Lying in a hospital bed, Jasmine (Jas) West could only blink to communicate. Aged just 25-years-old, Jas had a stroke while at work.
It left her with a rare neurological condition called locked in syndrome which meant she was unable to move or speak. At hospital, Jas was told her symptoms were the result of vertigo and she was sent home.
"I felt like it was getting worse, so we went back to hospital where things went from bad to worse," Jas said.
"At first, I couldn't walk, then I couldn't move my arms, then I lost my voice. I became paralysed and at that point, I thought I would never get my old life back. I could hear everything around me, but I couldn't tell anyone what I was thinking or feeling."
Jas was moved to a bigger hospital and placed on life support where she spent the next three months.
"Eventually, after months of fighting, something changed and I woke up," she said.
"I was a huge boxer and runner before my stroke, and I really wanted to get back there. And I'm proud to say I have.
"Now I box, and I lift decent weights. I'm most proud of defying the odds stacked against me and continuously breaking down the barriers that say I can't do something."
"Being fit due to sport and boxing has certainly helped my recovery in terms of muscle memory, neuroplasticity and being healthy," Jas said.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Lisa Murphy said strokes in women can present differently to those in men.
"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.".
"In some cases, the patient is misdiagnosed and sent home from hospital which means they aren't getting appropriate time-critical medical treatment and that can be the difference between life and death," Dr Murphy added.
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.
