A stroke is an emergency. Samantha was lucky.

The #1 cause of premature death in women in Canada is heart disease and stroke. Gaps in research, diagnosis and care threaten women's heart and brain health. We're working to change that . Sign up today to get involved.

"Where are my limes?" asked 23-year-old Samantha Gomez. The former Mrs. Universe Canada was looking for her keys. She was met with stunned silence from her parents and fiancé.

"In my mind, I was asking, 'Where are my car keys?', she recalls. "I didn't get why everyone looked so worried."

Samantha was experiencing the first symptoms of what turned out to be a severe stroke.

She was rushed to a nearby hospital where a CT scan confirmed. Unfortunately, the medical team didn't have the appropriate medication on hand. She had missed the brief window when the medicine could help lessen the stroke's effects.

About 60% of people in Canada who have had a stroke live with some degree of disability that impacts their daily activities.

If someone is experiencing the signs of a stroke , call 9-1-1 immediately.

If Samantha was going to stand a chance at recovering her ability to speak, she needed to start intense therapy immediately.

It took Samantha nearly a month to recover almost completely. Today, she is able to speak fluently and uses her voice to educate others about her experience and how to recognize the early signs of a stroke.

Samantha also learned an important lesson: anyone can have a sudden stroke at any age. Now, with Rob (her now-husband), she focuses on lowering the stress in her life and raising awareness about brain diseases. And with two small children, modeling self-care and a healthy lifestyle is even more important.

Stroke can cause sudden devastation, including silencing the ability to speak. 

Sign up today to receive life-saving information and healthy living tips from Heart & Stroke, and join a community determined to beat heart disease and stroke.