She has used a wheelchair ever since.
This past summer, Stroker starred as Anne in Shakespeare in the ParksRichard III.
Shes performed at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Here, in her own words, Stroker details how she’s preparing for her next big role.
Having a baby was always this one day thing: One day I want to have a family.
One day I want to be a mom.
I knew it when I was five years old.
It was never something I doubted.
It was just a matter of how: How are we going to do this?
I didn’t really know what it would look like.
Over the pandemic, it became clear to me that I wanted to focus on building my personal life.
And alsowhat would happen with my body afterward?
What does postpartum look like for me?
The experiences people had were so diverse, which is also because spinal cord injuries can be very different.
But what I gathered was that you oughta do your research and ask all the questions.
Because it’s your body, and you are your own best advocate.
Having a disability, people can really treat you like youre fragile.
When we met our doctor, she was not that way at all.
She was relaxed, she was confident, and she was totally up for it.
And I just want anyone with a disability to know that thats not the case.
you could choose who you want to work with, especially around pregnancy.
There are a lot of really amazing people out there.
This is the plan, and it feels exactly right.
We decided pretty early on that Id have a scheduled C-section.
It also felt emotionally like the right thing for us to do.
This is the plan, and it feels exactly right.
At the same time, I think the thing Im most nervous about is the birth.
But we have a wonderful home and a lot of family support, which is super important to me.
I may venture to get a nurse after the birth.
What do I need to do for my body to heal?
A nurse can help with that.
I had nurses growing up as a kid.
I love having nurses.
They bring in a set of skills and tools that are not always intuitive.
Im still super close with my nurses that I grew up with.
They were second moms.
They were incredible people and were a huge part in my journey to becoming independent.
I cant push a stroller with a manual chair.
So when we go out, what does that look like?
I have a very specific relationship to being independent.
Its important for me to be able to be independent with the baby.
I cant push a stroller with a manual chair.
So when we go out, what does that look like?
So I need to get a van, or a car that has a ramp.
My partner is not disabled, so he has different needs than I do.
A lot of my needs are physical, but my physical needs affect him physically.
What is the dance now?
I dont know yet because the babys not here yet.
But thats going to be something that were going to have to learn how to do.
But at the same time, its exciting to me.
Because this is my life.
So how do you juggle being a mom with all of that?
Then again, my life has always felt like a lot.
I have no idea what it will be like, nor can I even pretend like I do.
Ill find out in real timebut I feel confident in my ability to figure it out.
My mind needs to be engaged.
I knew I needed to work.
They were amazingthey made adjustments to my costumes, they made them stretchy and adjustable.
I was really nervous to share this news.
Its the most personal thing thats maybe ever happened to me.
But at the same time, its something that I’m so proud of.
There’s a huge gap in representation of parents with disabilities.
Another thing that is interesting to me is there isnt a lot of adaptive equipment for parents.
Theres a lot of adaptive equipment for children with disabilities, but not really for parents.
Part of my body doesnt work and another part of it does.
And I can dothis.
When you have a disability, youre so aware of your limitations.
So many people throughout my life have asked, Can you have kids?
And Im like, Yeah.
The body is amazing.
Part of my body doesnt work and another part of it does.
And I can dothis.
I have felt very calm through this.
And I feel lucky that this has been going so well.
Its different for everyone.
But I cant help but share this journey, which has been so smooth.
It feels like a miracle.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
