Stroke survivor, Jayme Kelly, shares her story of survival and recovery

Summary

Jamie Kelly, a former nurse and CrossFit enthusiast, shares her personal experience of suffering a stroke at a young age. Despite having no obvious risk factors, Jamie woke up with paralysis on one side of her body and couldn't speak. After being diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder called Factor V, which combined with birth control hormones led to the stroke, Jamie underwent extensive rehab. Though still recovering, she's actively involved in speech and music therapy and participates in a book club with other stroke survivors. Her message: recognize stroke symptoms early and act fast.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker was a nurse at Boston Children's Hospital before experiencing a stroke.
• 😀 Despite leading a healthy lifestyle with CrossFit and living with roommates, the speaker didn't think a stroke could happen at a young age.
• 😀 The stroke initially caused the speaker to lose feeling on their right side, which they initially attributed to sleeping in an awkward position.
• 😀 The speaker's roommate, also a nurse, called 9-1-1 after noticing the speaker's inability to speak and the worsening of symptoms.
• 😀 The speaker was diagnosed with Factor V, a blood clotting disorder, which contributed to the stroke, particularly in combination with birth control hormones.
• 😀 After rehab, the speaker could only say simple phrases like 'My name is Jamie Kelly, how are you, and I love you' for about a month.
• 😀 The speaker still faces challenges with fine motor skills and requires visual aids to perform certain tasks.
• 😀 The speaker is actively participating in speech therapy three times a week, a book club with other stroke survivors, and music therapy twice a week.
• 😀 Despite not being fully recovered, the speaker is making progress daily and remains hopeful.
• 😀 On the outside, others may not realize the speaker had a stroke, but they still feel strong and determined to keep fighting, even though they deal with PTSD and emotional struggles.
• 😀 The speaker encourages others to recognize signs of a stroke (facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties) and to act fast by calling 9-1-1, as time lost during a stroke results in brain loss.

Q & A

What was Jamie's occupation before her stroke?

Jamie was a nurse at Boston Children's Hospital before her stroke.

What was Jamie's lifestyle like prior to having the stroke?

Jamie lived in a house with two roommates, did CrossFit, and was generally healthy.

What were Jamie's initial symptoms when she woke up?

Jamie couldn't feel anything on her right side, and she initially thought she had just slept awkwardly.

Why did Jamie not initially believe she was having a stroke?

Jamie didn’t fall into any of the common risk factors for a stroke, so she didn’t suspect one at first.

How did Jamie's roommate react when she found her?

Jamie’s roommate, who was also a nurse, found her and asked if she was okay. When Jamie couldn’t respond, her roommate called 9-1-1.

What medical condition did Jamie discover she had after the stroke?

Jamie discovered she was the first person in her family to test positive for Factor V, a blood clotting disorder.

How did birth control play a role in Jamie's stroke?

The hormones in Jamie’s birth control interacted with her Factor V disorder, which contributed to her stroke.

What was Jamie’s communication ability like during the early stages of recovery?

Initially, Jamie could only say a few simple phrases, like her name, 'How are you?' and 'I love you' for about a month.

What types of therapy is Jamie currently undergoing for her recovery?

Jamie is attending speech therapy three times a week, participating in a book club with other stroke survivors, and undergoing music therapy twice a week.

How does Jamie feel about the way others perceive her after the stroke?

Jamie feels that others view her as strong and inspiring, but she also struggles with PTSD, anger, and frustration, while continuing to fight and stand up for what's right.

What signs of a stroke should people be aware of, according to Jamie?

People should look for facial drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulties. If these occur, it is crucial to call 9-1-1 immediately, as 'time lost is brain lost.'