I was 29 at the time and assumed only “older people” suffered from strokes.
“Are you OK?” a colleague asked. He had just walked into the office to find me lying on the floor next to the copy machine.
“I’m fine,” I assured him, as I stared up at the ceiling. “The room started to spin for some reason, so I’m going to lay here until it stops.”
When he returned minutes later, the room was still spinning, but now I was nauseous. I’ll spare you the gross details and skip to my husband arriving and helping me home to rest from this bout of “food poisoning.”
Minutes after cozying into bed, I realized the left side of my body wasn’t working properly. I struggled to sit up, and my arm floated around like it was detached from my body. My husband rushed me to the hospital, where a day later, I would receive an official diagnosis: a stroke.
I was 29 at the time and assumed only “older people” suffered from strokes. I wasn’t familiar with the American Stroke Association’s FAST acronym for spotting and responding to the symptoms: Face drooping/twisting, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911. And I wasn’t aware it’s critical to receive treatment within the first three hours of those symptoms.
Despite all I didn’t know, I was fortunate enough to quickly get to a hospital that provided proper assessment and care and was discharged just two nights later. While the challenges of recovery, like regaining the ability to walk, were just beginning, so were the frequent reminders from God that He was right there with me.
When I was told that it would be three months before I could meet with a therapist, the Andrews University Physical Therapy department graciously provided services at no charge. Before attending class on Zoom was normal, my instructor allowed me to complete the very last course of my master’s degree from the comfort of my recovery bed at home, enabling me to graduate on schedule. And throughout that time, friends and family supported us with visits, meals, gifts and errands. While those days were often uncertain, frustrating and scary, God consistently provided bright spots to remind me of His presence.
Ten years and a full recovery have separated me from my stroke. Though I’ve been left with some physical markers of my experience, I’ve also been blessed with a desire to educate others, and a spirit of perseverance that reminds me how the words of James have been true in my life. So, the next time you’re facing a trial, remember: God is right there with you, ready to give you joy as He sees you through.
Rachel Keele is director of University Wellness at Andrews University and manager of Andreasen Center for Wellness.
