Brave Daire acted ‘FAST' to save grandmother's life

A sixteen year old Clonard schoolgirl is being hailed a hero by her family - and the Irish Heart Foundation - for her quick actions after her grandmother suffered a sudden stroke.Daire Kavanagh, daughter of Michelle and Paul Kavanagh, was on her own with her grandmother, Vera Connolly, last month when the crisis unfolded: “I realised that the right side of her face had dropped and that she was trying to tell me something but I couldn't understand it. I then remembered the advertisement I saw on tv about how to notice the signs of a stroke – F.A.S.T.”The advert - run by the Irish Heart Foundation - stressed that time was of the essence when someone has had a stroke, and Daire called 999 for help, which meant that within ten minutes, an ambulance arrived, and the paramedics confirmed that Mrs. Connolly was indeed having a stroke.Mrs. Connolly, who lives in Dublin, was brought to Tallaght Hospital, where she is still recovering from the stroke, which struck out of the blue.Daire, who is in Transition Year at school in Trim, was staying with her grandmother while undertaking a week's work experience at a hair salon in Dublin.TO READ MORE SEE THIS WEEK'S EDITION 22.1.11