May is Stroke Awareness Month and News 13 spoke to Secily Wilson who was once an Orlando television personality who survived two strokes.

  • Secily Wilson survived two stroks
  • She was 39 years old during her first stroke
  • Doctors said symptoms can be subtle and to think FAST

Wilson has been a journalist for nearly 20 years.  

She started her career in Georgia and made a stop in Tampa as a weekend anchor and reporter.  

Her next move was Orlando.

“It was 5 a.m. and it was lights, cameras and no action. The words were trying to come out,” said Wilson.

The television personality suffered a stroke while she was delivering the news on set.

She was 39 years old when it happened.

“I had consistent headaches, slurred speech, passing out I said 'I think I’m having a stroke,'” said Wilson.   

Nine years after her first stroke, she had another stroke.

“I was not remotely thinking that, I don’t drink I don’t smoke I’m not overweight, I didn’t have any of the clear signs that someone would have a stroke,” said Wilson. 

Doctors said symptoms can be subtle and to think FAST. F stands for Face, A for Arms, S for Speech and T for time.

“If their speech is slurred or they cannot comprehend speech, if they try to lift both of their arms up it’s another sign of a stroke,” said Indrania Costa, a stroke neurologist.

Costa treated Wilson after she had her second stroke. She said it was a mild one, but still dangerous.

“We expect the patient to still need rehabilitation and nowadays the rehabilitation of a stroke process goes throughout life,” said Costa.

Wilson said she is using her experiences to educate others about the warning signs.

“I’m feeling really, really good,” said Wilson.   

The Florida Legislature recently passed a bill that would improve the care for stroke patients like Wilson.

The bill is now headed to Gov. Rick Scott's desk to be signed into law.