On 6/23/2021 I “slipped” in my bathroom that resulted in my husband and daughter calling 911 and rushing me to the ER. Turned out my “slip” was a result of my entire left side going out resulting in a fall. Before I fell to the ground my chin met my bathroom countertop and the black bruise was the aftermath.

After being questioned and clearly providing information on the details of my fall, the paramedics asked me to smile, stick my tongue out, raise my left arm, and raise my left leg. I did everything they asked very calmly. I still didn’t understand the reasoning for all the unusual questions. I just “slipped” and I’m irritated because calling EMS is expensive and that’s all I thought about.

The paramedics wheeled me out and hooked me up to the heart monitor, gave me an oxygen mask and I could hear them trying to decide where to take me. Someone said “probably stroke” to my husband. I blew it off. I’m only in my early 40s, no family history of stroke or heart conditions, no high cholesterol. I’m healthy! Or I’m pretty healthy.

The ride to the hospital was short. I was very conscious of what was going on and one thing I remember vividly was taking off the plugs and trying really hard to sit up. I was told several times to lay back down and relax. my husband and daughter greeted me at the entrance to the hospital ER. The nurse asked me many questions and I had to repeat everything I told the nice paramedics again. <Don’t they share info?> After playing 20 questions that included all my personal information like social security, DOB, height, weight, etc etc. I heard the nurse say to someone else “female stroke victim, paralyzed on left side” Was she talking about me?! I really thought I pulled a muscle trying to get up from my fall but now realize I still can’t move my left arm or leg.

After a few tests, including CT scan and MRI. It was true. I had indeed suffered a stroke. They said “massive ischemic stroke in the right MCA (middle cerebral artery- the largest vessel)”. I don’t even know what a stroke is. I was not old enough (I thought) to really worry about it happening to me. I had to learn about a stroke as I was having one. I thought I was going to die and I started to tremble and had a panic attack. Immediately my family and I held hands and prayed.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalms 23

They wanted to administer TPA. I learned something new that day. Based on the type of stroke I had, an ischemic stroke (clot was formed and blocked oxygen in my brain) instead of hemmoragic (bleeding stroke), I was a prime candidate for TPA( basically a super strong clot buster). TPA pushes the blood through so that it can basically dissolve the clot. In some cases, it can pretty much reverse the effect of the stroke and some patients recover back their functions and paralysis is reversed.

Unfortunately, not in my case. The nurse asked me several times to move my legs and arm but still nothing. I asked if I was going to be paralyzed forever, she just said she didn’t know, every stroke was different. That was the beginning of the magic saying that was on repeat.

Every stroke is different. No 2 strokes are the same. Everyone is affected differently and recovery is different for everyone. some recovery fully, some never some recovery differently.

Says every healthcare professional

As a result of my ischemic stroke which was in my right MCA, millions of neurons had died. The clot deprived the neurons the oxygen they desperately needed. As a result of that my left physical abilities were jeopardized. My arm and leg was totally flaccid. There was not much they could do for me but keep me there under observation to ensure I didn’t have a sudden turn for the worse. . .