Kids waiting to leave with mom got worried when she didn’t come out of room—their response saved her
When something feels wrong, it is crucial to take the caveat. Nicole Burruano's children, 15-year-old Ava and 11-year-old Christopher, were fortunately vigilant when something felt suspicious, WBALTV reported. The family had a day planned and was following their itinerary. As the kids were waiting to leave with their mum, they realized it had been far too long. Finding it suspicious that she wasn’t ready yet, they decided to act and that very move paved the way to save her life. Nicole’s husband had gone golfing while the mom herself had gone on a 5-mile run. She recalled being completely fine when she got back from her run.
She was supposed to get ready and leave quickly with her kids. “The first thing that I noticed was that when I went to wash out my mouth with mouthwash and dropped the cup on the ground,” the mom recalled. Initially, she didn’t think much of it — and then it all happened in a matter of seconds. Nicole remembered being on the ground outside her shower, unable to move her right side at all. Christopher mentioned, “She said that we were leaving soon and then she didn’t come out.” This unusual thought pushed him to get his sister and go check on their mom. When they entered the washroom, they found her lying on the floor. They tried to speak with her but received no response.
The duo then called their dad, who urged them to dial 911. The woman was rushed to the MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, and Dr. Paul Singh, a neuroendovascular surgeon, took over her treatment. “They really saved her life. Time is brain. The fact that they realized that something’s off and called the dad really saved the day,” Dr. Singh remarked. The expert noted how they always operate on the “time is brain dogma” and added that with every minute, brain cells are dying. The work the kids did soon after realizing something was wrong, though not knowing what, made all the difference. Dr. Singh emphasized the need for quick action in the case of a stroke.
Recalling the many cases he’s worked on, he mentioned how medical teams teach kids of all ages about the signs of strokes. He also pointed out an acronym, “BE FAST,” to help kids understand a potential stroke.
B - Balance: Dr. Singh explained that if a person feels off balance, it is something to be concerned about.
E - Eye: The expert noted that if eye movements seem to be off or if you “can’t see out of one eye or the other,” it calls for action.
F- Facial Movements: If there’s a little bit of a “facial droop,” it could be a sign of a stroke.
A- Arms: Dr. Singh noted that a good way to determine an oncoming stroke could be putting both arms horizontally front and if one side feels weaker, it’s an alert.
S- Speech: Slurred speech, being unable to pronounce words or repeat statements, is also a cause for concern.
T - Time is brain: Dr. Singh noted that of all the letters, the last is the most important. “Time is brain” refers to the need to act quickly, maybe call 911 or emergency services, as every minute counts.
“The longer you wait, the lower the chances of recovery, but you guys got her in quickly and that’s why she’s good today,” Dr. Singh said, commending Ava and Christopher. As Nicole is on her way to recovery, her kids are by her side, helping her take it one step at a time.