A stroke at age 34: 'I feel like myself again'

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A stroke at age 34: 'I feel like myself again'
Nicole credits the care team at Advocate Christ Medical Center for saving her life after suffering a stroke.

Nicole Blaszkiewicz, who’s just 34 years old, was at home getting ready for work on a March morning when she suddenly couldn’t feel her right side and her speech was slurred. Something was wrong.

She hurried to wake her stepdad but couldn’t form words to communicate what was happening – Nicole was having a stroke. While Nicole’s stepdad wanted to wake her mother and think through next steps, Nicole used nonverbal cues to insist he immediately take her to the emergency room at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Dr. Deepa Bhupali, Nicole’s neurologist, applauds Nicole’s quick thinking to get to the hospital: “That’s the crux of the matter.”

The quick access to treatment, which included the newer clot-busting drug “TNK,” and an embolectomy procedure, resulted in Nicole making a swift recovery. Two months after the stroke, she’s back to work as a dog groomer.

Nicole said she never thought she’d have a stroke, especially in her 30s, but she’s grateful for her care team and also credits her own hard work with a speech therapist in the weeks following her stroke.

“She put me back together,” she said. “I feel like myself again.”

Nicole and her doctors are still evaluating what caused her stroke, and Nicole points out she had been a smoker and had recently started a hormonal birth control pill.

Dr. Bhupali said while it’s unclear if that directly caused Nicole’s stroke, it’s important that all patients discuss any medication, even common ones, with their doctor.

It’s also critical that everyone, no matter the age, knows the signs of a stroke (BE FAST) so they can act immediately – just like Nicole.

Watch Nicole’s story.

How you can help

Advocate Christ Medical Center is part of Advocate Health, a not-for-profit health care system that relies on the generosity of donors for many programs and services, including stroke care, prevention and research. To help people affected by a stroke, like Nicole, please support Advocate Christ, or a hospital or program in your community, today.