Day: November 6, 2016

Stroke is the the 5th leading cause of death in the United States, but it is in first place, in regards to the devastating disability and long term impairment that most people suffer.  Many patients do not get to the ER  in a timely manner.  My salvation came from a clot-busting medication, tPA, given via IV in the ER.  If  a patient arrives within 3-4 hours of the first signs of a stroke,  the medication can be given.  After 4 hours, the drug cannot be used.  Since I was admitted to the ER in under 1 hour, from the time my stroke had occurred, I had only a 6% risk of complications from tPA.   Knowing that my impairment  and disability would be extreme without this drug, my family accepted the risk for me.  Within ~ 10 minutes of receiving the tPA-IV, I was able start moving my right arm and leg.  The ER nurse that was at my side the whole time was checking to see if I could speak, but no words were able come out.  The left hemisphere was still damaged due to the blood loss from the clot.  Everyone was in amazement at how fast I regained the movements on the right side of my body.
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