Thank you all for watching and listening to my story. I feel very grateful and lucky to have had the resources and family support to be able to deal with this as quickly as I did. I wanted to make this video to share more info and a few resources below to turn to if you have gone or are going through something similar.

RESOURCES:

★Get Regular Check-ups.
Routine visits with a health care provider are an important part of taking care of our health.

★Check with your local Planned Parenthood health center about the services they offer at https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center.

★Learn About the Stroke Warning Signs and Symptoms.
Use the letters in F.A.S.T to spot a stroke:

F = Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
A = Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred?
T = Time to call 911

★Learn more about stroke awareness, cardiovascular health and things to look out for - like PFOs - at heart.org. If your current healthcare provider is not familiar with PFOs and how they can relate to strokes, try reaching out to your local university hospital for more info.

★Join the Movement to Make Health Care Accessible for Everyone.
50% of people across the globe lack access to essential health care. Partners in Health works to provide high quality health care to those who need it most.

Get involved at https://www.pih.org/get-involved.

★Health Scares Can Feel Lonely. Reach Out if You or a Loved One Are Struggling.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact the NAMI HelpLine
1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
Mon-Fri from 10am-10pm ET.

Or visit https://nami.org/help to chat online.