Senator Megan Dahle has presented Senate Resolution 40, officially recognizing May as Stroke Awareness Month in California. This resolution holds personal significance for Dahle, who recently experienced a stroke herself.
In December 2023, Dahle was hospitalized for heart complications, during which a blood clot formed, leading to a stroke that was quickly addressed. She emphasized the importance of swift action in her recovery, noting that nearly 1 in 4 adults will experience a stroke in their lifetime, with over 795,000 strokes occurring annually in the United States.
Following the stroke, Dahle engaged in an intensive rehabilitation program involving physical, speech, and occupational therapy to regain strength and retrain essential language skills. By February 2024, she was actively involved with her legislative team, monitoring bills and addressing district issues.
While she continues to face challenges with apraxia and aphasia—language disorders that can result from a stroke—Dahle underscores that these conditions do not diminish a person’s intelligence. She asserts that individuals with aphasia maintain their thoughts and ideas, regardless of the challenges in communication.
Dahle’s experience has deepened her commitment to raising awareness about strokes and the realities of recovery from aphasia and apraxia. She advocates for educating the public on recognizing stroke signs through the acronym FAST: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call 911. She encourages everyone to learn more about strokes and the importance of timely responses to improve outcomes.
