A lifelong connection to care

For Sara Harrison, creating is more than a hobby—it’s part of who she is. A stained-glass artisan in Austin, Sara spends her days transforming colorful pieces of glass into works of art, including jewelry, bowls, suncatchers, and stained and fused glass creations. The process brings her both joy and purpose.

After building a successful construction company alongside her husband, Sara entered a new season of life following his passing. She found comfort in creativity, pouring her energy into making things with her hands and traveling to craft shows and conventions.

“I feel like I need to make things to be happy,” she says. “I truly don’t know what I would do if I were unable to use my hands.” 

That fear became very real in October 2025. 

“I was visiting with my sister-in-law and, all of a sudden, I couldn’t feel my arm from my shoulder down to my hand,” she recalls.

Recognizing something was wrong, Sara sought emergency care at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Round Rock, where doctors determined she had suffered a stroke.

“I was whisked into a room and treated right away,” she says. “They had compassion. It felt like I was going to be OK. It felt safe.”

Over the next three days, Sara underwent a series of tests that revealed a previously undetected condition: a small hole in her heart. The hole had allowed a blood clot to bypass the lungs—where clots are typically filtered out—and travel directly to Sara’s brain, causing the stroke. While grateful to finally have answers, Sara admits that hearing she would need a procedure to repair the hole was frightening. 

“When the doctor told me I needed heart surgery, it scared me because you think it’s going to be a big cut down the middle,” she says. 

Her physicians reassured her that the procedure was minimally invasive. Rather than open-heart surgery, they would use a small umbrella-like device inserted via catheter to close the opening in her heart and reduce her risk of future strokes. 

Today, Sara is healthy, active and back to doing what she loves most.

“Nothing is holding me back right now, thank goodness,” she says. “Because the desire to create is real.” 

She continues to see her physician annually and remains dedicated to her artwork, creating pieces that bring beauty and joy to others. Just as importantly, she appreciates everyday moments that might have looked very different had she not received prompt care when she needed it most. 

“That is what good care does,” she says. “It gives you your life back.” 

Sara’s connection to Baylor Scott & White extends far beyond her recent experience. Born at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple, she has relied on the health system throughout her life. Generations of her family have turned to Baylor Scott & White for care.

“My family has always been Scott & White people,” she says. “We’ve always been big supporters.” 

For Sara, quality care meant more than treating a medical condition. It meant preserving the ability to continue creating, exploring and living the life she loves. And every new piece of glass art she completes serves as a reminder of the care that helped make that possible.