On Sept. 25, 2014, Contessa Siders was cooking dinner with her husband, Aaron at their home in Sioux City, Iowa when she suddenly collapsed. Within minutes, the then 33-year-old exhibited classic stroke signs. After being stabilized by the team at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa, Tessa admitted to Madonna a week later.

Since leaving Madonna nearly 11 years ago, she has focused on not only becoming the best version of herself, but helping many others along the way.

• She became a mother to her amazing son, Soren.

• She started a stroke support group in the Siouxland area and helped teach local 5th graders to learn the signs of a stroke.

• She became involved with the American Heart/Stroke Association, where she didn’t just stop at advocating for bills to help stroke survivors in the state of Iowa, but she took her message to United States Congress.

• She started a crafting business called One-Handed Crafts, which the name peaks the interest of others at craft fairs, giving her the chance to tell her story.

• Recently, she went through a life-changing surgery that is bringing motion back to her extremities. She now spends time giving speeches to therapy students, nurses, and therapy professionals about her experiences.

• She has participated in every Miles for Madonna walk – all 10!

Tessa decided to become a Miracle Night Ambassador to share the importance of not allowing the stroke to define her limits. She was able to accomplish this and more by pushing herself to get better and lived by her motto, "Don't Mess with Tess."