On May 4, Darrell Figy of Ozark was running errands when, without warning, he couldn’t move one of his legs.
“I staggered out to the car and went home to lie down,” he says. He called his wife, Jerrine, and told her he wouldn’t be able to come pick her up. “Why?” she asked. When he explained about his leg, she announced that she was coming to get him and they were headed to the hospital.
“He wanted to just lay in bed, but I said ‘I don’t think so,’” Jerrine says.
Jerrine made the right call: Darrell had suffered a stroke. Fortunately, he arrived at the ED in time to receive tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), the clot-busting drug used to treat stroke. It was successful and today, a mere three weeks later, Darrell is doing well and he reunited with his team of caregivers at today’s community stroke screening at Cox North (above).
“Getting to the hospital quickly is the main thing, that made all the difference,” Jerrine says.
The free screening continues until 1 p.m. today at Cox North in the Fountain Plaza Room.
Remember, acting FAST is key to surviving stroke. If you feel numbness in your Face, weakness in your Arm and your Speech becomes slurred, Time is of the essence. Call 911 immediately.
Quick diagnosis and treatment can stop a brain attack in progress or greatly minimize the effects. The longer you wait, the more extensive the damage to your brain will be.
Check out videos, podcasts and register for a risk assessment at CoxHealth.com: http://www.coxhealth.com/body.cfm?id=2457
Posts
