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Pontefract: Life of stroke girl saved by TV advert
A schoolgirl was saved by a TV advert – when she started having a stroke.
When 16-year-old Marisca Le Roux felt unwell she recognised her symptoms from ads for the Department of Health's Fast stroke campaign.
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Marisca, from Kinsley near Pontefract, said: "I was upstairs at home and realised I was having a stroke as the left side of my face fell, my arms felt weak and I couldn't call out as my speech had gone.
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"I bumped on the floor so that my mum would hear, and she rushed upstairs and dialled 999."
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Her mother, Tracy Van Rooyen, said: "Marisca knew she was having a stroke as she'd remembered the four signs from the advertising campaign. That meant I was able to act quickly to help her."
And because of her rapid action, Marisa has made a full recovery.
Marisca was injured in a road accident when she was eight and later had an operation to remove the damaged part of her brain.
Marisca is one of 200 stroke survivors helped since February year by a new Stroke Association Family and Carer Support Service commissioned by NHS Wakefield District.
Family and carer support co-ordinators visit stroke patients in hospital and make home visits up to a year after leaving hospital.
A stroke is a loss of brain function due to a clot or bleed in the brain and is the third most common cause of death and the single largest cause of adult disability in England.
The Fast campaign's four signs are:
Face: can the person smile?
Has their mouth or eye drooped?
Arm: can the person raise both arms?
Speech: can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
Time: to call 999.
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Weather for Leeds
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -5 C to 2 C
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