As a 34-year-old registered nurse employed by Kaiser South Sac, I was not expecting to hear the overhead announcement of a stroke alert and have it be for me. My husband brought me in, and I was stumbling, slightly slurring my words, and feeling pins and needles in half of my mouth. The triage nurse, Rogelyne, had me sit at her station and quickly took my vitals.

As she asked me questions, I could feel that she was taking my symptoms very seriously. I was worried I would be dismissed as too young to have a stroke. I was on the edge of falling apart, and if she had looked flustered or scared, I would have. She was calm, direct, yet kind, and she wasted no time communicating my need for further evaluation with the doctor.

Due to her quick assessment and clear communication with the ED team, I quickly got a consultation with a neurologist and a CT, which confirmed I had a blood clot that was blocking blood flow to my brain. If she would have second guessed the symptoms I was reporting due to my young age, I might not be here today. My blood pressure was high, and she reacted to that calmly as well, which helped me stay calm. She recognized the severity of the situation and trusted her protocol and her patient, and I am alive and well because of her!