Stroke Has 19 Definitions Part 1 of 2
by Chuck Hofvander
Stroke has 19
definitions. It can mean a stroke of good luck, a rowing style, a caressing
movement, etc and all mean something positive. Only one meaning has a negative
meaning, sudden blockage or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain resulting in
loss of consciousness, partial loss of movement, or loss of speech.
I prefer to use attack, to be more specific Brain Attack.
Brain Attack is defined as: To harm using extreme, destructive, or
uncontrollable force to the controlling center of the nervous system in humans.
The brain is the center of thought and emotions, and bodily activities.
Thank you for taking the time to
listen to me today, and you’ll really have to listen. I’m sure you’d rather be
doing something else but hopefully something you hear today will help you, a
relative or a friend someday. Here’s what I’ll attempt to cover:
·
Scare you and make you aware to the dangers of
stroke
·
Tell you some facts about stroke
·
How stroke can affect you and others
·
How it affected me and others
Brain
Attack/stroke is not a well understood yet it is:
• the number one cause of
disability in the US
Everybody
should know the warning signs.
Some facts:
• Three million American’s are
currently permanently disabled from stroke
• More than half a million people
in the US have a stroke each year
A stroke does not discriminate when choosing its victims. A
stroke will strike people of all ages, sex and race. No one is immune
In fact, on average, every 40 seconds someone in the United
States suffers a stroke.
The medical cost to handle stroke victims in the United
Sates alone, exceeds $30 billion. Yes. 30 billion dollars.
As is the case in most medical issues, the average public
remains unaware, until it happens to them and by then, it is too late.
Recognizing the symptoms and acting FAST, can save a life. And that life you
save, could be your own.
A simple acronym for understanding the symptoms of a stroke
is FAST. Convenient, since acting FAST is important to minimizing damage and
saving lives.
• F= Face – Smile. Does one side of
the face droop?
• A= Arm - Try to raise your arms.
Does one drift downward?
• S= Speech - Are your words
slurred? Can you repeat any sentence correctly?
• T= Time - If you have any of
these symptoms call 911. Time is of the essence.
It’s
important to act FAST because brain cells are dying by the minute. By acting
FAST up to 80% of Brain Attacks can minimize the damage.
Stroke is not a good word to describe the devastating
effects it has on one's life. A brain attack happens fast and sometimes without
warning.
I had lived my life never really knowing a stroke was. Or
how it affects people, especially the families of stroke victims. Boy was I in
for a surprise.
I was 52 years old when I had my brain attack. It was on
March 21, 2004. My wife was attending a bridal shower and my two sons were both
working. All in all, I had been living a simple normal life.
I was home alone on that leisurely Sunday afternoon. In my basement, doing, of all things, my routine exercises. I began to feel a little light headed and decided to go upstairs. The symptoms suddenly began to worsen and I felt like I was going to pass out. The last thing I remember was going into the family room. I learned later, that there was where my wife found me when she returned home. The attack lasted maybe five minutes. Five little minutes. Two and half hours later, my wife found me in our family family, staring at death's gate.
I was home alone on that leisurely Sunday afternoon. In my basement, doing, of all things, my routine exercises. I began to feel a little light headed and decided to go upstairs. The symptoms suddenly began to worsen and I felt like I was going to pass out. The last thing I remember was going into the family room. I learned later, that there was where my wife found me when she returned home. The attack lasted maybe five minutes. Five little minutes. Two and half hours later, my wife found me in our family family, staring at death's gate.
I don't wish to brag, but, in many ways, I have been a very
fortunate man. I mean, I've always been healthy and very happy in my personal
life. I have wonderful home in the suburbs that I share with my lovely wife and
together, we've made a home for two wonderful boys. I have also been fortunate
in my professional life. Starting as a clerk, I worked my way up and succeeded
in becoming a corporate executive. I've always eaten well, drank moderately,
and I exercised regularly, four to five a week.
Who could have imagined that five minutes little minutes
were to change 52 years of life.
When I was brought into the Emergency Room at the Northwest
Community Hospital, the attending doctor gave my wife little, if any hope, for
my survival. The neurosurgeon advised my family, that if she didn’t operate in
the next 30 minutes, I would, in all likelihood, die!
Imagine your loved ones being told that surgery held no guarantees. That even if the surgeon operated, you might still end up in a coma for the rest of your life, or possibly, (pause), die on the table.
The priest in attendance was contacted, (pause), and he administered MY last rights.
Imagine your loved ones being told that surgery held no guarantees. That even if the surgeon operated, you might still end up in a coma for the rest of your life, or possibly, (pause), die on the table.
The priest in attendance was contacted, (pause), and he administered MY last rights.
Brad, my 20 year old son, was beside himself, lost in a daze
of unimaginable disbelief. Mathew, my 17 year old, broke down in tears, falling
to the floor, he begged God - “please don’t let Dad die”.
My wife, Liz, did the only thing she could do. She granted surgeon permission to operate, and pleaded with the doctor to do her best.
My wife, Liz, did the only thing she could do. She granted surgeon permission to operate, and pleaded with the doctor to do her best.
When they opened my skull, they found hemorrhaging - a blood
vessel had bursts inside my brain. The blood had collected in one area,
creating a swelling that amassed to the size of baseball. With limited room in
the human skull, it pressed my brain against one side on skull.
After the surgery, I spent five days in a coma. For my
family, it seemed that the doctor's predictions were right.
On my son Brian's 21st birthday, nine days after my brain attack, nine days after the uncertain surgery, nine days after I was given my last rights - I awoke.
Brain said it was the best birthday present he had ever received. I was gratefully touched when hearing that.
NOTE: From the blog moderator - If you found this article, Part 1, interesting, Part 2 will be posted here 4/16/2012.
Please feel free to post any comments or questions by clicking on the red word Comment following this article. If you have any questions or comments about anything that you would like to share with us please feel free to do so on any of our articles. Don't worry about being off topic. Any question or comment is welcome on any of the article's comments section.
On my son Brian's 21st birthday, nine days after my brain attack, nine days after the uncertain surgery, nine days after I was given my last rights - I awoke.
Brain said it was the best birthday present he had ever received. I was gratefully touched when hearing that.
NOTE: From the blog moderator - If you found this article, Part 1, interesting, Part 2 will be posted here 4/16/2012.
Please feel free to post any comments or questions by clicking on the red word Comment following this article. If you have any questions or comments about anything that you would like to share with us please feel free to do so on any of our articles. Don't worry about being off topic. Any question or comment is welcome on any of the article's comments section.
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