It can happen in an instant and change your life forever, possibly even end it. That's why a special team in Saskatoon is working to make a major difference in how we are affected by strokes.

And the team is making a difference right here at home. Michael Olenchuk suffered a massive stroke just over a month ago, when he was at work. A clot had formed in an artery that serves as the main blood supply to the brainstem. It's a condition that can be deadly if left too long or untreated.

"I had nothing on the left side. I couldn't speak, I was a mess. In my mind, I was a mess," says Olenchuk.

He was rushed to Royal University Hospital, where a specialized stroke team lead by Dr. Michael Kelly quickly intervened. Through a specialized procedure, they were able to re-store blood flow to Olenchuk's brain by implanting a stent in his narrowed artery.

"He was able to get medical services quickly. We were able to assess him and treat him and one month later, he's essentially normal," says Dr. Kelly.

Because of the procedure, Olenchuk is back to normal just one month later. It's incredible progress. "It's hard to see I've had a stroke because I have none of the normal residuals from it."

Kelly and his team have been working hard for the last three and a half years to build the stroke team in hopes of providing better care for patients. But they're also trying to raise awareness about the seriousness of stroke.

Stroke is the third biggest killer in Saskatchewan, and the number one cause of long term disability. Kelly says too often, people delay seeking medical attention or ignore the signs of stroke, making it that much more difficult to treat.

Common symptoms of the affliction include weakness, trouble speaking, vision problems, headaches, and dizziness.

Aaron Gardner, a nurse coordinator at RUH, says it's important to seek medical attention immediately if you notice symptoms of stroke. "Time is brain, so every second your brain isn't perfused following a stroke is important. The faster we can have blood flow to that area of stroke the better the outcome for people."

Olenchuk couldn't have asked for a better outcome. He was able to walk out of the hospital virtually unscathed by stroke. But if it weren't for the quick thinking of a co-worker who called 911, or the stroke team waiting on the other end, he knows things could have been much different.

"I'm so thankful for the help I got."