Sarah Goodsell, 30, suffers stroke months before Sunshine Coast wedding

A beautiful, fit and healthy teacher who suffered a shock medical episode while out for brunch with her fiance just months before their dream wedding says it’s changed her perspective on life forever.

Sarah and Shannon Goodsell. Picture - contributed.

A beautiful, fit and healthy teacher who suffered a shock stroke while out for brunch with her fiance just months before their dream wedding says it’s changed her perspective on life forever.

Sunshine Coast teacher Sarah Goodsell was devastated by the health scare but able to power through and focus her energy on healing as her husband single-handedly planned their wedding – from the floral arrangements, invitations, to even booking her wedding dress appointments.

Mrs Goodsell, of Sunshine Cove, was sitting at a local cafe with her fiance Shannon Goodsell, 31, on January 7 – just months away from her dream wedding.

A fit and healthy 30-year-old, Mrs Goodsell began slurring her speech and was unable to lift one arm.

High school sweethearts Sarah and Shannon Goodsell. Picture - contributed.

“Shan immediately recognised I was having a stroke. He acted quickly and got me in the car and began driving to the hospital which was less than five minutes away,” Mrs Goodsell said.

“During the short drive he was on speakerphone with his mum, who is a nurse, she confirmed his fears that I was showing some of the F.A.S.T (Face, Arms, Speech and Time) signs of stroke.”

At hospital, Mrs Goodsell underwent a series of tests and was sent home. A week later, an MRI revealed she’d experienced a stroke, caused by a small hole in her heart.

“When I was told I’d had a stroke, it took my breath away. I thought they were something that only happened to the elderly, it was such a huge shock,” she said.

“I was thinking I can’t believe this is real and I had a stroke. I was crying so much it was all so overwhelming.

“I struggled for a few months afterwards, I was constantly on edge that I would have another stroke, it was a really anxious time.”

Sarah and Shannon Goodsell in hospital. Picture - contributed.

Post stroke, Mrs Goodsell struggled with ongoing fatigue, spatial awareness, and sensory issues.

She said shopping centres, concerts, and big crowds had proven especially difficult and triggering.

“I get so mentally drained and overstimulated. Then when I get tired I can also jumble my words and struggle with communicating. I’m very conscious of it and get very anxious about it,” she said.

“It’s hard not being able to do what I used to everyday. I loved exercising, going to the gym, and was very health focused and now I’m finding comfort in a few walks a week if I have the energy.”

The life changing health scare proved an emotional journey for Mrs Goodsell, who said she nearly lost herself in its aftermath.

“At first I was really emotional and couldn’t understand how this happened to me. I was really healthy and active and felt like this shouldn’t have happened to me,” she said,

“For that first month or so there was lots of crying. I thought I wasn’t normal anymore and it felt like I’d lost part of myself.

“The stroke took over my story and identity. It became who I was.”

Sarah and Shannon Goodsell post stroke. Picture - contributed.

She began the long and arduous road to recovery – but her wedding date was fast approaching.

The recovery plan involved mostly resting as Mrs Goodsell struggled to stay awake, to focus, read, or even follow the plot of a television show.

“I lost all interest in trying on dresses and organising the wedding. So, Shan took over all the responsibilities. Having been together for 13 years, he knew my style, he also took over all communication with our vendors,” she said.

“I really didn’t care what the wedding looked like, for me the most important part was marrying my best friend.

“He did everything. He organised the table settings, the flowers, the food, the music, just all of it.

“He was amazing. He even booked in places for me, my mum and sister to look at wedding dresses and took me to all of my appointments and fittings since I couldn’t drive for more than 30 minutes.”

Extraordinarily, and despite the road bumps, on May 26, the high school sweethearts were married at Maleny, surrounded by their loving family and friends.

Sarah and Shannon Goodsell at their wedding. Picture - contributed.

“The day was everything I could have hoped for. I did feel very fatigued, not many people could say they were counting down until the end of the wedding, but I was,” Mrs Goodsell said.

“It was honestly perfect. After the stroke I feel like nothing can make me stressed anymore. I’m like ‘I survived a stroke, I can do anything’.”

Reflecting on the past seven months, Mrs Goodsell said all of the trauma and stress made her fall even more in love with her environmental scientist husband.

“He has been amazing. We always joke that he is the best rock anyone could ever find (because he loves finding rocks in his job),” she said.

“He always puts me first through everything.

“I’m so lucky to have him.”

Now, the couple’s lives are slowly returning to normal.

Sarah and Shannon Goodsell are now married. Picture - contributed.

“I’m doing a lot better and life is better,” Mrs Goodsell said.

“I feel like it might have happened for a reason. Because of it I’m a different person now and have learnt so much. I don’t take things as seriously and I’m so grateful for my life.

“I used to be very critical of how I looked and now I think life isn’t about that. It’s about being happy and healthy.

“I feel so lucky to still have my life, it could have been so much worse.”

Mrs Goodsell is sharing her story to mark National Stroke Week which runs from August 5-11 and encouraged everyone to know the F.A.S.T. message to ensure they can save the life of a loved one if they have a stroke.

“It can happen to anyone. It doesn’t matter how fit and healthy you are,” she said.

“You don’t have to be old or unhealthy. It just happens.

“And don’t second guess your health. If you have a gut feeling then trust it. You know your body and you have to advocate for yourself.

“I want to let young people know that if it happens you’re still normal and there’s help out there. You’re not alone.”

Originally published as Sarah Goodsell, 30, suffers stroke months before Sunshine Coast wedding