Leigh W.
Monday, May 9, 2011
By: Leigh Weiss

Survivor

A Close Call

At the age of 34, I experienced a stroke. It was January 2009 and I was home from work watching President Obama's inauguration on TV. I was chatting on the phone with my husband about our home business when I started having difficulty using my hand and my speech became strange and slurred. I remember saying "I can't find my words" and feeling like I was moving in slow motion.

My husband immediately recognized that something was terribly wrong and called the paramedics. I was fortunate to receive tPA, the clot-busting drug, within 15 minutes of my window expiring. I was blessed to have minimal damage from the stroke.

The week after I was released from the hospital I had a transient ischemic attack (also known as a TIA or mini stroke). I was not in a high risk group for stroke and do not know what caused my blot clot although I suspect my birth control and history of being a migraineur might be linked. Since my stroke I now experience severe migraine attacks, memory and concentration issues as well as some minor aphasia, but I know that I am so very fortunate not to have any more physical limitations.

Although I worry about having another stroke, I also live every day with a renewed sense of purpose and am grateful to be here for my family.