Bev Holland had not long turned 50 when she went to sleep one night unable to feel her face or hands.

The year was 1990 and Mrs Holland had travelled from Orange to Penrith in preparation to host a raft of politicians to discuss different opportunities for the state's elderly population.

Believing she was "too busy" to worry about what was happening to herself, she "took a couple of Panadol" and put herself to bed.

But things didn't get better for Mrs Holland in the morning.

Her vision was blurry to the point where she couldn't read the speech she had prepared, nor could she drink a cup of tea.

After delivering her much-anticipated speech of which she "had to wing it", Mrs Holland sought out the advice of a health professional working the event.

"The look on her face ... she had to

See Full Page