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Serene Branson Talks About Her Live Medical Emergency

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Millions of viewers witnessed CBS2 Reporter Serene Branson's medical emergency live on TV during the station's newscast following the Grammy Awards.

Branson, an Emmy-award winning reporter, was doing her live shot outside Staples Center Sunday when her words became incoherent and she exhibited symptoms of a severe medical condition.  Today Branson spoke with Anchorwoman Pat Harvey about her terrifying experience.

"My head was definitely pounding and I was very uncomfortable and I knew something wasn't right," Branson told Harvey.  "I was terrified and confused.  Confused. What had just happened? At that point they sat me down, then my right cheek went numb.  My right hand went numb and I lost some sensation in my arm."

Video of Branson went viral on YouTube and after wild speculation about the causes of her episode, tests conducted by Branson's doctor confirmed that she had suffered a migraine and that the symptoms -- dizziness, nausea and garbled speech – mimic a stroke.  Since the broadcast, Branson has also learned that the migraines are hereditary and that her mother also suffers from them.

When asked if she is ready to come back to work, Branson said, "I got to get ready for the Oscar's now Pat.  My boss has already asked if I'm ready and I expressed to him that I am anxious and eager to get back to being back at work and I'm ready to be telling the story and not be the story."

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