July Stroke Safety Check: Know the Signs, Act Fast, Find Support

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Summer is in full swing across Oregon, making now the perfect moment to refresh your knowledge of stroke signs and the critical steps to take when every second counts. This July, we’re focusing on B.E. F.A.S.T.—a simple tool that can save lives—and sharing trusted Oregon stroke resources to support survivors and caregivers along the path to recovery. Together, we can strengthen our community by staying informed, acting quickly, and offering hope to those affected by stroke.

Know the Signs: B.E. F.A.S.T.

B.E. F.A.S.T. is a vital acronym to remember: Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, and Time. Recognizing these signs can make all the difference. If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms, acting quickly is crucial.

Being aware is just the first step; knowing what to do next is essential.

First Response: What To Do Now

When a stroke strikes, every moment matters. If you suspect a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately. Swift action is your best defense. Keep calm, stay with the person, and provide as much detail as possible to emergency responders.

Knowing these steps ensures you’re ready when time is of the essence.

Keep These Resources Close

Oregon offers a wealth of support resources for stroke survivors and their caregivers. From support groups to educational materials, having these resources at your fingertips can ease the recovery journey. Connect with local organizations like Stroke Awareness Oregon to learn more.

Stay connected to ensure recovery support is always within reach.

Get Involved: Volunteer and Give

You can make a difference. Support stroke survivors by volunteering your time or making a donation to organizations committed to stroke education and recovery. Your contribution fuels vital programs and saves lives.

Join us in building a stronger, more informed community.

P.S. Share this information with your loved ones to help Oregon BE FAST and ready to act!July Stroke Safety Check: Know the Signs, Act Fast, Find Support

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Story Preview | A DRIVING FORCE – Alesha Goodman

by Jake Sheaffer

“I once threw a canister of my supplement powder at the wall and dented it. That’s something I can’t imagine ever doing before my stroke, but it’s just another part
of my recovery to work on.”

______________________________

On an early October weekend in 2019, Alesha Goodman and her longtime boyfriend Drew hiked over 50 miles of rugged desert landscape in the Ochoco National Forest in Central Oregon. They were on a nine-day hunting trip they’d been planning for months. While Drew streaked up the steep slopes of sagebrush and loose rock, Alesha tarried behind breathing heavily, fighting the searing pain radiating from the base of her skull. An active thirty-four-year-old who frequented local gyms, walked her dog daily, and hiked on weekends, Alesha never suspected the severe neck pain and nausea she’d had for the past week and a half were signs of an impending stroke. And not just one stroke, but two. Two potentially fatal strokes that would occur within an hour of each other the day after she returned from the Ochocos.

An only child, Alesha was close to her parents and her grandmother who lived on her parents’ property later in life. As a kid, she delivered newspapers in her Bend, OR neighborhood, and in her spare time, she wrote children’s books for fun and read voraciously, prompting close friends to refer to her as a “living encyclopedia of odd information.”

On the Monday morning after she got home, Alesha sat in traffic at a parkway off -ramp, still in discomfort from the neck pain and the nausea. She had new symptoms, too, dizziness and feeling faint. Regardless of the pain, she readied herself for work, but she had an uneasy feeling about her job.

Over the weekend, Alesha had received multiple text messages from her employer, a jewelry company in Central Oregon, about an issue with her company email and password, but with no cell reception, she couldn’t respond to her manager’s concerns. After searching through Alesha’s desk for her email password and not finding it, but instead finding an important legal document she’d already dealt with but had not yet disclosed to her boss, the company hired a specialist to get around the digital safeguards. That day, Alesha was let go from her position.

Purchase the Book to Learn More About Alesha’s Journey!