Zania's story

I was 26 years old when I had my stroke, with a young family of three sons ranging from the ages of 2 years old to 6 years old.

It started like a normal Thursday when suddenly, towards the end of the afternoon, I felt this feeling I can only describe as a pop or release of pressure. Instantly I felt a tingling feeling in my arms and legs and a drooping of the right side of my face, I knew that I had just had a stroke.

My husband loaded me in the car as we thought it would be quicker than waiting for the ambulance to get to us, within the short 20- minute drive to hospital I had lost feeling in both my legs and arms.

I was sent to another hospital an hour away that was better prepared for what was happening. After six weeks of rehabilitation which included learning to swallow, speak, move my arms and legs and finally walk again, I came home.

I was officially diagnosed as having had a basilar artery dissection. It has been five years since my stroke, and we have added another little boy into our family. The past five years haven't been without the struggles but every day I am grateful that I get more time to spend with my loved ones and that my husband knew the signs of a stroke which really did save my life.