Patty Jackson has been a storng Divabetic supporter for over a decade. She has participated in our various outreach events at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA as well as promoted our events during her popular show on WDAS.

Photo by Jessica Griffin

Below is an excerpt from her recent story that appeared in ‘The Inquirer’ this past week. Please share Patty’s story and help to spread awareness for stroke:

I’ve been on the radio for 35 years, and I love my job at WDAS. I love my job so much that often it doesn’t even seem like a job, which makes it hard for me to realize how over-worked I might be getting. So over-worked, in fact, that I had a stroke three years ago – my body’s way of telling me to slow down.

My mother had suffered a stroke when she was 81, and I was her primary caregiver until she passed away. Taking care of my mother and my son while juggling the demanding schedule of my career was stressful. But then in the fall of 2015 I lost my mother, which took a toll on my emotional strength like nothing ever had before.

But I trudged on — working at the station seven days a week and doing numerous appearances after work.  Nothing like a busy schedule to numb the mind, right?

Out of nowhere, in Nov. 2015, I collapsed. I didn’t stumble over anything. I didn’t trip. I just suddenly hit the ground. But I got right back up and kept moving – I had work to do!

READ FULL STORY

What is Stroke?

Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the number. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States according to the American Stroke Association.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures). When that happens , part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it and brain cells die.

Check out some interesting statistics about stroke.

What are the types of stroke?

Stroke can be caused either by a clot obstructing the flow of blood to the brain (called an ischemic stroke) or by a blood vessel rupturing and preventing blood flow to the brain (called a hemorrhagic stroke). A TIA (transient ischemic attack), or “mini stroke”, is caused by a temporary clot.

What are the effects of stroke?

The brain is an extremely complex organ that controls various body functions. If a stroke occurs and blood flow can’t reach the region that controls a particular body function, that part of the body won’t work as it should.

Use the letters in “fast” to spot stroke signs and know when to call 9-1-1.

F: Face Drooping, A: Arm Weakness, S: Speech Difficulty, T: Time to Call 911