'At 40, I went to a clinic for a routine procedure. I woke up in the ICU.'

I'd just turned 40. 

I was a stay-at-home mum to my kids who were then 16, 12, and seven, while also pursuing an accounting career.

But on October 14, 2016, I woke up in a hospital bed with my left side paralysed.

All I remembered at that point was that earlier that day I'd gone to a small clinic for a simple procedure.

Now I was in hospital...  

Panic set in and doctors quickly informed me I'd suffered a stroke after my procedure. They told me because of an undiagnosed hole in my heart (medically termed as patent foramen ovale or PFO), I'd had a bad reaction to the general anaesthetic, which had caused the stroke. 

Watch: The National Stroke Foundation is encouraging people to act F.A.S.T. in stoke situations. Story continues after video.

I was confused, angry and, frustrated. I was fit, young and healthy - it didn't make any sense. 

Not able to feel my left leg was alien to me. No matter how hard I tried to move it, I couldn't. 

Defying all odds.

Image: Supplied.

And the doctors were not optimistic. They told me that if I didn’t die, I would never be able to walk or move normally again.

But as my youngest turned eight, inconsolable that I'd missed her birthday party because I was stuck in hospital, I became determined to prove my prognosis wrong. 

Image: Supplied.

Channeling my anger and sadness into recovery, I tried my hardest to move just one toe. It took all my energy - but I managed to do it!

After that, there was no stopping me. After two weeks, I was walking with the aid of a walker, a week after that, completely unassisted. My doctors thought it was a miracle!

After two weeks in the hospital, I was allowed to go home to continue my recovery.

Before the stroke, I'd worked out religiously three times a week. It paid off when it came to my recovery. The strength I had really helped pull me through. 

Me working out, 3 months after the stroke. Image: Supplied.

But clearly, being young, fit and healthy didn't make me immune to a stroke. 

Life was already challenging.

As well as the undiagnosed hole in my heart, prior to my stroke I was dealing with a lot of stress, which can be a risk factor. 

10 months earlier, my grandfather had passed away, then I'd lost my mother-in-law a few months after that. 

These events caused a lot of grief and sadness for my family. 

Then, just seven months after my stroke, I got into a car accident. I recovered physically, but it caused such severe anxiety attacks I'd sometimes end up in hospital, terrified I was having another stroke. 

Thankfully, after some time, I managed to overcome the anxiety and come off anxiety medication. Soon after, I started Esthe, a beauty and wellness clinic with a business partner.

Image: Supplied.

But while business was thriving, my marriage was falling apart, and I ended up getting a divorce. 

Needless to say, it took a lot out of me but instead of letting these experiences destroy me; I focused on being strong for myself and my children.

A new beginning.

I put all my energy and attention into growing the business into a one-stop-wellness-centre, incorporating aesthetics and wellbeing services including skin treatments, injectables, laser, IV drips, IM boosters, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Hypnotherapy.

Image: Supplied.

I speak from experience when I say that anything is possible as long as we can visualise our positive outcomes, believe in them and work hard to achieve them.

October 29 is World Stroke Day which is to raise awareness of the high rates of stroke, prevention and treatment of the condition. It’s estimated that 27,428 Australians will have a stroke for the first time (2020) - which is one stroke every 19 minutes.

Feride is the founder and NLP Master Practitioner of Esthe Beauty and Wellness Clinic. It will be donating 5 per cent of its sales every month to The Stroke Foundation. Visit www.esthe.com.au for more information. 

Feature Image: Supplied.