It’s National Stroke Awareness Month, and yesterday, I was on Good Morning America where I opened up about my experience suffering a stroke earlier this year.

I never thought it could happen to me, and it’s why I think it’s important to share my story with you today:

In late January, I started to feel dizzy — similar to the feeling you get after riding a rollercoaster or merry-go-round. At first, a stroke was the last thing on my mind, and I was tempted to try and just sleep it off. Luckily, I called my doctor, who recognized it as an early sign of stroke, and told me it was an emergency. I was immediately rushed to the hospital.

There, I was diagnosed with a stroke in the cerebellum, and needed emergency surgery to ease the swelling in my brain. It was very serious, and it could have been much, much worse had I not acted quickly.

While in recovery, I was flooded with support from my colleagues in the Senate and received well-wishes from people all over the country. Senator Cory Booker would even send me inspirational videos telling me to keep fighting. To be honest, those videos had me bawling. The support I received was the best example of humanity and generosity you can get from other people, and it kept me going every day.

After five weeks of intensive physical therapy, I was back on the Senate floor doing what I love most, and was greeted with a standing ovation.

I’m sharing my story publicly this month to send a message — learn the early signs of stroke, and please, don’t be so tough to say you can just sleep it off. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.

Thank you for letting me share my story with you. I’m honored to have the opportunity to keep fighting for you in the Senate.

Con gratitud,

Ben Ray