Survivor Stories
Dom, 35, Tucson, Arizona
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September 9th, 2023, was expected to be a normal day, make breakfast, get kids ready for Football and head out the door for a 45-minute drive to the game…. but this day was different. I woke up not feeling well, I had a headache, stomach problems and just did not feel like myself, so I listened to my body and stayed home to watch my oldest son Gustavo play live on YouTube.
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My 10-year-old son, Xavier, decided to stay home with me and thank God he did because he literally saved my life. When I collapsed, he was nervous, scared and crying. I was afraid my kids were watching me die. That was a scary moment for me, especially seeing my toddler, Benny, run around asking his brother what's wrong with Mom. Xavier was scared and didn’t remember my phone’s passcode. I had to reiterate my passcode to him. My kids don't have their own cell phones. We don't have a land-line phone. It could have been a disaster if I weren't able to communicate with Xavier when I collapsed.
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When the ambulance arrived the EMTs examined me. They said I was probably not having a stroke. I said I know I'm having a stroke, but they still didn't believe me. I had to advocate for myself and insist on being taken to the hospital of my choice. Since I have worked at Sarver Heart center and Banner University Medical Center, I was very familiar with stroke signs and symptoms. I remember my dad arriving at my home and saying to the paramedics. “Would you listen to her? She knows what she's talking about!” Maybe it was because I was 35. Younger people having a stroke was unusual for paramedics. When I arrived at the hospital the doctors performed a thrombectomy and administered medication needed to break up a blood clot they thought I had. I underwent multiple tests, but a cause for the stroke was still undetermined. Ultimately, it was categorized as a cryptogenic stroke, cause unknown. During that time, they did find that I also had two aneurysms unrelated to the stroke.
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I was in the ICU for two weeks and went to Encompass Health for inpatient rehabilitation for another four to six weeks. I was paralyzed, unable to move my left side and had neuropathy. I'm still numb on my left side, and especially my torso. I've lost the left side of my vision in both eyes and am now legally blind. I think that's been the worst deficit of this experience.
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While I was recovering in the hospital, I did a lot of my own research to find out what happened to me. I didn't realize a stroke could happen at my age. We are so used to TV ads and pamphlets that place an emphasis on stroke in older adults. Now I realize stroke doesn't discriminate. Anyone can have a stroke regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, or zip code.
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Entering rehab I wondered “Why am I here? I'm the youngest patient in rehab.” It was odd for the therapists to work with a younger person too. They said to me, “You're going to get through this.” I just didn't believe them. I felt defeated and broken. They didn’t know what I had gone through. Support from someone who had experienced a stroke was the most important to me and I was the youngest patient there at the time.
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So, I joined a Facebook group of young stroke survivors, people that have been through what I had. I needed mental health support too and relied on my faith and a virtual therapy program provided by AbleTo.
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Your mind changes from a traumatic event like a stroke. You need that kind of support. You must be pushed, it's uncomfortable. I learned to take a step back and accept help. People need to help you. They need to understand what you're going through and have patience. During this time, I realized I must do something too, I must heal so I can be an advocate and help someone like me, so I have Co-Founded RebulildAfterStroke.com geared to providing support and resources for those like me and their families.
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Maybe I had a stroke from stress. Maybe I wasn't taking care of myself. Your family, your health, come first at the end of the day. I've taken a step back from those little things that I thought were big things, and am not taking things so seriously. I’ve learned to be patient with myself. It does get better, but it takes a lot of time, prayers, and effort.