INDIANA – About 700,000 strokes occur each year in the U.S. One in five people will have a stroke in their lifetime. One-quarter of strokes are fatal. Strokes are the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., behind heart disease and cancer.
Tessa, a former Indianapolis Colts cheerleader, was getting ready for work one morning when her arm went numb. She was unable to speak and collapsed. After 36 hours, Tessa was found in her home on the floor. She had suffered a stroke.
Thanks to the American Heart Association’s support of lifesaving research and medical breakthroughs, Tessa got her life back.
