From Hero in Scrubs to Patient in a Bed: 24-Year-Old Texas Nurse Suffers a Stroke
In a shocking twist of fate, Alex Wilson-Garza, a dedicated emergency room nurse from Round Rock, Texas, went from caring for patients to becoming one herself after suffering a stroke at just 24 years old.
It started as an ordinary day in January 2023. Alex had just finished a grueling night shift at St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center when she suddenly felt unwell. The world began spinning violently around her with intense dizziness. Soon after, her speech started slurring, she lost control over the left side of her body, and the left side of her face drooped noticeably — classic signs of a stroke.
Her husband, Caleb, a police officer, quickly recognized the emergency. Despite her initial reluctance — not wanting to return to the hospital she had just left as a patient — he rushed her straight to St. David’s, where her colleagues worked swiftly to save her life.
“It was real surreal,” recalled her nurse manager, Britney Elrod. “I hear ‘24-year-old female, it’s Alex,’ having stroke-like symptoms… You don’t want to think it’s real for sure.”
Thanks to rapid action, Alex received critical treatments including clot-busting medication (tPA) and a thrombectomy to remove the clot. She spent several days in the ICU but recovered remarkably well with minimal long-term effects, largely because she arrived at the hospital so quickly.
A healthy, active young woman and lifelong athlete with no prior major medical issues, Alex believes her recent use of estrogen-based birth control may have contributed to the clot. She has since stopped it and adopted even healthier habits, including regular check-ups and staying active.
Now, Alex is using her powerful experience on both sides of the stretcher to raise awareness, especially during American Stroke Month. She has partnered with the American Stroke Association to educate others on recognizing the signs using the BE FAST acronym:
- Balance: Sudden dizziness or loss of balance
- Eyes: Vision changes
- Face: Drooping on one side
- Arms: Weakness or numbness
- Speech: Slurred words or difficulty speaking
- Time: Call 911 immediately — time is brain
Strokes are the No. 3 cause of death in women, and one in five women will have one in their lifetime. Alex’s story is a powerful reminder that strokes can happen to anyone, at any age.
Today, Alex continues her nursing career with a deeper sense of empathy and purpose. “There was a nurse Alex before my stroke and a nurse Alex afterwards,” she says. “I’m very proud of the nurse that I have been after my stroke.”
Her journey highlights the importance of listening to your body, acting fast on symptoms, and the life-saving power of quick medical intervention — especially when your own colleagues become your heroes.
