A Stroke at 40 Motivates Navy Vet to Help Others Avoid the Same
As if working full time and having nine children wasn’t stressful enough for Navy Veteran Charlette McIlwain, a stroke at the age of 40 served as a wakeup call.
The Illinois native was active duty from 2001-06 and in the reserves until 2014. She currently works for the Internal Revenue Service, which is where she initially experienced a headache, dizziness and vision issues. She even joked with a colleague that she felt like she was having a stroke.
In hindsight, it wasn’t a joke at all.
The military toughness pushed her to keep going, eventually driving home from work and expecting sleep to help.
It didn’t.
The next day she began slurring words and her face started to droop. Yet again, she chalked it up to her busy life and previous blood pressure issues.
“I’m a mom and felt like I needed to do what I needed to do,” she said.
It wasn’t until two days later that she went to her local (non-VA) hospital where she was diagnosed with a migraine headache. Scans showed nothing wrong.
As her slurred speech worsened, she called the VA clinical triage line and was instructed to go directly to the nearest hospital. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. She was admitted for the next five days.
She had suffered a stroke.
“I never realized how many people have had strokes until I started sharing my story,” she said. “Some people I’ve spoken to had a stroke in their 20s and some don’t make it, so I feel blessed I did. I almost didn’t make it to my baby’s first birthday celebration.”
Now five months later, McIlwain still deals with effects of the stroke. She says she’s lost a step, sometimes having to search for words that she didn’t have to in the past. Although her husband suggests that she slow down, she’s been full steam ahead with trying to prevent future issues.
“I’m taking medicine every day, eating healthier, getting better sleep and waking up between 3 a.m. – 4 a.m. to work out more. I want to give my body a fighting chance.”
The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign this year centers around strokes – how to identify them, how to prevent them and how to help others. You won’t find a bigger advocate than McIlwain.
“Listen to your body,” she suggests. “Everybody knows when something’s not right. Take time out for yourself. Put yourself first, even when you have other things to do.”
She’s also a huge advocate for one other thing. Given that her parents were in the Army and her husband was a Marine, she’s found a home at VA.
“Once I went to the VA, I felt better. Everybody I talked to, they put me at ease. They explained things to me in a way I can understand. You hear so many stories about VA health care, but I’ve had nothing but great experiences. I feel like somebody actually does care.
When I needed someone, the VA was there.”
***********
VA can help you explore your Heart Health with Women Veterans Health Care. For more information about the Madison VA Hospital, visit www.madison.va.gov, www.facebook.com/MadisonVAHospital and subscribe to our newsletters.