Woman Suffers Rare Stroke While on Zoom Call

A Kansas City woman returned to her hospital to give thanks to the doctors and nurses who took care of her a year ago after she had a rare stroke while on a Zoom call.

According to KSHB, Stacee Cassidy, 48, was on a call with her Washington D.C.-based church group when she suffered a stroke.

Members of her church group on the call contacted first responders in Kansas City who transported her to St. Luke’s Neurological Intensive Care Unit.

There, Cassidy underwent three brain surgeries to return her back to health.

The two main types of strokes are ischemic, which is the most common, and hemorrhagic. Cassidy suffered a hemorrhagic stroke.

This kind of stroke can be caused by aneurysms and/or an irregular formation of blood vessels, referred to as an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), both of which ending with a ruptured artery. Cassidy experienced both causes.

“I know I’m a miracle walking,” Cassidy told KSHB. "Now, my gratitude for every day, every moment, is next level.”

Dr. Yefei Duan, St. Luke’s cerebrovascular neurosurgeon, said that what occurred with Cassidy’s stroke only occurs in 1% to 3% of strokes that bleed.

People are often told to refer to the acronym “BE FAST” to recognize the signs of a stroke: changes in balance and eyesight, drooping of the face and arms and slurred speech.

However, Duan said that these signs are not always common with hemorrhagic strokes. Instead, he said to look for signs of illness like headaches, nausea, vomiting and drowsiness.

After months in the hospital, Cassidy is back on her feet and is looking to take her story with her. She said she has plans to serve as a public speaker.