INDIANAPOLIS — Mom, business owner, fitness fanatic. Cassie Perry wears many hats. But that all could’ve changed on her 39th birthday, when her entire body went numb while spending a quiet evening at home with her fiancé.
"I remember reaching down to touch my arm and I thought it was his arm, it was so numb that I didn't realize it was my limb that was there,” Perry explained.
Well-versed in knowing stroke symptoms, Perry and her fiancé went to the ER.
Doctors found she had a PFO, which is when there's a hole in the heart and a clot escapes, going straight to the brain.
"From the outside it looked just fine, but after several rounds of testing, they decided to implant a device through the hole, which will essentially seal up the hole itself and not allow clots to go forward,” Perry said.
Now able to return to her normal life, the mom of 3 and soon-to-be stepmom of three more, prides herself in raising awareness of stroke symptoms.
"I am not someone who's had any history of strokes, I'm not diabetic, I own a fitness studio, I am very, very active in my lifestyle and not knowing about the signs, maybe I would have shrugged it off as just another migraine and it would have a totally different outcome," Perry said.
According to the American Heart Association, signs to look out for when it comes to stroke include a face droop, sudden numbness, arm weakness, sudden severe headache, slurred speed and sudden confusion.
Now, Perry said she doesn’t take anything for granted. Inspiring others through fitness and living life to the fullest, because she knows firsthand just how precious the gift of life is.
“I’m really trying to focus on the things that I want to do and the things that I’m good at, and just being present with the people that I love,” Perry said.
And, she’s being recognized for how knowing symptoms can absolutely save your life.
She’s the honoree at this year’s Go Red For Women Luncheon, put on by the American Heart Association.
Upon being asked by AHA to be this year’s nominee, Perry said there wasn’t any hesitation.
“I’ve been really working hard since the stroke happened to find all of the good in it, and I have to say that my story is one of those positive survival stories that I love to share," Perry said.
"And it may not have been that way if I hadn’t been aware of all the symptoms and being able to get it out there and share that, just in case it saves one more person that may not be the stroke candidate that you’d think they would be."
The luncheon is Wednesday at the Carmel Palladium, and RTV6's own Amanda Starrantino and Marc Mullins will be emcees.
