Woman suffers stroke on social media during a live session, saved miraculously: Early signs of stroke that go unnoticed

Every disease, no matter how serious it might be, has stealthy symptoms that often go unnoticed. Sometimes the disease occurs so unexpectedly, one wonders why did it happen to me? I am healthy!

Kristie Kaluza, was advertising about jewelry on social media platform TikTok when she suddenly had stroke. “I didn’t fall. I wasn’t on the floor, but I realized I had dropped the jewelry, and my brain was really confused. I look up at the camera because I knew my husband was (watching), and I tried to say, ‘I need help,’ and it wouldn’t come out. I couldn’t turn my body. I felt super heavy. I couldn’t really lift my arms," the 43 year old told TODAY.

What were her symptoms?
When she was doing the live session, she immediately lost control over speech. She started feeling strange and could not speak. Then she started feeling tremors in her hands and head.

Her husband could identify the signs because he had seen those symptoms when his mother had stroke.



She was rushed to the hospital where the neurologist confirmed that she had a transient ischemic attack, also known as a mini stroke. After tests, it was clear that she had a hole between the upper chambers of her heart, what’s known as a patent foramen ovale and this is why she had stroke at a young age.

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a small, flap-like opening between the upper chambers of the heart (atria) that fails to close after birth. In the womb, this hole allows blood to bypass the lungs, which aren’t used until birth. Normally, the foramen ovale closes shortly after birth, but in about 25% of people, it remains open—or "patent." Most individuals with a PFO experience no symptoms and are unaware of its presence. However, in some cases, it may be linked to stroke, migraines, or decompression illness in divers.

While there are several risk factors of stroke, early intervention is the key to save lives. For this it is important to know the early signs of stroke.

One overlooked symptom is sudden confusion or difficulty understanding speech, often mistaken for stress or fatigue. A person might also have trouble speaking clearly—slurred or garbled speech is a key warning sign. Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg—particularly on one side of the body—is another red flag, even if it fades quickly. Blurred or double vision in one or both eyes is sometimes ignored or blamed on eye strain.

Other subtle signs include loss of balance, dizziness, or trouble walking, which may be confused with tiredness or vertigo. A sudden, severe headache with no known cause can also be an early sign of a hemorrhagic stroke.

Since these symptoms can appear briefly and then disappear, many people don’t seek immediate help. However, even short-lived signs can indicate a high risk of a major stroke in the future. The FAST method—Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency services—remains a reliable guide for quick action.