THE NAME OF THE GAME IS TO STAY IN GAME.

Nicole “Nikki” Gillott: Can’t Stop. Won’t Stop.

In 2015, Nicole Gillott suffered an arteriovenous malformation (AVM)—a type of stroke—that changed her life. Doctors had to perform an emergency craniotomy on the right side of her brain, specifically in the frontal lobe. The surgery left her in a coma for 11 days.

When she woke up, nothing was the same.

Her ability to walk, speak, and even comprehend the world around her had been severely affected. But from her hospital bed, Nikki began to focus on what she could control—starting with her iPad. Every day, she documented herself: what she looked like, how she acted, and what she was doing. She took notes, filmed short clips, and slowly began piecing together a record of her recovery.

As time passed, her lens shifted outward. She stopped only filming herself and started documenting others—people facing their own disabilities, challenges, and triumphs. What she had once seen as her greatest struggle became her source of motivation: watching others overcome inspired her to keep pushing for change and to keep moving forward.

Four years into filming, Nikki realized she had something more than footage—she had insight. Experience. A story to tell. She decided to make a documentary.

What better way to raise awareness than to show the power of positive recovery in real time? Through sponsorships and donations, she gathered the tools she needed—equipment, support, and a mission.

Her documentary is about inclusive wellness, shown through the lens of adaptable awareness—the idea that wellness isn't one-size-fits-all. It’s about learning to thrive with what you have, wherever you are.

Nikki found herself again by redefining her life—and now she’s sharing that with the world.

“The personal record is a goal you set for yourself; that is the reference point of what to do next.” — Nicole "Nikki" Gillott, President