Hope and hopelessness are multi-dimensional concepts. Both can be investigated from an aggregate or individual emotional response to life events. Globally, there are many concerns about conflicts, poverty and illness that have led to collective feelings of hopelessness. Yet, some people still hope for a better future. Hope as an individual response, following illness and disability, has received little empirical investigation. Even so, it is believed that hope is an important mediating factor in the coping process that is imperative to optimal recovery. The purpose of this study was to describe the influence of hope in the recovery process of 50 patients who had suffered a stroke. Hope was measured approximately 10 days following a stroke (Time 1) and 3 months later after discharge from a hospital or rehabilitation facility (Time 2). For purposes of this paper, recovery outcomes were examined in two domains, physical functioning and social activities. Understanding hope and hopelessness, is salient to nurses worldwide since fostering hope is an important nursing intervention.