FAST work saves life of stroke survivor Brenda

A STROKE survivor is encouraging everyone to know the signs of a stroke.

Brenda Stringer, 71, survived a stroke last year and is now spreading the word about recognising the ‘FAST Test’ symptoms.

She credits Stroke Association Ambassadors Alan Brown and Brian Bennett with saving her life, after they taught her the FAST test just months earlier.

Brenda was visiting Rochdale Infirmary to see a consultant about an operation, when she spoke to the pair about the test. She went on to keep the information leaflets they gave her tucked in her diary.

Several months later in August 2016, Carol was at a friend’s funeral and realised she was struggling to sing along to a hymn. Her right hand became weak and dropped off the pew she was holding onto, Brenda realised she couldn’t stand, so sat down for the final few minutes of the service, before trying to speak to the undertaker to explain that she thought she was having a stroke.

She couldn’t talk and fortunately the undertaker acted quickly, calling called an ambulance which took her straight to Fairfield Hospital.

Brenda had a brain scan, and because she’d arrived at hospital in time, was given thrombolysis. She very quickly regained the movement in her right hand.

Brenda said: “I remember the paramedics saying that the clock is ticking, and I immediately thought of ‘Time’ in the FAST test. If it wasn’t for Brian and Alan making me aware of FAST, I would never have known what was happening; I would have completely panicked. I’m sure they saved my life.”