Stories and Viewpoints

Voices of Viatris

By: Karla McIntyre

July 20, 2026

When I think about who drives me, both in my work at Viatris and in my personal life, it’s my husband, Todd. 

In 2015, while vacationing in Aruba, our world was turned upside down. Todd, a Navy veteran, Ironman triathlete and marathoner, suffered a heart attack. Complications from treatment caused a massive brain hemorrhage, which led to a stroke. He slipped into a coma, endured life flights and emergency surgeries, and doctors gave him little chance of survival.  

Although his medical team urged me to prepare for the worst, I refused to lose hope.  

The Turning Point 

Weeks after the stroke, on the morning of our anniversary, I leaned close to Todd in his hospital bed and whispered encouragement.   

His faint words, “Happy anniversary,” were garbled but unmistakable, breaking the silence and confirming what I never doubted: Todd was still fighting.  

Tears filled my eyes. It was the smallest phrase, barely a whisper and coming out like “oppy versary,” yet it carried me through the months and years to come.  

In that moment, the doubts of others no longer mattered. I was determined to be his advocate.  

The Long Road Back 

The path forward was grueling. Todd spent months in the hospital, relearning how to swallow, talk, and move. Slowly, he regained independence.  

Six months after his stroke, in December 2015, he came home in time for Christmas. Months later, he returned to work part-time and then full-time. Against all odds, he kept pushing forward — walking, driving again, and eventually competing in adaptive races and golfing.  

Todd’s determination has reshaped me. I used to struggle to understand his love for racing, but now I see it was his preparation for the most significant race of his life.