Woman who had a stroke at just 24 opens up about the moment she couldn’t move

Most people associate strokes with ‘old age’.

But Rachael Urquhart, from Townsville in Queensland, discovered the hard way that strokes ‘do not discriminate’, and can strike at any time.

At just 24 years old, Miss Urquhart was home alone when she noticed something strange about her arm.

Rachael Urquhart, from Townsville in Queensland, discovered the hard way that  strokes ‘do not discriminate’, and can strike at any time

‘I remember lying on my bed with my hand above my head, but I couldn’t bring my arm back down again,’ she told FEMAIL.

‘I tried to get up but something had affected my core muscles so I just fell over. My phone was lying on the quilt above so I was able to drag the sheets off and the phone fell near me.’

Screaming and now terrified Miss Urquhart phoned her father, who was an ex-paramedic, and told him she couldn’t feel the left hand side of her body.

'I remember lying on my bed with my hand above my head, but I couldn't bring my arm back down again,' she told FEMAIL (this cheeky image was sent to her picture to show that she could move her hands again)

‘I remember lying on my bed with my hand above my head, but I couldn’t bring my arm back down again,’ she told FEMAIL (this cheeky image was sent to her picture to show that she could move her hands again)

‘The irony is that my housemate was a paramedic, but just so happened not to be there that day,’ she explained.

‘My dad must have called for an ambulance after we spoke. I looked in the mirror beside me at my face and noticed my smile.’

One of the symptoms of stroke is a drooped face – something Miss Urquhart noticed she had.

Other tell-tale signs include not being able to lift both arms and a slurred speech. If any of these are obvious than it’s time to call triple-0.

‘A stroke was never on my radar. It’s not in my family history and I didn’t know anything – other than that it causes paralysis – at the time,’ she explained.

'A stroke was never on my radar. It's not in my family history and I didn't know anything - other than that it causes paralysis - at the time,' she explained (pictured with her family)

'A stroke was never on my radar. It's not in my family history and I didn't know anything - other than that it causes paralysis - at the time,' she explained (pictured with her family)

‘A stroke was never on my radar. It’s not in my family history and I didn’t know anything – other than that it causes paralysis – at the time,’ she explained (pictured with her family)

‘It doesn’t discriminate. I was 24 and relatively healthy at the time,’ the now 26-year-old said.

Miss Urquhart was in the hospital for a week but had regained her sense of movement within a day.

Doctors recognised her condition immediately, and that made all the difference when it came to her recovery.

Describing her survival as ‘very lucky’, the Queensland local is trying to raise awareness about stroke in young people.    

Doctors recognised her condition immediately, and that made all the difference when it came to her recovery

Doctors recognised her condition immediately, and that made all the difference when it came to her recovery

Alongside her sister Megan, the pair have formed a team for the Stroke Foundation’s Stride4stroke physical activity campaign this November, and will walk 200km each in 31 days.

Two days into the month the girls have already beaten their $1,000 donation target, and will endeavour to raise more.

‘You can reduce your stroke risk by increasing your physical activity, that’s a big part of why we’re doing it,’ Miss Urquhart said. 

You can donate to their Stride4Stroke fund here

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