HAWTHORN East mother of two Dawn Oldham was as fit as she had ever been, when she suddenly felt ill one day while getting ready to cook dinner.
"I'd been feeling fabulous all day," Ms Oldham said.
"I played basketball, picked up the kids and I was in my pantry working out what to cook for dinner when it happened."
At just 42, Ms Oldham suffered a stroke.
"Initially I felt very dizzy, I called out to my husband, who, luckily, was home at the time, and he had heard about the FAST campaign.
"He sat me down on a seat and I just slipped off it.
"I had no control of my right side, and my mouth had dropped. I remember everything, I was laughing hysterically.
"I had no idea what was happening."
After spending a few days in hospital, Ms Oldham was sent home, but said she was stunned by the lack of support she received, which has led to her new passion as a board member of the Stroke Foundation.
Last month, Ms Oldham was part of a group of 70 stroke victims who went to Canberra to speak with Health Minister Tanya Plibersek.
"Stroke is the second biggest killer in Australia, yet we basically get no government support," she said.
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