HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. – Former Highland Park Mayor DeAndre Windom is turning a deeply personal health journey into a powerful message of resilience and awareness.
Since experiencing five strokes beginning in 2019, Windom has channeled his recovery into a new book aimed at stroke survivors and their families.
Windom served as Highland Park’s mayor from 2011 to 2015 and remains a well-known community figure.
Though each stroke has impacted his speech, his passion for the people of Highland Park hasn’t wavered.
Still a champion for Highland Park
Windom now relies on caregivers, including his daughter, Bianca Williams, and other family members, to help with speech communication.
But those who know him say his spirit is unchanged.
“How did you like being the Mayor of Highland Park?” Williams asked her father.
“Oh, man, (thumbs up), good, oh yeah!” Windom replied.
His enthusiasm for his former role and for his city remains unmistakable.
“I mean, he is Highland Park through and through,” Williams said.
“Highland Park!” Windom added.
Five strokes, one unstoppable mission
Windom experienced his first stroke in 2019, with four more following in subsequent years.
Williams says the most recent strokes have been the hardest to overcome.
“Those last three strokes, they were a lot harder to recover from, which puts us where we are now,” Williams said.
Now, they’re on a path of advocacy and education.
Windom recently released a book titled “Let’s Go Champ! Winning at Life After Stroke.”
His family describes it as a labor of love, one that chronicles Windom’s personal journey while offering tips and strategies for other stroke survivors and their caregivers.
“Let’s Go Champ! Oh yeah!” Windom said when asked about the book.
His sister, Tanesha Windom, says DeAndre experienced his fifth stroke while writing it, a fact that only deepens the book’s message.
“This is DeAndre’s fight now, to help people prevent stroke,” Tanesha said.
A community man, still going strong
Beyond his stroke advocacy, Windom stays active in real estate and continues to lead the My Brother’s Keeper mentoring program he founded years ago.
He describes himself as a community man who remains passionate about the people around him.
Williams says the book’s title says everything about her father.
“Literally, the book is called ‘Let’s Go Champ,’ because he just won’t give up. He’s just not going to give up,” Williams said.
Windom is planning local book signing events in the coming months.
“Let’s Go Champ! Winning at Life After Stroke” is currently available on Amazon and other online booksellers.
Readers can also contact Windom directly through his social media platforms to purchase a copy.