‘I was afraid I was going to die’: Woman survives stroke; shares story on World Stroke Awareness Day

October 30, 2018 6:13 PM

Jamie Perez,

Posted: October 30, 2018 6:13 PM

Updated: August 31, 2021 12:21 PM

by Jamie Perez

‘I was afraid I was going to die’: Woman survives stroke; shares story on World Stroke Awareness Day

MADISON, Wis. — On Sept. 28, Jennifer Gardner could have taken her last breath on Bascom Hill.

“I started drooling, then I spoke out loud and I couldn’t understand myself,” Gardner said.

Gardner had a stroke and didn’t know it.

“I Googled ‘What are the symptoms of a stroke,'” she said.

A co-worker saw her and took her inside a building nearby, unsure of what was wrong. Moments later, another co-worker came to check on her, and immediately knew she was having a stroke.

“You could tell that her face was droopy and she didn’t speak clearly and I knew right away she was having a stroke,” said Kelly Hallmark, Gardner’s co-worker.

Gardner was quickly taken to the hospital.

“I was afraid I was going to die,” Gardner said. “Within three hours, I had the symptoms, got into the hospital, had the TPA, had the surgery, and when I came out of recovery, I could talk.”

Gardner said she is thankful she is alive to tell her story, but had no idea she could have a stroke at just 47 years old.

“I don’t know what I would do without her,” Hallmark said. “She’s my partner-in-crime at work. I’m just so happy everything went as expected and I’m excited to have her back with me at work.”

Doctors treat patients who have strokes on a regular basis, but in Gardner’s case, everyone was in the right place at the right time and with the right knowledge. There is a three-to-four hour window of time when patients need to get to the hospital to get treated for symptoms of a stroke. Gardner showed up in what doctors call the “golden hour,” which is within 60 minutes of the first signs of having a stroke.

One of Gardner’s doctors said Gardner is lucky her friends were knowledgeable of the symptoms of a stroke.

“I was really just grateful that her co-workers recognized what was happening and having other people in the community recognize the symptoms of stroke even if it’s not happening to them,” said Dr. Natalie Wheeler, a neurologist at UW Hospital.

Gardner said she didn’t call 911 at first because she was scared, embarrassed and in denial that she was having a stroke. Her message on World Stroke Awareness Day is to not wait if you think something is wrong.

“The timing is everything,” Gardner said. “If you don’t feel right, you need to call and you need to get in because I’m a prime example that if you do, it’s a good outcome. Don’t ignore it. Don’t ignore the symptoms.”

UW Health was one of the first hospitals in the country to receive Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification from The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, and it is the only comprehensive stroke center in the area with dedicated endovascular neurosurgeons.

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