I would have never thought..

Watching over my father as he lay motionless on the hospital bed, I must admit the prospect of entering a new profession never entered my mind. However, in just a matter of weeks this life-changing event opened the door to discovering my calling in life.   

Eleven years ago, on September 27th of 2011, my 72-year-old father had a hemorrhagic stroke while he was visiting me in the USA for the first time, changing the course of our lives forever. At that time, I was not aware of the symptoms of stroke. Now, looking back at the days before the stroke, I can easily identify the symptoms that we missed. And I will live with that burden forever.  

A stroke in an EMERGENCY.  Stroke is the fifth cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Stroke can happen to anyone — any age, any time — and everyone needs to know the warning signs. The impact of a stroke can be lessened if the person receives early treatment. Early treatment leads to higher survival rates and lower disability rates (Stroke Symptoms, n.d.).  

The most common signs of stroke are: 

Other common signs of stroke for both men and women include changes in their vision and loss of balance or dizziness. My father only demonstrated loss of balance leading to the stroke. Women can also experience general weakness, disorientation, confusion, or memory problems, and fatigue, nausea, or vomiting (Stroke Symptoms, n.d.). 

 October 29th was World Stroke Day. It is a day to raise awareness of the serious nature of stroke and learn about the warning signs of stroke. Because when someone is experiencing a stroke, minutes can save lives (World Stroke Day Campaign, n.d.).

Eshita Anjum M.A., CCC-SLP, Lead Speech Language Pathologist

Sources: 

Stroke Symptoms. (n.d.). www.stroke.org. Retrieved October 23, 2022, from https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-symptoms 

World Stroke Day Campaign. (n.d.). World Stroke Organization. Retrieved October 23, 2022, from https://www.world-stroke.org/world-stroke-day-campaign