For Anna Wilkinson, Mother's Day carries a deeper meaning than ever before - it's a celebration of the daughter she believes saved her life.
A fit and healthy mum of two, 50-year-old Anna was balancing work and family life when everything changed during an ordinary day out with her 10-year-old daughter, Rosa.
"I was at the beautician, and was laying down, when I went to stand up, my leg felt numb, I was having trouble walking and couldn't focus," Anna said.
"When we got to the car, I couldn't remember to how to unlock or start it. At this point, Rosa knew something wasn't right. I managed to drive the six minutes home, not realising what had happened.
"Rosa was getting increasingly concerned and asked me to call an ambulance. It dawned on me that I may be having a stroke. I emailed my boss telling him about our concerns, and he called an ambulance."
At hospital, Anna was initially misdiagnosed with an anxiety attack and sent home. She continued to have the same symptoms and saw a GP who sent her to a different hospital. They found she had a small hole in her heart, called patent foramen ovale (PFO), which had caused a stroke. Once diagnosed, the hole was closed surgically to prevent future strokes.
"Although I had to fight for a diagnosis, I couldn't have done it without the help of Rosa. I always call her my guardian angel as she has such empathy - not only with me but with everyone," Anna said.
"If Rosa hadn't alerted me to my stroke, I would have pushed through as most mums do. She quite simply saved my life and my life as I know it to be. She allowed me to continue to live a full life - she is my angel."
This Mother's Day, Anna will be having a quiet day alongside her kids and husband.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Lisa Murphy said Anna's story highlights the fact that strokes can happen to anyone, but they can present differently in women.
"Research shows that in emergency departments, women have a 25 per cent higher chance of being told their stroke is something else," Dr Murphy said.
"Women can experience stroke differently to men. As well as the classic F.A.S.T. stroke signs, women may also have symptoms like severe headache, confusion, loss of balance, or extreme fatigue - which can be mistaken for stress or a migraine.
"Rosa did the right thing that day in urging her mum to get the help she needed. When it comes to stroke, every minute matters. There's no time to waste, and urgent medical intervention can reduce the impact of stroke."
Dr Murphy says you can help saving a life by learning the F.A.S.T. signs of stroke.
Face - Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
Arms - Can they lift both arms?
Speech - Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
Time - Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call 000 straight away.
