LewisGale Medical Center and City of Salem leadership kicked off their Stroke Smart Salem partnership with a community activation day on Tuesday. Hospital leaders and community officials, including Salem Mayor Renee Turk and members of city council, canvassed businesses on Main Street to spread awareness about stroke education.

Stroke is something that affects many of us, whether it’s happened to us personally or to someone we love, but oftentimes, the perception is that strokes can only happen to older people. That assumption is wrong.

Kristen Aguirre, by all accounts, did everything right: She wanted to deliver the news, and work as a storyteller, especially for underserved communities -- and after college, she landed TV jobs in Quincy, Illinois; Flint, Michigan; and then Denver, working as a reporter and anchor. It seemed like nothing could stop her. Until she was blindsided by a ischemic stroke that hit the motor strip of her brain.

Stroke is something that affects many of us, whether it's happened to us personally or to someone we love, but oftentimes, the perception is that strokes can only happen to older people.