My Girlfriend Saved My Life

By Jake Vincent 

It had been a great night. I'd been to a concert and then hung out with my mates in town afterwards. It was late so I decided to call it a night and head back to my girlfriend Sidney’s house with her.   

All settled in and ready to sleep, I experienced a sudden headache. My head was throbbing. Thinking little of it, I got up to get some paracetamol from the other side of the room and fell over. I picked myself up thinking I’d had a little too much to drink but fell over again, this time on to the bed. At this point, Sidney turned on the light to find that my face was droopy. I tried to move only to find I couldn’t move my left arm or left leg.  I was so scared but tried not to show it. Sidney told me she was going to call an ambulance. I told her I loved her before she ran off to get her mum and dad. I thought this was it... this was the end of my life. 

The paramedics were there in ten minutes. To me it felt shorter, but to Sidney it felt like forever. I ended up talking to the paramedic about cricket, which helped ease my mind away from what was happening a little.  

I was seen immediately upon my arrival to hospital. I was only 22 at the time, but fortunately a doctor recognised I was having a stroke. I had a brain scan and was treated with a blood clot busting drug. 

All up, I spent two days in hospital. I was in the Intensive Care Unit for 24 hours and then transferred to a ward for 24 hours before being discharged. I feel very lucky.  

Thanks to Sidney’s quick actions and access to the time-critical medical treatment I needed, I had a positive outcome to my stroke. If not for Sidney, the situation may have been very different.  

I do suffer from anxiety since my stroke. Whenever I feel a headache coming on or my left arm tingles my mind does race a little. 

Stroke doesn’t discriminate. I was young and, had no risk factors. I’m grateful beyond words to Sidney for her ongoing support and I urge everyone to know the F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) signs of stroke as the knowledge could save someone’s life one day.