Woman, 38, Suffers Stroke While Home Alone — and It’s Caught on Her Nanny Cam.

A woman is reflecting on the moment her stroke was unexpectedly captured on camera.

Krista Figari, a 38-year-old special education teacher, was alone in her Manhattan apartment in April 2024 when the medical emergency struck.

“A stroke was the last thing I ever expected,” she told Good Morning America. “I woke up, was making my bed, and then I turned around to start walking toward the bathroom. When I turned, there was no balance. I couldn’t stand, and I just fell, started tumbling over to the side. And then I felt like I blacked out for a second and was just on the floor.”

She added, “I literally could not move my leg at all. It was like it was dead. Same with my arm. Even just trying to pull myself up was impossible. I just was like, ‘What’s happening? I need help.’”

Figari was stuck on the floor, unable to get up as the entire left side of her body had gone limp. Still, she managed to reach her phone and use Siri to call 911.

Emergency responders transported her to New York-Presbyterian’s Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she was treated by Dr. Nicholas Janocko, a vascular neurologist. He administered thrombolysis, a medication used to dissolve blood clots.

“At NYP-WC we are very fortunate to have the resources and infrastructure to obtain [an] emergent MRI to try and help these patients who would otherwise not be eligible for treatment,” Janocko told the New York Post. “Had she not come to the hospital in time, or had she gone somewhere else without these capabilities, she may not have been treated with thrombolysis and would be living with disability and left-sided paralysis.”

The treatment worked quickly — within 15 minutes, Figari’s movement began to return. After five days in the hospital, she was discharged with only mild residual effects, including slight weakness in her left hand and a bit of facial drooping, which she says are now barely noticeable.

Doctors later discovered that the cause of her stroke was a previously undetected congenital heart defect known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). This condition occurs when a small hole between the left and right chambers of the heart fails to close after birth. Figari underwent a minimally invasive procedure to repair it.

Back at home, she discovered that the stroke had actually been recorded on her nanny cam — a realization that prompted her to share her story to spread awareness about stroke symptoms and the urgency of seeking help.

“Trust your gut,” she told GMA. “If I didn’t trust the fact that something was really wrong, I could be in a very, very different situation right now.”

A stroke occurs when a blood clot or ruptured blood vessel disrupts blood flow to the brain, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Without immediate treatment, strokes can be fatal. They are the second leading cause of death globally and the fifth leading cause in the U.S.

Health experts advise using the acronym “BE FAST” to help identify signs of a stroke:

• Balance: Sudden loss of coordination or balance
• Eyes: Sudden vision changes in one or both eyes
• Face: Facial drooping on one side
• Arms: Inability to raise both arms evenly
• Speech: Slurred or confused speech
• Time: Time is critical — call for emergency help immediately