Courtney, 20, was about to start her dream job and brushed off the migraines she’d been having. Then she woke up paralysed and unable to speak

Courtney Grant was set to start her dream job in the real estate industry in just a day’s time.

Although the 20-year-old had been suffering migraines and bouts of vomiting in the months prior, she was overjoyed about her emerging career and put the lingering illness out of her mind.

Then, her excitement turned to pure terror on February 25, when she woke up in her Bray Park home in Brisbane paralysed on her right side and unable to speak.

Ms Grant had suffered a freak stroke and a vital artery on the right side of her neck was now blocking critical blood flow. 

She eventually managed to get out of bed but fell straight onto the floor.

Still unable to call for help, she feared her mother who was sleep in the next room would soon find her dead.

‘It took me 20 minutes to try and call out. My mum came rushing in when I was loud enough for her to finally hear my moans,’ Ms Grant told the Courier Mail.

Paramedics rushed Ms Grant to hospital where she underwent emergency surgery to extract a blood clot from her groin. 

Doctors could not tell Ms Grant’s mother if her daughter would ever walk, talk or speak again.

But five days later Ms Grant regained the ability to move and was responding to questions. 

She diagnosed with vasculitis – a condition that effects blood flow to tissue and organs – and was almost certainly the cause of her mysterious migraines and nausea.

‘I have a long road ahead with various appointments and rehabilitation but I have been told there is little to no chance of this happening again,’ Ms Grant said.

‘I have so much anxiety from the idea of this happening again and I’ve tried to wipe some of the memories.

‘I have so much respect and appreciation for my life and am focused on recovering in time for my 21st birthday later this year.’

The family have set up a GoFundMe page for Grant as she continues her recovery.