Kara Hazen, a successful real estate agent, and her husband were in Las Vegas on their way out of town. Kara was getting ready for the day when her arm suddenly went limp and she was unable to speak. She was having difficulty saying her husband Darryl's name. Her husband recognized these two signs as a potential stroke and called for help. Within an hour after symptom onset, Kara was at the hospital receiving treatment and has since, for the most part, made a full recovery. Soon after, she was back to knitting and helping her husband run their printing company.

On May 18, 2005, Lori Clayson suffered a stroke. Lori was working at a convenience store and just thought she was tired. But, as she was handling a few transactions, she could not ring up the merchandise. She could think of what she wanted to do but no actions followed. After this went on for a little while, she finally called her husband to come and get her. After Lori scrambled to get her shift covered they made a stop to see if someone they knew could help; finally, they went to the hospital where she received treatment just 12 minutes before the window of opportunity for treatment closed. Lori has made a great recovery. She still has some memory loss and weakness in her arm, but can ride her horse, play with her grandkids, and garden. “Don't second guess yourself and don't let time get down to the wire,” she advises.

Dr. Steven Edgley is the Medical Director of Stroke Rehabilitation at the University of Utah Hospital. Dr. Edgley was only 28 years old and in his first year of residency working in ophthalmology when he suffered his stroke. He did receive treatment within about 45 minutes of onset but still suffers some speech impediments. After the recovery process, Dr. Edgley decided to change his medical focus to stroke. He now leads an active life as a physician helping those who have had strokes. He also water skis, bikes, snow skis, hikes, and keeps up with his wife and two little girls. Had he not received treatment immediately, he might not have been able to do all of the things he enjoys today.

Rob Mateus suffered a stroke but waited to get to the hospital over 6 hours after symptom onset. He went to bed with a headache thinking he could just “sleep it off.” He woke up in the middle of the night and realized his leg had gone numb. It wasn't until morning that his family found him unable to speak. After months of rehabilitation, Rob still has some problems walking and impaired use of one arm. However, he has a pretty active life coaching soccer and helping to inspire other stroke survivors. When asked what it would have meant to him to have known the symptoms of stroke and the importance of getting to the hospital within three hours, he replied, “It would have meant the world.”