Nurse Didn't Know She Was Having A Stroke While Working—Saved by Her Quick-Thinking Team
Kristen Danley, an endoscopy nurse at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, showed up for her shift the morning of Valentine’s Day 2025, determined to support her team and care for her patients—despite feeling far from her best. The night before, Danley had noticed an odd sensation in both her arms and legs. Sleep was impossible, and by 3 a.m., she was up, hoping a shower might help. It didn’t.
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Like many healthcare workers, Danley was quick to downplay her symptoms. “We’re great at telling people what to do, or how they should care for themselves, but we don’t take care of ourselves that often,” she admitted. Even with noticeable weakness on her right side, she went to work, intent on getting through the day.
Danley managed to care for at least one patient before her colleague, unit coordinator Suzanna Jubenville, noticed something was wrong. Jubenville saw that Danley’s face was drooping and her speech was slurred. When Danley didn’t believe it, Jubenville brought her to a mirror for confirmation. The classic signs of a stroke were unmistakable.
Jubenville quickly took over Danley’s patients, while another nurse escorted Danley to the emergency room. News spread quickly among the staff—Danley had just worked through a stroke at the age of 39. Even in the emergency department, Danley’s thoughts remained with her patients, asking repeatedly how they were doing.
Danley’s path to nursing began with her own experience as a patient. After being treated for a brain tumor as a child, she was inspired by the care she received and decided to pursue a career in healthcare. Now, after years of caring for others, she found herself on the receiving end of that same compassion and support.
Following her stroke and months of rehabilitation, Danley says she is more motivated than ever to care for her patients, her team, and her family—including two young children. But this time, she’s also making her own health a priority.
Danley’s story is a reminder that nurses, so often focused on others, face the same health risks as anyone else—and that sometimes, the best care they can give is to themselves.
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