A doting husband saved his wife's life on their wedding anniversary - after she suffered a deadly stroke. Catherine Fahey, 34, feels ''lucky to be alive'' after her husband spotted her face was drooping and after giving her a fireman's lift over his shoulder- rushed her to the nearest hospital.
The 34-year-old mum and fitness enthusiast was in bed asleep on their 13th anniversary, when her husband Kyle Fahey, 34, a lead maintenance engineer, noticed something was seriously wrong. At 1am on the September 19, 2022, he had woken his wife to let her know the kids were in bed but noticed her mouth had sagged significantly on the left side, and her speech was slurred.
Acting quickly, Kyle had to carry his wife into their car and sped to hospital after being told an ambulance would take two hours. Doctors told the pair Catherine was having a stroke and administered vital medication, alteplase, which works most effectively within the first four-hour window.
Due to Kyle's quick thinking, Catherine only spent two days in hospital and has made a miraculous recovery- stunning the doctors who treated her. Catherine, an administrator at a university, said: "Kyle absolutely saved my life. And on our wedding anniversary too.
''It's just amazing how he knew. We've been together since we were 19 and married at 21, so I feel if like he just knows me so well.
"If it had been anyone else around me they wouldn't have known the way Kyle did. It means the world what he did for me.''
Catherine had been having a quiet family night at home with watching a film with children Alfie, 14, and Bella, 11, before her 13th wedding anniversary the next day.
She said: "We'd been downstairs in the living room watching The Lion King with the kids. I went up to bed, and Kyle followed me not long after.
"I'd already been up to go to the bathroom once and I felt fine. He turned the light on and started talking to me, just to tell me both the kids were in bed.
"He asked if I was OK, but as soon as I replied he definitely knew something was wrong. I had absolutely no idea, in my head I thought I was talking and acting fine, but I wasn't.
"He got me to try and stand up and put both arms out in front of me, but I had zero mobility in my left side. The reason he knew what to do because he'd seen the Stroke Association's adverts recently.
"I even tried drinking water but it just fell out of my mouth."
Frantic, at 1am, Kyle immediately called 999 suspecting his wife was having a stroke. After being told the wait time for an ambulance was two hours, the doting hubby sprang into action.
"He literally had to fireman's lift me down the stairs and into the car,'' she explained. ''We had to leave the kids, but luckily Alfie is old enough to have looked after Bella while we were gone.
"He just told them we needed to go out for something and we'd be back soon, he didn't want to worry them. When we got to A&E Kyle just dumped the car and didn't realise he was in the ambulance bay.
"He ran in to get a nurse and it was when I saw her face I knew something was really wrong."
After undergoing a CT scan straight away the doctors confirmed what husband Kyle suspected - Catherine was having a stroke. After being treated in A&E, Catherine was admitted to the critical stroke unit on Monday 19th September, her 13th wedding anniversary.
She said: "Luckily because he acted so fast, the doctors were able to treat me really quickly. I was on the medication within an hour.
"I didn't really feel scared but I felt so confused. I saw Kyle was upset and the nurse said to him, 'this is all down to her now how she recovers'. I just gave it everything.
"Looking back I never thought I wouldn't be able to walk again, I'm really stubborn."
Over the course of a few hours her condition improved significantly, and she was walking again by the fourth hour. Kyle stayed by her side the entire first night.
She said: "Alfie and Bella came up to the hospital to see me the next day with teddies and care packages, which was lovely. To think I might never have seen them again, it's so scary, I couldn't be more grateful to the hospital and my amazing husband.''
Miraculously, Catherine made an amazing recovery and was discharged just two days later on 21st September 2022. She said: "My mouth on the left-hand side is still a tiny bit sagged, and I have some blurred vision, but I have been completely discharged from physio and speech therapy.
''I'm on cholesterol tablets and blood thinners for life, and because my vision is blurred I now how to wear glasses. I can't push myself exercise wise as much as I used to, and I've been advised to make sure when I go on runs I'm not alone.
"I have to keep an eye on my heart rate zones when I'm exercising too."
Doctors have been stunned by Catherine's case, due to her age and dedication to fitness. Both Catherine and husband Kyle compete in Spartan Races - obstacle course races that vary in from three miles to marathon distances - and were both set to represent Team GB at the European Championships on 8th October 2022.
She said: "I'll have to keep going to the hospital for follow ups, but we may never find a cause. I've had some stress at work recently, and they said it could be related to that.
"I've realised work stress just is not worth it. Your health is the most important thing."
Despite her amazing prognosis, Catherine is still learning to deal with life after a stroke. "Sometimes I feel very frustrated," she said.
"I feel quite low at times, especially when people tell me what I can't do, but I'm also very grateful. It could have been a lot worse."
Catherine has now been given medical clearance to build up her exercise again and has been doing light training.
"I really want to raise awareness for the signs of a stroke. I've got another race booked for July 2022 to give me something to work towards, and I'll be wearing a top with the Stroke Association's details on there.
"Me and Kyle were joking the other day about 13 being unlucky for some, and how it all happened on our 13th wedding anniversary.
"The reason he knew what to do because he'd seen the Stroke Association's adverts recently. Kyle absolutely saved my life and for that I love him more than ever.''
