Stroke Survivor

• Gender: Female

• Age(s) when stroke occured: 23

• Occupation before stroke(s): Nanny

• Stroke date(s): August 9, 2013

• Stroke(s) occurred where: At home in the shower.

• Type of stroke(s): Ischemic

• tPA drug: No, not within timeframe

• Scans: MRI -magnetic resonance imaging, CT -computerized tomography & X-Ray

• Location of stroke(s): Right side brain.

• Reason for stroke(s): Mutated MTHFR gene (the mutation affects the body's ability to use folic acid or folate & increases risk of disease)

• Stroke(s) surgery(s): None.

• Hospital stay: 6 weeks.

• Rehabilitation stay: 6 weeks inpatient ICU therapy.

• Deficits from stroke(s): Left side paralysis, hypersensitivity on left side.

• Initial dominant-side: Right

• Dominant-side now: Right

• Short story: I went drinking the night before. Took a shower and seized reaching for conditioner and ended up on the bottom of the tub having seizures and a stroke. My son woke my roommate, who then called for paramedics. I was 23.

Caregiver

• How did you find out: Roommate called.

• Where were you: Work.

• Initial reaction: Sad and worried.

• Feelings at ER: Scared.

• Feelings before/after surgery(s): No surgery.

• Short story: We'd been together 6 months when my girlfriend had her stroke and I had to work and couldn't care for her at all times so she had to go to her dad's until she got okay enough to be alone during the day.