Comedian Shares How Two Strokes Almost Ended His Career: ‘I Fought Through’

PHOTO: BOBBY BANK/GETTY Comedian Keith Robinson is feeling proud of his comeback after two life-altering strokes left him struggling to speak for more than a year. Ahead of the release of his new comedy special “Different Strokes”, the 50-year-old opened up to PEOPLE about suffering two strokes in less than five years and why his return to the stage means so much. Robinson’s journey began in February 2016 when he suffered his first stroke. However, it took him some time to acknowledge the severity of his condition and seek medical attention. He vividly remembers waking up one morning with the entire right side of his body “leaning.” Despite this alarming symptom, he brushed it off, took some aspirin, and carried on with his day. It wasn’t until his vision started to blur while filling out paperwork that the possibility of a stroke was mentioned by his concerned cousin, Nick. Robinson, however, dismissed the idea, attributing it to his unwavering belief that “Robinsons don’t have no f—ing strokes.” He continued to ignore the symptoms and opted for more aspirin instead. As the day progressed, Robinson’s condition worsened, with the right side of his body intermittently going numb. By midnight, after an...