{"id":86250,"date":"2025-10-27T07:55:43","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T13:55:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=86250"},"modified":"2025-10-26T07:58:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-26T13:58:50","slug":"recognizing-stroke-signs-in-smile-denver-nurse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/recognizing-stroke-signs-in-smile-denver-nurse\/","title":{"rendered":"Denver nurse recognizes stroke signs in her own smile, called 911 and walks out of hospital next day"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Alice
Alice Barclay diagnosed her own stroke, called 911 and made it to the hospital quickly. Her grandson, Elijah Kim, 24, is applying to medical schools and is supporting his grandmother in her efforts to adopt healthier habits \u2014 like quitting smoking \u2014 after she survived a stroke. Photo by Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Alice Barclay is smiling a lot these days, and who can blame her?<\/p>\n

Her grin, specifically a lopsided one, was a telltale sign and an important clue in real time that she was experiencing a dangerous and potentially lethal stroke. Of the many negative scenarios that might have occurred, Alice left the hospital within 24 hours with few adverse effects to show for her frightening experience.<\/p>\n

There were several factors working in Alice’s favor that morning in early June. As a nurse, she knew she was having a stroke and quickly called 911. She was lucky to be within minutes of UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital<\/a>, a designated Comprehensive Stroke Center,<\/a> which provides the highest level of stroke care in the region. And she spent just minutes in the ambulance before being treated with quick life-saving action from the stroke response team at UCHealth<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the ambulance ride over, I thought to myself, \u2018I hope I can get there in time. If not, my life is over, and I\u2019m going to be disabled for the rest of my life.\u2019 But that stroke team saved me. The room was full of people, and they were fantastic. I was lucky, lucky, lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n

For doctors and stroke experts, Alice\u2019s good fortune served as a key reminder of how important it is to recognize the signs of a stroke and get help as quickly as possible.

Stopping tobacco and nicotine products can be challenging. Learn how support through UCHealth<\/a> can increase your chances. <\/div>\n

\u201cThere are two essential factors in strokes: The first is that many people don\u2019t know what the signs are, so we are always wanting to educate the community,\u201d said UCHealth Stroke Clinical<\/a> Coordinator Erin Giacomelli. \u201cAnd the other variable is getting to the hospital in time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alice, a 68-year-old pediatric home health nurse, was lucky in both respects. Her quick response and the care she received meant she was able to leave the hospital just one day after her emergency visit. And she didn’t have to face a long, challenging course of rehabilitation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so grateful for everyone who saved my life. But someone along the way told me that I played a role as well, and in a way, saved my own life. I was proactive and got to the hospital as soon as possible,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Recognizing signs of a stroke: Alice’s instincts helped save her life<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When Alice woke up on June 4, 2025, her right arm and leg felt a little strange. She dismissed the strange feelings at first, blaming her soreness on a bad night\u2019s sleep. She hoped she’d feel better soon and headed to her car, intending to take a short drive to a coffee shop, but she pulled over almost immediately.<\/p>\n

By then, she knew something was very wrong. She looked up in her rear-view mirror, smiled and noticed that her mouth was asymmetrical. Facial drooping is a telltale sign of a stroke.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew from my nursing training that this was a sign of a stroke. Combined with the weird feeling on my right side, and I realized \u2026 this is bad. I thought, \u2018Oh my god, I am having a stroke.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Alice immediately called 911. Firefighters arrived but were not certain she was in immediate danger. Alice trusted her gut and waited for the paramedics to arrive. She fell trying to get out of her car. Paramedics placed on a gurney and asked her to smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey told me I was having a stroke there and then. They put on the flashers and sirens, and we were on our way to the ER. By the time we got there, only 15 minutes or so had passed. I didn\u2019t feel that bad, but I was having a stroke the whole time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paramedics took Alice to the University of Colorado Hospital ER on the Anschutz Medical Campus<\/a>, where the stroke team was all ready for her. They knew that every second would count as they sought to prevent any neurological damage and physical impairment.<\/a><\/p>\n

Every moment counts when it comes to a stroke<\/strong><\/h2>\n

People who work with stroke patients often use an expression, \u201ctime is brain.\u201d That\u2019s because for every minute that passes without oxygen to the brain, up to 2 million brain cells can be lost, underscoring the importance of identifying stroke symptoms right away so a patient can get help as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

In the U.S., strokes are the fifth-leading cause of death and a major cause of long-term disability. Strokes can happen to anyone and can vary in appearance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe earlier we see patients, the more we can do for them,\u201d Giacomelli said.<\/p>\n

Stroke experts, like Giacomelli, remind people to think of the acronym FAST when it comes to awareness and treatment of strokes.<\/p>\n

Remember FAST:<\/strong><\/p>\n