Empowering Everyday Women Ministries is pleased to launch its first annual “Know the Signs” stroke awareness campaign to kick off National Stroke Awareness Month.

Did you know that stroke is the fifth cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. and can happen to anyone at any age and any time?

This is why our team is so excited about our “Know the Signs ” campaign during the month of May, when 30 of our local women’s health chapters will be hosting free workshops and trainings and distributing helpful information to build awareness of stroke risks among African American women.

Dianna Hobbs, our founder and mini stroke survivor, launched the effort in partnership with churches, organizations, and institutions serving Black women, who are statistically two times more likely to have a stroke.

As our wonderful supporters who prayed earnestly for Dianna know, she suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA), known as a mini stroke, in 2019 due to an allergic reaction to an antibiotic. It was her husband of 25 years, Kenya Hobbs, who saw that she was exhibiting the warning signs of a stroke and rushed her to the hospital, where doctors quickly implemented life-saving measures.

“There is a Scripture in Hosea 4:6 that says in part, ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge,’ and I don’t want that to be anyone’s testimony,” said Dianna who opens up about her mini stroke experience in EEW Magazine Online. “Whatever I can do to help others lead better, healthier lives so they can fulfill their Kingdom assignment, I will do it.”

The easiest way to remember the signs is by using the letters in F.A.S.T. to spot a stroke.

• 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

Watch for Sudden:

• NUMBNESS or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body

• CONFUSION, trouble speaking or understanding speech

• TROUBLE SEEING in one or both eyes

• TROUBLE WALKING, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

• SEVERE HEADACHE with no known cause

It is because of the generous support of our partners that Empowering Everyday Women is able to educate thousands of women at no cost and do our part to make communities healthier, safer, and better.

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