Emotional Moment Dad, 31, Returns Home After Stroke—'Forever Grateful'

A woman has shared the emotional return of her 31-year-old husband after he suffered a sudden stroke.

Charli Woolley, who lives in Leicester, U.K., shared the moment on her TikTok page @charli0191.

The incident, which Woolley called the "biggest shock of our lives," occurred during a family outing when her husband, Ryan, suddenly suffered a stroke. "He just randomly had a stroke whilst we were at a trampoline park. He was in hospital for eight days," Woolley told Newsweek.

Strokes, often associated with older adults, can affect individuals of any age, including younger adults like Ryan. By sharing what her family is going through, Woolley hopes to raise awareness about the condition.

"Forever grateful he's OK—a long road to recovery, but I'll be with him every step of the way," she said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds.

Strokes in young adults (defined as those under 50 years old) account for around 15 percent of all strokes, but there is evidence that instances in younger adults have been rising in recent years.

While efforts to control blood pressure and diabetes and address atrial fibrillation—a heart rhythm abnormality that causes stroke—have resulted in decreased stroke frequency in patients over 65, rising rates of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and other risk factors in younger adults are contributing to higher levels in that age group.

Signs of a stroke are consistent across age groups, including sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body; speech difficulties; vision problems; dizziness; and severe headaches. The F.A.S.T. acronym serves as a useful tool for identifying these signs promptly.

The American Stroke Association's F.A.S.T. signs are:

• F = Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop, or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?

• A = Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

• S = Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred?

• T = Time to call 911: Stroke is an emergency. Every minute counts. Call 911 immediately. Note the time when any of the symptoms first appear.

While Ryan still has some recovering to do, his family are pleased that he is home. "I was so relieved for him to come home; the kids hadn't seen him since he went into hospital. We are slowly working to get him back stronger, and he has physiotherapy visits most days," Woolley said.