Paramedic, 21, Struck by Stroke After Experiencing Subtle Symptoms – Could You Be at Risk?

A 21-year-old healthy paramedic, Tina Holt, was left paralyzed after suffering a sudden stroke that began with a simple headache.

In 2016, Tina was returning home from brunch with a friend in Queensland, Australia, when she suddenly felt a headache coming on. But within minutes, she noticed that something was terribly wrong. She couldn’t swipe her phone to unlock it, and her body and brain seemed to stop communicating.

Her friend, who was also a paramedic, quickly noticed that Tina couldn’t smile and realized something serious was happening. “I was having a stroke,” Tina recalled, speaking to the Stroke Foundation.

Tina tried to stand up but collapsed after just two steps. She couldn’t speak, move, or even keep anything down as she vomited, yet she was still conscious. Her friend called for an ambulance right away, but when the paramedics arrived, they initially thought Tina had overdosed, despite her friend assuring them otherwise.

On the way to the hospital, Tina lost consciousness. Once she arrived, a CT scan showed a brain bleed, and she was urgently flown to an ICU in Brisbane.

Her family was told she might not survive, and even if she did, she would likely have permanent disabilities. Tina spent five days unconscious and then ten days in the ICU. She stayed in the hospital for seven months, where she underwent several life-saving surgeries.

One procedure inserted a drain to relieve pressure on her brain, but doctors couldn’t fix the extensive damage to her brainstem. For over three months, Tina had to rely on a feeding tube to survive. She also went through surgeries to help with facial nerve control, tremor reduction, and eye issues.

The stroke left her paralyzed on one side of her body and unable to speak or eat without assistance. She was often exhausted and developed a rare tumor on the right side of her face. Even simple tasks, like drinking water, became incredibly difficult.

Emotionally, Tina struggled as well. “I had dreams of becoming a doctor after working as a paramedic, but my stroke changed everything,” she said.

Although she is now in a wheelchair, Tina has been dedicated to her recovery. She has undergone intense rehabilitation, including gym training, swimming, and cycling.

On her Instagram account, @paramedictopatient, Tina shares her story to educate others on stroke symptoms and to challenge the misconception that strokes only happen to older or unhealthy people. “Strokes can happen at any age,” she said. “Mine hit me completely out of the blue.”

Tina’s story highlights a concerning trend, as strokes in young people are on the rise. In the UK, for example, stroke rates have increased among men under 39 by almost 25% in the past 20 years. Women of the same age group saw a 1% increase.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, killing brain cells. This can result in long-term disability. The most common type, known as ischaemic stroke, occurs when fatty deposits or blood clots block arteries leading to the brain. The other type, hemorrhagic strokes, happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.

The cause of the rise in strokes among young people is not entirely clear, but experts believe factors like high blood pressure, poor diet, alcohol use, and inactivity may increase the risk.

In the UK, strokes are the fourth leading cause of death and a major reason for disability. They affect more than 100,000 people each year, claiming around 38,000 lives annually. The number of people aged 50 to 59 who suffer from strokes has risen by 55% over the past 20 years.