Had Leah McKinnon not gone to lunch in Hobart with her friend in June last year, she may not be alive today to share her own stroke story.
The 52-year-old was supposed to be working as a teacher in a regional school in Oatlands on the day of her stroke, but she decided to call in sick because she was feeling unwell.
"It was like I had an impending sense of doom, I felt like something catastrophic was going to happen, and that's why I chose to take the day off," Leah said.
"Instead, I made the one hour drive on icy roads to the city to meet my friend, Lea, for lunch. As soon as she saw me, she knew something was wrong.
"Within about 40 minutes I lost my speech, my face drooped, and I lost my balance. Thankfully, Lea recognised the signs of stroke and called an ambulance."
Paramedics arrived in less than 10 minutes, and Leah was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital where doctors confirmed she'd had a stroke.
Executive Director of Clinical Services at Ambulance Tasmania, Jen Bolster, said when someone experiences a stroke, time is critical.
"By calling Triple Zero (000) without delay, Lea gave Leah the best possible chance of survival and a successful recovery. Too often, people hesitate because they hope symptoms will pass, but when it comes to stroke, every minute matters. The sooner treatment begins, the better the chance of reducing the risk of long-term disability and improving recovery outcomes," she said.
"Recognising the signs of stroke and acting quickly can save a life. If you suspect someone is having a stroke, call Triple Zero (000) immediately. Don't wait to see if symptoms improve."
In 2023, Tasmanians of all ages experienced more than 1,100 stroke events, and there are currently over 11,000 survivors of stroke living in the state.
Leah said she didn't realise what a close call it was.
"If I had gone to work that day, I may have been in a classroom on my own at the time of the stroke. It was a 'one-ambulance-town' in the middle of winter, it would have been a lot harder for me to receive the help I needed.
"I may not be here today if it wasn't for Lea, she's my hero, I'm so grateful she was there and she knew what to do. I believe she may have saved my life."
Leah is sharing her story during National Stroke Week which runs from August 3 to 9. This year's theme is F.A.S.T. heroes and recognises the everyday people, like Lea, who know how to recognise a stroke, act quickly and help save lives.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr Lisa Murphy, says everyone can be a hero by learning and sharing the F.A.S.T. message.
"You don't need a cape to be a hero, you just need to know the signs of stroke by learning the F.A.S.T. acronym and calling triple zero (000) when stroke strikes. It can save a life."
"F is for face- is their face drooping? A is for arms- can they lift both arms? S is for speech- is their speech slurred? And T is for time- time is critical. Call 000 immediately," Dr Murphy said.
"When a stroke strikes, it attacks up to 1.9 million brain cells per minute so there's absolutely no time to waste. You must act fast and call triple zero (000) for ambulance to help."
National Stroke Week is Stroke Foundation's annual awareness campaign. You can support the campaign by sharing or creating your own social media post on any platform. Learn and share the F.A.S.T. signs of stroke and call triple zero (000) straight away if you suspect a stroke.
National Stroke Week is proudly supported by Major Sponsors: EMVision, Wellumio, and Supporting Sponsors: AbbVie and Pure Australia.
