Saskatchewan nursing student’s life changed overnight by rare stroke

A 27-year-old nursing student is on the road to recovery after waking up unable to speak and paralyzed on one side of her body due to a stroke. Mick Favel repor

Shanice Ostrea, a 27-year-old Saskatchewan nursing student, is recovering in hospital after suffering a life-altering stroke.

The Weyburn native woke up three weeks ago unable to use the left side of her body. She was unable to speak or get out of bed.

Her mother, Juliet Ostrea, says doctors told the family the stroke was both severe and rare.

“The doctor came and told me that it is a very bad one and it is a very rare one,” she said. “I said, ‘Could we have prevented it before it’s happening?’ He said no.”

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Shanice is a practical nursing student at Southeast College who was scheduled to graduate in June.

Her instructors described her as a hardworking and vibrant student and her absence has impacted both her classmates and instructors.

“We are trying to teach them to try and make a difference in our healthcare system,” said Jessica Gorgerat, a practical nursing instructor at Southeast College.

“We are never expecting for one of them to take the role as a patient. Helping the other students kind of process some negative things that can happen in our profession has been something that we have had to process as a group.”

Around the time of her stroke, Ostrea had been experiencing a severe headache, a common warning sign, but brushed it off because of her history with headaches.

Gorgerat says other stroke symptoms can be visibly seen, including facial drooping, weakness on one side of the body, and slurred speech.

“If any of those are noticed in someone you are around, your family, friends, coworkers — call 911,” she said.

For those experiencing a stroke, time is critical. Ostrea’s family is urging people not to ignore even mild symptoms.

“Even the tiniest symptoms, just go,” said Juliet. “You never know that this will happen. I always dismissed this. I didn’t even know that a stroke can strike anyone, regardless of age or gender.”

Ostrea is taking her rehabilitation one day at a time. A fundraising page has been set up to support her recovery, as she is the primary provider for her family.