49-year-old Stacey Yelps was in her car when she felt the symptoms of a stroke start to occur.
Stacey had visited doctors at Toronto Western Hospital after suffering similar symptoms, but had been diagnosed with stress and was sent him with tips on how to manage it.
Whilst filming her stroke, Stacey attempted to use the tips that she had been advised to use: ‘The doctor said to breath in and breath out — that will manage the stress. I don’t know why this is happening to me. It happened this morning again.’
Stacey later told local news why she decided to film her stroke.
‘I thought if I could show somebody what was happening, they would have a better understanding.’
Neurologist Dr Cheryl Jaigobin told CBC: ‘In all my years treating stroke patients, we’ve never seen anyone tape themselves before. Her symptoms were compelling, and the fact she stopped and found a way to portray them in such a visual fashion, we were all touched by it.’
Since suffering the stroke, Stacey has received treatment and is hoping to return to work soon.
‘I thought I was leading a healthy lifestyle, but since I work two jobs I had a lot of stress in my life, was often eating on the go and didn’t have time to exercise regularly.’
‘My advice to others is, if you think you’re having or had a stroke, don’t wait. Go to the hospital and get checked out.’