From the back seat of the car, strapped into her booster seat, little Lose Tafuna helped save her mum’s life.
Lose was just five years old and on her way to school when she noticed her mum, Robyn Tafuna, wasn’t speaking properly.
“I had planned on dropping off Lose and then heading straight to work. But Lose said, ‘Mum, your mouth looks funny and you’re not talking properly’,” Robyn said.
“Having worked in health care for 20 years, I knew immediately I must be having a stroke. I didn’t want to upset Lose, so I dropped her off and drove the two minutes back home and called an ambulance.”
After a series of tests at St Vincents Hospital, doctors confirmed Robyn, who was 40 at the time, had experienced a stroke. Just a few days later, Robyn’s condition worsened, and she was rushed into emergency surgery to reduce the pressure on her brain.
“They called my family in to say goodbye which was awful. I woke up the next day not knowing I’d had brain surgery. I had no sensation in my arm, and had to re-train how to walk,” she said.
“I was sent home after 10 days. I expected to be myself, but I wasn’t. I couldn’t use a knife and fork and struggled with major mood swings.
“My two daughters were my greatest motivation to get better. They helped me with my rehab using Lego and playdough.”
Robyn believes she may not be alive if it wasn’t for Lose’s quick thinking that day in 2021. Now nine years old, the bond of mother and daughter is closer than it has ever been.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Lisa Murphy said Lose did the right thing in alerting her mum that something was not right.
“There’s no doubt that by speaking up when she noticed the changes to her mum’s speech, Lose ensured her mum had timely medical help,” Dr Murphy said.
“We know that the faster a stroke patient gets to hospital and receives medical treatment, the better their chance of survival and successful rehabilitation. You can help saving a life by learning the F.A.S.T. signs of stroke.”
Ambulance Victoria Executive Director Regional Operations, Danielle North, said Robyn was showcasing the telltale F.A.S.T. signs of stroke.
“Our ALS paramedics Matt and Sascha performed vital treatment and did a fantastic job at the scene and in transporting Robyn to hospital,” Ms North said.
“Time is of the essence when someone is having a stroke, so it’s important for everyone to know how to identify symptoms using F.A.S.T – Face, Arms, Speech and Time.”
The Tafuna family are sharing their story to mark which runs from August 5 to 11 and encourages people to learn the F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech and Time) message to ensure they can save the life of a loved one if they have a stroke.
Think F.A.S.T and ask these questions:
Face - Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
Arms - Can they lift both arms?
Speech - Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
Time - Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call 000 straight away.
