Young Mother Of 2 Survives Stroke As Doctors Report Increase In Patients Under 50

May is Stroke Awareness Month - and doctors say strokes are on the rise in younger patients under the age of 50.

Jennifer McGalliard, a young mom of two, said a stroke changed her life forever.

“The last memory I had was being on the stretcher and heading through the doors and seeing OU Medical Center and then it just went black,” McGalliard said.

She said moments before, she remembers waking up in the middle of night screaming of pain.

“I had the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life; I mean like a lightning bolt just happened,” she said.

Fortunately, her husband was home, called 911 immediately, and an ambulance took her to the hospital.  Moments later a CAT scan revealed she had blood in her brain.

She was suffering from a stroke.

”I had lost control of everything at that point,” McGalliard said. "I just remember praying; God don't let me die. You think of your husband and your children and your family."

Days later her prayers were answered. McGalliard said she woke up and couldn’t even remember what happened.

She had a brain aneurysm, something that runs in her family, but never something she thought she'd suffer from at such a young age.

"You think you're young and you won’t suffer a stroke, and that it won't happen to you and that's an old person disease is kind of a misconception," Heather Graham a Comprehensive Stroke Center Coordinator with OU Health said.

"The earlier we can get them to the hospital, the faster the treatment, the better the outcome," Dr. Andrew Bauer, a neurosurgeon with OU Health said.

McGalliard said she's happy to be alive.

"I think 30% don't even make it to the hospital,” she said.

She spent 17 days in the ICU and says she knows she's lucky to be alive. She hopes by sharing her story she'll save others.

Doctors said diabetes, smoking, genetics factors all play a role, but to watch out for slurred speech and paralysis. These can be the warning signs.