Austin ultramarathoner shares stroke recovery after medical emergency

Lily Angelle was 33 and healthy when she suffered a stroke last year. She has regained many of her abilities through physical therapy. In February 2025, Angelle was in the middle of making a presentation on Zoom when she felt a pain shoot from the back of her head to the front. She began losing the ability to control the right side of her body. Angelle was having a stroke. Doctors believe it was probably from cracking her neck, which she said relieved the neck strain from hunching over a laptop all day. Once that artery tore, a blood clot moved up her neck to the brain. Angelle went to St. David's South Austin Medical Center and received clot-busting medication immediately. She was transferred to St. David's Medical Center, which has a comprehensive stroke center. After inpatient rehab with St. David's, Angelle did intensive outpatient therapy five days a week with Centre for Neuro Skills. With hard work, Angelle returned to work in June 2025. She now walks using an ankle brace. Think BE FAST to know the signs of a stroke.