- November 26, 2024
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Former Matanzas High School teacher Jennifer Barnett loved being a stay-at-home mom to her two sons Bryce, 5, and Jett, 8 month old. But three months ago, her life was turned upside down.
Before boarding her American Airlines flight from New York to Winder, Ga., on Feb 4, Barnett felt very dizzy. Having suffered from what she thought were migraines for the last year, she took migraine medicine, texted her husband and boarded her flight with her children.
About 30 minutes into the flight, Barnett began to throw up, according to other passengers. Upon landing at the airport in Georgia, her husband Jared picked the boys up, and Barnett was rushed to the hospital.
MRIs showed that Barnett, 28, had suffered several different brain stem strokes.
The doctors said there was no hope, but Jared didn’t believe them. Now, three months later, Jennifer Barnett is smiling, laughing, nodding her head and breathing on her own. She receives occupational therapy every day at the research hospital where she is admitted, Shepherd Center, in Atlanta.
In honor of Barnett and Stroke Awareness Month, Rochelle Stone will host A Walk for Jen 9 a.m. May 11, across from the Flagler Beach water tower.
“I think of her as my sister, it wasn’t like she was just a friend,” Stone said. “This is a life-changing thing that happened to her. All she wanted to do was be a mom, and now that’s forever changed.”
The three-mile walk on the beach is designed not only to celebrate Barnett, but to also be an awareness event about strokes.
“Because she was so young, no one saw that she was having a stroke,” Stone said. “Her passion was education, so of course she would want to get the word out about stroke awareness.”
According to occupational therapist Melba Ramirez, the key to treating a stroke is treating it right away. There is a 24-hour window, and the sooner rehabilitation begins, the faster the brain starts learning again.
“Don’t take the word that says that is it, because we should always hope, there is always hope,” Ramirez said.
The National Stroke Association uses the acronym F.A.S.T. to remember the warning signs of a stroke: F, for face — does one side of the person’s face droop? This can be checked by asking them to smile; A, for arms — is there numbness in the arm, or does one arm drift downward when raised out?; S, for speech — is their speech slurred or strange? This can be checked by having the person repeat a simple phrase; and T, for time — if you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately.
While strokes are not preventable, Ramirez said that people with diabetes, sickle cell, obesity, high blood pressure and seizures are prone to stroke and have an elevated risk factor.
After a stroke occurs, Ramirez said it is helpful for family and patients to learn from somebody else’s experience. A stroke support group meets every third Tuesday of the month at Florida Hospital Flagler. The group is open to any caregivers or survivors in the community. Call 586-3866.
“Life has forever changed for Jennifer because of the stroke,” Stone said. “She is fighting every day.”
Donations to the Barnett family can be made at www.youcaring.com/other/jens-family-fund/51965.
