When Joel was at the gym, he noticed something strange.
“I was lifting weights and I noticed that my arms wouldn’t go past my shoulders. I thought it was a pinched nerve,” Joel recalls. “But when my leg started to go, I knew something was seriously wrong.”
Joel sought help from multiple health practitioners, but none recognised the signs of stroke. It was his sister, Hannah, a nurse, who finally recognised the symptoms and rushed him to hospital.
Three days had passed since Joel’s symptoms began and the stroke left him with left-side paralysis and debilitating fatigue. But with immediate rehabilitation and hard work, he made a full physical recovery.
“I was lucky. Despite the trauma, I’ve got a second chance at life.”
But not everyone is as fortunate. And this is why your support today is so crucial.
Your donation will help Australians recognise stroke as a medical emergency and seek hospital care. It will also help equip clinicians with the knowledge they need to diagnose and treat stroke following best practice guidelines.
“Every 11 minutes, someone in Australia has a stroke. And every day, 24 people die from stroke.”
The statistics are alarming, but together, we can make a difference.
With your help, we can work towards a future where no one has to suffer the devastating impacts of stroke alone.
“We’re all in each other’s hands when it comes to stroke. Everyone should know the signs.”