F.A.S.T. stories
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Kerikeri couple Johnny and Lizzie Te Kauwhata, were sitting outside at a local eatery when Johnny said he wasn't feeling too good. The symptoms - headache, slurred speech, feeling he was going to faint - rang alarm bells for Lizzie, who works with post-stroke patients. In this video, we're privileged to share the couple's story and their potentially life-saving advice to act F.A.S.T. and call 111 if you recognise any signs of a stroke.
Joel Pohio was showering his young son before heading off to work when he suddenly realised the whole left side of his body wasn't responding. It's now been five years since Joel's stroke, at 43 years old, and he's on a long, slow road to recovery.
It began as an ordinary day at work for Maile Fameitau, a Hawke's Bay-based grandmother of Tongan heritage. But at some point during the day, Maile experienced the first signs that something wasn't right. "My body started to go numb; it started from my fingers. The numbness came right up, just one side. Then next minute the other side."
Phoenix runs a community focused gym in Whangarei and is very physically active. Last year he experienced his stroke while running with a larger group and thankfully two ladies who were part of it identified the signs and called for help immediately. Because of this and support from his whānau he is well on the road back to recovery.
Raoul suffered a stroke in the morning on his way to work a few years ago. He collapsed outside his car however his mum who is a nurse recognised the signs and called for help immediately. It has been a longer recovery for him with a number of long-term affects but without the fast action from his mother he would likely not be here today.
A week before Christmas in 2020, Margaret suffered a stroke at home while combing her granddaughter Katya’s hair. Though her whānau weren’t familiar with the F.A.S.T. signs of a stroke, they knew something was wrong and acted quickly, calling an ambulance and potentially saving her life.
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Former Ōtautahi fire-fighter Eric Knapp was just 32 when he experienced something that most people his age don’t even have on their radar – a stroke. In this video series, Eric, his family, and co-workers each share with us the pieces of his story and remind us that if you or someone you are with is experiencing any sign of a stroke, to take action and ring 111 immediately.
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We’re honoured to show the story of the Matulino family’s experience with a stroke. In January this year, husband and father Lauano Akeli Matulino suffered a stroke at home while making himself a cup of tea. Unfortunately, Lauano Akeli and his family were unaware of a stroke's F.A.S.T. signs and did not seek medical treatment quickly. Lauano Akeli shares openly with us his experience and reminds us to learn the signs and call 111 at any sign of a stroke.
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