New York woman credits FaceTime for saving her life

A 58-year-old woman claims FaceTime saved her life after her sister spotted she was having a stroke while on a call.

Opokua Kwapong, who lives alone in New York, has been left paralysed on her left side after suffering a stroke, but escaped death.

Her sister Adumea Sapong, from Manchester, noticed her face was ‘drooping’ and she was slurring her words – both signs of stroke.

Ms Sapong then dialled in one of their other sisters, who is a doctor. She echoed the concerns and urged Ms Kwapong to seek medical help immediately.

Tests in hospital later revealed she had a blood clot in the brain – the most common cause of stroke, BBC News reports.

Opokua Kwapong, who lives alone in New York, has been left paralysed on her left side after suffering a stroke, but escaped death

Ms Kwapong, who works as a food scientist, told the website: ‘There is no doubt that FaceTime saved my life.

‘If my sister had not noticed that something was not right, then things could have been so different.’

Mrs Sapong said: ‘You hear a lot of negative stories about the internet and technology, but I think this is an example of how technology can be a force for good.

‘If it had not been for FaceTime, then we would be having a very different conversation right now.’

She was rung by Mrs Sapong on FaceTime, the video-calling technology developed by Apple, after waking up from a nap.

Ms Kwapong, who thought her sister was making a ‘fuss’, told the BBC: ‘My sister looked at me and said she could see that my face didn’t look right.

Her sister Adumea Sapong (pictured), from Manchester, noticed her face was ‘drooping’ and she was slurring her words – both signs of stroke

FaceTime is the video-calling technology developed and owned by Apple (stock)

FaceTime is the video-calling technology developed and owned by Apple (stock)

‘She also said that I was slurring my words, but I thought she was just fussing and I didn’t believe her.’

HOW CAN F.A.S.T SAVE YOU DURING A STROKE?

The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the word F.A.S.T.

This will help you more quickly identify someone having a stroke.

  • Face: the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have dropped.
  • Arms: the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm.
  • Speech: their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake.
  • Time: it’s time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms.

 Source: NHS

Ms Kwapong admitted that she hadn’t been feeling well and was struggling to walk, before her sister realised how serious the situation was. 

Esmee Russell, head of prevention and campaigns at the Stroke Association, told BBC: ‘A stroke can happen to anyone, at any age, at any time.

‘That’s why it’s so important that people know to act fast: it could save a life.’ 

It comes after a 37-year-old mother from Hertfordshire yesterday shared her selfie that hid a ticking timebomb.

Debbie Schofield ended up fighting for her life just ten minutes after being in the snap, which was taken with four family members.  

Ms Schofield only survived due to her mother Janet Walker, 64, recognising the symptoms of a stroke after seeing a Facebook advert. 

Figures show there are around 100,000 strokes in the UK each year – around one stroke every five minutes.

While in the US, it is estimated that nearly 800,000 people have a stroke each year. It is the fifth leading cause of death there.

Considered a medical emergency, stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off. It can cause long-term brain injuries and death. 



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