Tania Reay was in the right place at the right time when her stroke struck in March of 2021.
The Wollongong woman had just picked up her husband Rob, a nurse, when she began to feel the tell-tale signs of stroke - a drooping face and the inability to lift her arm.
These are two of the three most common signs of stroke highlighted in the F.A.S.T acronym - Facial droop, the inability to lift both Arms, and slurred Speech. The 'T' stands for time, as a reminder that a stroke requires time-critical emergency treatment.
Stroke Foundation is calling on the incoming New South Wales Government to invest in F.A.S.T Community Education in Wollongong to ensure all people have the best chance of recognising stroke and receiving emergency treatment.
"It was very scary. I couldn't use my righthand side, and my face had drooped. It was 10pm on a Friday night, Rob's first reaction was to yell at me to pull over. He grabbed the steering wheel, put the car in park and ran around to my side of the car," Ms Reay said.
"He rang an ambulance and explained that I'd had a stroke. The paramedics agreed, they rang the hospital and told them I was coming."
Ms Reay arrived at hospital in time to receive lifesaving clot busting drugs. The quick intervention saved her life.
"If I didn't go and pick Rob up from work, I'd hate to think where I would be today, I know I'm lucky to be alive. I have a new appreciation for my husband," she said.
Before her stroke, Ms Reay said she didn't realise they happened to young people. While many consider strokes to be a disease which only impact the elderly, 24 per cent of all strokes are experienced by working aged Australians.
"The stroke has changed every aspect of my life. I don't get to see my family as much because I can't drive as far as I used to, my fine motor skills are not what they used to be, so I can't write anymore." she said.
"My advice to anyone who thinks they might be having a stroke is to call an ambulance immediately. It's the best thing you can do to save your life, even if your symptoms disappear, call an ambulance anyway."
Stroke Foundation data recently revealed regional New South Wales residents are more likely than those in Sydney to recognise a stroke, meaning they are more likely to 'call 000 for emergency, life-saving treatment.
The survey found 59 per cent of regional New South Wales residents recognise speech difficulties as a sign of stroke, compared to 43 per cent of Sydney residents, while 54 per cent know facial droop is a sign compared to Sydney's 33 per cent.
