I’m lucky to be alive
John Vandehei is an avid mountain biker, so this past January when he experienced a stroke while at work, it came as a surprise to him and everyone who knows him.
John’s day was like any other. However, on his drive into work, he developed an unusual sensation affecting his left eye. Once at work, he tried to do his job, but noticed he could no longer move his right arm and leg. He was losing his ability to talk, and he immediately recognized that he was having a stroke. Unable to move his right side, he used his left leg to drag himself on his office roller-chair to the nearest co-worker and blurt out “I’m having a stroke, call 911.”
Once in the ambulance, the feeling of John’s right side returned and he started to feel normal again. Upon arrival to the Bronson Methodist Hospital emergency department, the stroke team was waiting for him and prepared to diagnose and treat his stroke symptoms.
“At first, I was feeling fine and talking with the stroke team,” shared John. “But then the symptoms started happening again and everything went fuzzy.”
John was experiencing another stroke, but due to his fast response to the initial symptoms, he was at the hospital in time to receive the clot-busting drug tPA (tissue plasminogen activator). Doctors administered tPA to John in the emergency department, then sent him to surgery to have the clot that was causing the stroke removed from his brain. John underwent a minimally invasive neuroendovascular procedure performed by Jeffrey Miller, MD, neuroendovascular surgeon at Bronson Neuroscience Center. This approach results in a lower risk of complications, a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery than more invasive treatments.
“John’s stroke was very serious,” says Dr. Miller, “but because he recognized the signs so fast and came to the right location, he was able to make a remarkable recovery.”
When it comes to stroke care, Bronson’s advanced capabilities make it the region’s preferred destination for treatment of the brain and spine. Bronson Methodist Hospital is not only rated by Healthgrades as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care™ (2011-16), but is also certified by The Joint Commission as a Comprehensive Stroke Center (2015-2017).
“The next thing I remember was waking up in the neurocritical care unit with a tube down my throat to help me breathe,” John recalled. “I wasn’t able to talk yet, but it was great to have my kids there to see me awake and in good condition after my emergency surgery.”
John attributes his amazing recovery to F.A.S.T.—an acronym that helps people quickly identify the most common warning signs of a stroke.
F – Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A – Arms: Ask the person to hold up both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S – Speech: Ask the person to complete a simple sentence, like “John and Jane went on a picnic.” Are the words slurred? Does the person repeat the sentence correctly?
T – Time: If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is very important. Call 911 immediately and get to a hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.
“I am here today because I recognized my symptoms immediately, had someone call 911 and got to the hospital right away,” says John.
With John’s quick response to the symptoms and the efficient care of the stroke experts at Bronson, John was back to full health in less than a month.
“I want to thank all the doctors who had a hand in my quick recovery,” John exclaims. “Because of their fast response to my stroke, I’m lucky to be alive today.”
