug Burgum, it's now Encephalitis Day in North Dakota each and every February 22nd. YES, February 22nd is now Encephalitis Day in North Dakota! Governor Burgum recently proclaimed February 22 as Encephalitis Day in North Dakota, and on February 16, 2023, I had the great honor of taking my #StebbinsStrong family to the Capitol to meet him and pick up the

Feb 6
1 min

2023 Bismarck Brain Walk

CALLING ALL BRAIN WALKERS!! It's February so that means we are #StebbinsStrong and going #Red4WED! Get that red on and lace up your shoes, because February 22, 2023, is World Encephalitis Day (WED)! This year, we're kicking off the 4th annual Bismarck Brain Walk on WED! And remember, it's as EASY as 1-2-3!! 1) Put on something RED - a shirt, a scarf, red Elton glasses, red high tops, anything your happy lil red heart desires; 2) Take a WALK - doesn't need to be near or far,

Nov 6, 2022
5 min

Unstoppable

My favorite part of a flight is takeoff. I love that amazing feel of the combination of max speed and the moment you feel the lift. And on that particular day and flight, I had another little treat, a window seat and no one next to me. I was leaving Rochester, MN, from a trip to the Mayo Clinic. I gently rested the left side of my forehead on the cool window. And as I felt the point of rising and looked out the window as what below me became smaller, I felt one warm tear leav

Jul 20, 2022
1 min

Jackie on Prairie Public's Main St.

With the familiar voice and music, Jackie felt like she was sitting down to chat with an old friend when she joined North Dakota Prairie Public's Ashley Thornberg on Main Street. Ashley asked all the tough questions about AE, Unwillable, why the title, the writing process, and what's up with the Elton lyrics (have I ever mentioned just how much I love Elton ...)?! To listen to the podcast, find it where you subscribe or click HERE. #StebbinsStrong #JustKeepSwimming #BetterDay

Jul 15, 2022
1 min

NEWS and VIEWS

What fun it was to hold a book signing in my hometown of Bowman! And how humbled I was to see this very nice story on the front page of the Bowman County Pioneer. Thanks for welcoming me back with open arms, my beloved Bowman forever family. Read it HERE! My dear new friend who feels just like an old friend, Amanda Godfread, wrote about Unwillable in her "Speaking Out" Opinion piece in the Bismarck Tribune: "'Unwillable' offers glimpse of rare illness." Amanda's beautiful and

Jul 11, 2022
2 min

Purchase UNWILLABLE Here!

UNWILLABLE sightings are popping up everywhere! I've seen UNWILLABLE out in the deep blue seas of Alaska, on a boat on the Missouri River in Bismarck, at the swimming pool, the kitchen counter in North Carolina, the tattered remains after a puppy got into it in Kansas, at the Bowman Museum (shout out to my hometown), in a coffee shop in Arizona, and more! The news about autoimmune encephalitis, its complicated and horrific onset, the terror that ensues, the heartache of recov

Jun 9, 2022
1 min

Jackie joins the McFeely Mess podcast

On June 8, 2022, Jackie joined host, Mike McFeely, of the McFeely Mess podcast for a discussion of all things AE: the onset, the terror, the recovery, and the process of writing Unwillable. And what an episode it was! Mike asked a lot of tough questions and Jackie tried hard to have the answers. You can listen HERE! #StebbinsStrong #JustKeepSwimming #BetterDaysAhead #UNWILLABLE

Jun 9, 2022
1 min

UNWILLABLE launch on Studio 701

On June 1, 2022, Jackie joined her dear friends, Jeff and Amber, on Studio 701, at the local CBS station to celebrate the launch of Unwillable: A Journey to Reclaim my Brain. As always, there were lots of laughs, Jackie busted out some 90s dance moves in the green room, and Jeff was celebrating National Barefoot Day. You can check it out HERE! #StebbinsStrong #JustKeepSwimming #BetterDaysAhead #UNWILLABLE

May 26, 2022
9 min

I Can See Clearly Now

May 26, 2022 Dear May 26, 2018-Jackie: Today is one of the worst days you’ve lived through in your life, but you’ll hardly remember it. You can’t read this today, because you’re mostly unconscious. But you’re going to live. And you’re going to see some familiar faces soon that will bring you happiness. You’re in indescribable pain now. You’re on morphine. People around you think you’re going to die or be rendered permanently disabled. They don’t think you’ll be you again. Peo

May 17, 2022
1 min

Cover Reveal

JM Stebbins friends, please give it up for Lacie J. Van Orman of Loupine Design. Not only is Lacie a super-duper talented graphic designer, ad and marketing lady, she has a Master's degree in Gerontology and works for Humanities North Dakota. She can now add Book Cover Designer to her long list of awesomeness. And on top of all that, she just happens to be a bestie who goes all the way back to me standing by her locker to talk to her in 7th grade. She's truly my forever frien

Mar 14, 2022
1 min

WED '22 Interview

ICYMI: Jackie joined her friends on the local CBS morning show, Studio 701, for an update on her journey with autoimmune encephalitis and how she's celebrating World Encephalitis Day 2022. Watch her go #Red4WED in her nifty #StebbinsStrong #BrainWalk shirt! CLICK HERE to watch the segment!

Mar 13, 2022
1 min

2022 Bismarck Brain Walk

Another Bismarck Brain Walk is in the books. We put out the call for 2022 #JMStebbins, #StebbinsStrong, #BrainWalkers, and boy did y'all show up! 132 people logged brain building miles in seven states across the United States! We had a Bismarck, North Dakota, pharmacy, middle school gym classes in Texas, a beach walker in Florida, a background of ice in Alaska, and a "Just Keep Swim[mer]" in Ohio. In 2020, we had the largest event in North American history. Last year, we had

Feb 16, 2022
1 min

A publisher you say ...

For years now, I've promised an autoimmune encephalitis book to my JM Stebbins family. I am so proud to say that 982 days after I began penning my memoir, Calumet Editions acquired it for publication! CLICK HERE to watch the video announcement Thank you, friends! It's because of your love and support that I was able to take this massive step towards my book being placed in your hands. And thank you Calumet Editions for bringing my dream to life. An extra big thank you to my c

Feb 6, 2022
1 min

Hear Hear: About the Brain Fever podcast

ICYMI: Jackie and her lovely husband, Sean, presented about the Brain Fever podcast at 1 Million Cups Bismarck/ Mandan, on February 2, 2022. If you couldn't make it, but are dying to hear Jackie's stories and bad jokes and Sean's wisdom about how to actually produce and publish a podcast, CLICK HERE. Or copy and paste the link: https://fb.watch/aXYfujvaez/ The Brain Fever podcast has been downloaded over 3,000 times on 6 Continents; in 33 Countries and 514 Cities around the g

Jan 7, 2022
1 min

#StebbinsStrong shirt store

Ever wonder where Jackie got those great high tops or haircut (no ... maybe ... probably not)? Or what about, Where does she get her #StebbinsStrong shirts? Wonder no more, because you can now order your very own, official #StebbinsStrong 2022 Bismarck Brain Walk #Red4WED shirt! Both adult and kiddo styles available. Order asap to have your red shirt shipped just in time for World Encephalitis Day (Feb 22) and the 3rd annual Bismarck Brain Walk! This effort is brought to you

Nov 5, 2021
3 min

I Want to Break Free

I found this NYT’s video opinion piece to be very thought provoking. I encourage you to watch it to think about what “quitting” means to you. https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000008027932/quitting-jobs-resignation-employment.html?smid=tw-share I’m a big fan of Simone Biles. And while I know as much about gymnastics as I do about hatchet throwing, I don’t think it’s possible to dispute she’s the GOAT. And her GOATness transcends athletics. She overcame sexual abuse by

Oct 18, 2021
5 min

Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)

I’ll never forget the day I met her, in the dorm hallway. Trish is a bit (a really super duper) of a closer talker (and I love her for it). I was just meeting her through my longtime bestie, Lacie, and she started violently flipping her hair at me like she was flirting with me, and laughing so hysterically I had no idea what the hell she was saying, until I realized that she was mocking me. And she was so close to me! (I’m not kidding, this was the first time I met her) Once

Oct 4, 2021
6 min

Thunderstruck

I will never do that. I’d be the only person in history to get one and then get Lyme disease, or worms. I’m sure I’d die from it. Me for many years, on getting a tattoo. They’re just not for me. No thanks. But then in circa 2016, I noticed one of the triathaloners at the Y had a little running stick figure on her shoulder blade. Small, plain, and so cool. I wanted it. But my body had long made me give up running, so it didn’t make sense on me. Cue the life-changing brain illn

Sep 23, 2021
3 min

Jackie's Piece in the American Bar Association Journal's "Your Voice"

I am really proud of this piece. Not only is it my first published piece in a national publication, I spoke from the heart about my autoimmune encephalitis story, and my own mental health story while a practicing trial lawyer. My story is not easy to tell (especially in 1200 or so words) because while I was led to believe I was having a mental breakdown, it actually wasn't that, it was AE. HOWEVER, the fact that a few of my closest friends and my family were so convinced of m