Time is Brain

When it comes to stroke, every second counts. Learn more about how to “BE FAST” from Lauren.

Lauren on her wedding day.

After a routine run on the treadmill, Lauren, a 30-year-old speech pathologist, had blurry vision and just didn’t feel well. She called her fiance Adam, who’s an ER doctor. “He was concerned and told me to keep aware of how I was feeling, but I went about my day.”

Later that night, as Lauren was going to sleep, she had a hard time moving in the bed. Adam turned on the light, noticed she was slurring her speech and her face was drooping on the left side. Suspecting a stroke, Adam held Lauren’s arm above her head, and when she couldn’t hold her arm up on her own, he immediately called 911.

“It was critical to get her to the hospital as soon as possible to maximize the chance for a good outcome,” said Adam. “I’m glad I was there when it was happening.”

Initially, Lauren wasn’t cognizant of her symptoms. “En route to the hospital, I was cracking jokes with the EMTs,” she recalled. “I thought I was speaking clearly, but my speech was slurred and they couldn’t understand me.”

She was transported to Tampa General, the same hospital where she and Adam worked. Once in the emergency room, she was given a CT scan to confirm what Adam had suspected: she’d had a stroke.

“I still didn’t realize the severity of the situation until I saw Adam in the ER,” she said.

“I was visibly upset — even as an ER physician, I just couldn’t believe this was happening to my young, healthy fiancé,” remembered Adam. “She’s a runner, she takes care of herself and she was just 30. It was one of the most emotional and terrifying moments of my life. I didn’t know if I would lose her.”

Lauren was fortunate to have arrived at the hospital within 30 minutes of her symptoms. “Time is brain when you’re talking about stroke,” said Adam. “From the onset of symptoms, approximately 2 million brain cells die per minute.”1

“The faster you recognize the symptoms in yourself, your friends or family, or even a stranger on the street, the better.., The Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm and Speech Test (BE FAST) is an acronym that helps to recognize signs and symptoms of stroke and reminds you to call 911 as quickly as possible.”

The BE FAST signs and symptoms of a stroke are:

  • Balance – Sudden loss of balance;
  • Eyes – Loss of vision in one or both eyes;
  • Face – Face looks uneven;
  • Arm – Arm or leg weak or hanging down;
  • Speech – Slurred speech, trouble speaking or seems confused;
  • Time – Immediately call 911.

Lauren was discharged from Tampa General in six days. Fortunately, she did not require physical therapy or occupational therapy.

“I was lucky Both Adam and I work with people who’ve had strokes all the time, and we still both overlooked the first sign. We both realize now that I should have gone to the hospital when I noticed my vision was blurry. I can’t emphasize how lucky I feel and how important it is not to ignore anything that could be a symptom of a stroke. My experience has made me better understand my own patients and their experiences, which makes me more empathetic and better at my job.”

Less than six months after the stroke, she married Adam, and just over a year later, she trained for, ran in and completed The Gasparilla Half-Marathon in Tampa.

Now 31, Lauren says her situation made her realize that “Stroke really can happen to anyone, at any age, at any time. It’s so important to learn and know the symptoms of stroke and call 911 for immediate medical attention.”

Lauren also was fortunate that Adam was there and knew what to do. She explained, “At first I thought he was overreacting, but now I know it’s just fine to overreact because when it comes to stroke, getting the right care right away can save your life.”

Learn more about stroke by visiting BEFAST.org