Flossy, from Gr8.SassySurvivors on Instagram, tells her story.

In March 2023, after a typical day of grocery shopping and going to the gym, I was feeling perfectly fine. Later that evening, still feeling normal, I suddenly lost control of my right arm. It was strange, but I stayed calm and thought to myself, "It must be a problem with my brain, since the brain controls everything." Little did I know, a horror was about to unfold.

I went to the hospital. As I was walking in, my right foot kicked the curb, and that’s when I thought, "I think I’m having a stroke." I didn’t have any of the typical signs or symptoms.

After some brain scans, doctors discovered a blood clot on the left side of my brain, along with damage from five previous TIAs (Transient Ischemic Attacks). It was shocking—I had no idea. Within 24 hours, I was completely paralyzed on the right side of my body. Half of my body had become dead weight.

How do you navigate that? I had no treatment—by then, it was too late. What did that even mean?

Well, it meant that the area of my brain affected by the clot was "killed," and any recovery would depend solely on neuroplasticity.

In my third week in the hospital, while wearing a heart monitor, it recorded that my heart stopped at 3 a.m. Thankfully, it restarted on its own, otherwise no one would have known. I would have been found dead the next morning.

But my time isn’t up yet! I have to help others through this dark journey.

Unless you've had a stroke, you can’t truly understand what it’s like.

My world turned upside down in a span of just 24 hours. I had always been an independent woman, coming from a dysfunctional background, and I had always wanted to do better for myself—to break the mold.

It’s a sad place to find yourself after a stroke, because many of the people you think will be there for you end up stepping away. The damage isn't always visible to others. Maybe they don’t understand, or maybe they feel I’d be a burden.

After eight weeks in the hospital, I asked a cousin to stay with me for the first week when I returned home. It didn’t take long to realise I was on my own—no one or nothing was going to save me. There’s no magic pill to fix this, just pure determination, commitment, and hard work. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to endure.

But life is a gift, and I am determined to move forward positively! A positive mindset is key. It’s just me, myself, and I.

I am determined to regain the function of the right side of my body, because the body is designed to heal. After that, I will continue helping others through this devastating journey. I have the experience to know what I’m talking about—you are truly on your own. No one is coming to save you.

I just want to be able to take a walk in nature again.

I am now passionate about educating and supporting other stroke survivors. This can happen to anyone, at any time.