Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Happy Thanksgiving from Care Partners Resource


www.strokecamp.org



http://www.unitedstrokealliance.org/


United Stroke Alliance in partnership with Medtronic launched a new resource for Stroke Support Groups called The Booster Box. Included in the box is everything a leader needs to conduct a support group meeting for up to 24 attendees.

To receive your free Booster Box please call our office at 
309-688-5450 or email info@strokecamp.org to request yours. 

Subscriptions will be available for purchase and information will be inside your free box.  

Show Me The Booster Box
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I know this post is earlier than previous ones but I just got this wonderful email tonight from Lori Ramos Lemasters of Carepartners Resource. I want to pass it on to you before you gather with your family and/or friends tomorrow for Thanksgiving because I think it is very good advice for you survivors or caregivers. How many times have you heard: "If there is anything I can do to help, let me know." With her advice, you have a good chance of getting that help. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Happy Thanksgiving from Care Partners Resource

Care Partners Resource lori@carepartnersresource.com


Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,

As you prepare for your Thanksgiving celebration I wanted to send a quick email to wish you blessings and happiness.
While you may be looking forward to the time with family and friends, holidays can also be difficult when your caring for a loved one. The added responsibilities of house guests, extra cooking or even getting your loved one to a family celebration can be a challenge. However, it is worth the time and extra energy to break out of the everyday routine and enjoy family, friends and food.
This Thanksgiving holiday I encourage each of you to take this opportunity to ask for a little help. It may seem like an odd time to discuss your needs but family gatherings are a great time to explain how things have changed, how you're feeling and that you would be grateful for a little help. Before you head out to that celebration or everyone shows up at your door take a minute and write everything you do in a day. Make copies and keep it handy and be prepared the moment anyone offers any help hand it to them and ask them to pick one item on the list.
If you have a tough time asking for or accepting help please watch this quick 10 minute Caregiver Tuesday Talk Outside the Box from my YouTube page:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97PxAtCN6bQ&list=PL2CDQWNsrLdkkdhe_Z1nGFQhsPdJDEoJP&index=2

I hope the tips in the video are helpful and if you need any other ideas or suggestions I'm only an email away.

Take good care and have a very happy Thanksgiving,
Lori

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Copyright © 2018 Care Partners Resource, All rights reserved.
Just a reminder - you requested to join our news update list from our website at www.carepartnersresource.com. We are happy to keep you informed and thank you for your interest.

Our mailing address is:
Care Partners Resource
Littleton, CO 80127


Sunday, November 18, 2018

Warning Stroke, But Didn’t Seek Help


www.strokecamp.org



http://www.unitedstrokealliance.org/


United Stroke Alliance in partnership with Medtronic launched a new resource for Stroke Support Groups called The Booster Box. Included in the box is everything a leader needs to conduct a support group meeting for up to 24 attendees.

To receive your free Booster Box please call our office at 
309-688-5450 or email info@strokecamp.org to request yours. 

Subscriptions will be available for purchase and information will be inside your free box.  

Show Me The Booster Box
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Survey: 1 in 3 adults may have had 
warning stroke, 
but most didn’t seek help
By American Heart Association News
0501-Feature-Stroke_WP

A third of U.S. adults have had symptoms consistent with a mini-stroke, but nearly no one – only 3 percent – called 911 for help, a survey released Monday shows.

The responses from 2,040 adults in a representative sample showed 35 percent had experienced at least one sign of a mini-stroke, called a transient ischemic attack or TIA. Those who did were more likely to wait, rest or take medicine than to call 911, according to the online survey funded by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

“Ignoring any stroke sign could be a deadly mistake,” ASA Chairman Mitch Elkind, M.D., said in a news release. “Only a formal medical diagnosis with brain imaging can determine whether you’re having a TIA or a stroke.”

It’s a warning that hits all too close to home for Stacy Quinn. She was 41 and in the best shape of her life in December 2014 when she got a horrible headache that wouldn’t go away.

“I was working a lot, and it was around the holidays. So, I blew it off,” said Quinn, who at the time worked in a high-stress communications job at an asset management firm in New York. “Then, I was in a meeting with my boss, and I slurred my speech. I thought, ‘It must be the headache.’”

That evening, she sought help at an urgent care facility, where she was told she was probably having a migraine. At another visit later, she was told it was an earache.

Finally, after 12 days of what she describes as the worst headache of her life, she went to a neurologist who ordered scans – including a magnetic resonance angiogram, or MRA, which provides pictures of blood vessels.

It probably saved her life. Hours later, the doctor called to tell her the emergency room staff at New York-Presbyterian Hospital were awaiting her arrival. She was in danger of having a stroke.

The headaches were caused by a spontaneous carotid artery dissection on the left side of her neck that was blocking 90 percent of the blood flow to her brain. Elkind said anyone with a stroke warning sign that appears suddenly, whether it disappears or not, should call 911 immediately to improve chances of an accurate diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

“Officially, about five million Americans, or 2.3 percent, have had a self-reported, physician-diagnosed TIA, but as this survey suggests, we suspect the true prevalence is higher because many people who experience symptoms consistent with a TIA fail to report it,” he said.

If a diagnosis shows a clot is blocking blood flow to the brain – known as an ischemic stroke, the most common type – the patient may be eligible for a clot-busting drug. In some cases, a medical device called a stent retriever is also used to remove the clot, helping to reduce long-term disability.

After a stroke or TIA, the patient must fully understand their risk factors and work with their doctor on a tailored secondary prevention plan, according to the ASA. This plan may include lifestyle changes, medications to manage known risk factors and the addition of an antiplatelet drug such as aspirin.

The online survey was conducted March 20-26 as part of the ASA’s Together to End Stroke campaign. Among the 35 percent who said they had experienced at least one TIA symptom lasting a few minutes or up to 24 hours:
20 percent had a sudden and unexplained severe headache with no known cause.
14 percent had sudden and unexplained trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
10 percent had sudden and unexplained numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
10 percent had sudden and unexplained trouble seeing in one or both eyes. --5 percent had sudden and unexplained confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.

Yet, the survey showed only 3 percent of respondents called 911 in response to TIA symptoms. Three out of four respondents didn’t know what a transient ischemic attack was.

Quinn is working to change that. She is hoping to spread her message about stroke warning signs far and wide. “I want to use my experience to help people,” she said. “In my mind, I had images of stroke affecting older people and typically of men, not a woman. That was my big mistake.”


Stacy Quinn was diagnosed with a mini-stroke at 41.
Stacy Quinn was diagnosed with a mini-stroke at 41. (Photo courtesy of Erin Boyle)

To easily remember the most common stroke signs, the ASA recommends learning the F.A.S.T. acronym: Face drooping; Arm weakness; Speech difficulty; Time to call 911.

But there are other stroke signs to be on alert for, too, such as sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking; dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; or – as was the case with Quinn – a sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

Quinn was lucky many times over. Doctors were able to treat her with medicine. She now lives with approximately 35 percent blockage.

“I can’t do things that could put pressure on my neck like go on roller coasters or lift heavy things over my head. I have to watch my stress,” said Quinn, who is 43 and still works in communications, but for a healthcare company in New Jersey.

“I had an angel on my shoulder that I didn’t have a full-blown stroke that created long-term health issues or took my life.”
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The following is from United Stroke Alliance, the parent organization for Retreat & Refresh Stroke Camp.

80% of strokes could be avoided. 
Every 4 minutes someone dies from a stroke.
There are life saving methods to minimize the effects of stroke - IF YOU GET TREATMENT IN TIME.

The simple F.A.S.T. test mentioned above (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) by AHA/ASA is still valid, however, we have been noticing that, while people are getting better recognizing the F.A.S. part, there is a reluctance to take the T. part seriously. 

Here is a better guideline we think should be promoted:

BE-FASTER

B - Balance: Sudden loss of balance.
E - Eyes: Sudden blurry or loss of vision.

F - Face: Sudden numbness, one side drooping - can they smile.
A - Arms: Sudden weakness in arms - can you raise both?
S - Speech: Slurred or mumbling speech.
T - Time: Call 911 NOW
E - Emergency
R - Room: Get to the ER by ambulance, they know what to                       do FASTER

While helping survivors at our stroke camps I found that some of them, sufferers themselves or their caregivers, have driven their own cars to the ER because it seemed faster than waiting for an ambulance to arrive. This is not a good idea because many things can happen on the way such as long stop lights, mechanical breakdown, accident, flat tire, or a traffic jam which could mean life or death or serious debilitation to the sufferer. 

It is estimated that in each minute of a ischemic stroke, 1.9 million neurons, 14 billion synapses, and 12 km of myelinated fibers are destroyed. 

You may think you can get there faster than waiting for an ambulance but the truth is the sufferer will be getting diagnosis and treatment on the way to the ER in the ambulance, and the ER will be getting the stroke team ready and waiting at the door, with a good diagnosis and proper tests in mind. Some ambulances in some cities are even able to administer the clot busting drug TPA on the way to the ER. My hope is that all cities will have this capability, and soon.

Time is extremely important
when treating stroke. 
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American Heart Association News Stories

American Heart Association News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in American Heart Association News stories reflect the official position of the American Heart Association.

Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, to link to, quote, excerpt or reprint from these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to the American Heart Association News. See full terms of use.

HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately.

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Understanding Common Post-Stroke Medications


www.strokecamp.org



http://www.unitedstrokealliance.org/


United Stroke Alliance in partnership with Medtronic is launching a new resource for Stroke Support Groups called The Booster Box. Included in the box is everything a leader needs to conduct a support group meeting for up to 24 attendees.

To receive your free Booster Box please call our office at 
309-688-5450 or email info@strokecamp.org to request yours. 

Subscriptions will be available for purchase and information will be inside your free box.  

Show Me The Booster Box
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Understanding Common Post-Stroke Medications
BY JON CASWELL

http://strokeconnection.strokeassociation.org


Most stroke survivors leave the hospital or rehab with at least one, sometimes several, medications they may not have been taking before. This may be quite a surprise for some patients — especially if stroke isn’t the only new diagnosis they received. “If the stroke is the result of undiagnosed diabetes or high blood pressure, they may not have been on any medications before, and they may leave the hospital with multiple prescriptions,” said physiatrist Lynn Vidakovic of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago.

Following the healthcare team’s recommendations and taking medicines as prescribed is key to keeping your risk of another stroke or heart attack as low as possible. It may take some getting used to, especially if you haven’t been on medication before. Never quit taking a prescribed medicine without talking with your healthcare provider first. There are many ways they can work with you if you’re having any kinds of difficulties with any of your medicines.

Understanding the purpose, potential side effects and risks of not taking your medicines as directed is important, whether they’re prescribed or over the counter. Let’s look at some of the most common medication therapies recommended following an ischemic stroke.

“Blood Thinners” aka Antiplatelets & Anticoagulants

Roughly 87 percent of strokes are due to some sort of blocked artery, and as a result, survivors will often need an antiplatelet or anticoagulant.

When we get a cut or scrape that bleeds, the platelets in our blood release a chemical that signals other platelets to come and form a blood clot, closing the wound with a scab. Antiplatelets work to limit the release of that chemical signal, preventing platelets from coming together and clotting as easily. This is why antiplatelets such as aspirin, clopidogrel, dipyridamole and ticlopidine, allow blood to flow more easily.

Depending on the patient and what caused their ischemic stroke, aspirin or other antiplatelets may be recommended on their own or in combination to help prevent clots from forming in the blood vessels and causing another stroke. Your healthcare provider determines the right dose and combination of medicines for you based on several considerations, including your risk factors profile.

While antiplatelet therapy has many potential benefits, it is not right for everyone. For example, people with a history of liver or kidney disease, gastrointestinal disease or peptic ulcers, high blood pressure, bleeding disorders or asthma may not be able to take aspirin or may require special doses.

When a stroke is cardioembolic (caused by a clot formed in the heart that then travels to the brain) due to atrial fibrillation — a condition that increases the risk of stroke five-fold –, heart valve or other problems, it’s likely an anticoagulant will be prescribed. Anticoagulants do not dissolve clots but may prevent existing clots from getting bigger and causing more serious problems, such as a second stroke.

Older anticoagulant drugs are heparin and warfarin. These older anticoagulants interfere with the production of clotting factors made in the liver. That means they must be monitored regularly through blood tests for their impact on the liver. The goal is to make blood clot less, not to prevent clotting completely.

Physiatrist Lynn Vidakovic
Warfarin also requires regular blood tests to ensure the correct dose. Too little increases the risk of stroke and heart attack, but too much puts someone at risk for bleeding. Generic brands may be a different strength than the one prescribed by your doctor. Speak to your doctor first if you are considering using a generic if not prescribed initially to make sure the drugs are equivalent.

Also, warfarin users must be careful with their diet and avoid Vitamin K, which is found in cabbage, cauliflower, spinach and other leafy green vegetables. Warfarin slows clot formation by competing with Vitamin K, so having too much of it makes the medicine less effective.

Newer FDA-approved anticoagulants — sometimes referred to as novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) or direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) — are rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban and dabigatran. The newer anticoagulants are simpler to use because they don’t require frequent blood tests and some of them have a lower risk of major bleeding as well.

Occasionally some survivors may be told to combine antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy, depending on their health profile and risk factors. But this is unusual and, if you are on both, you should ask your healthcare provider why. All strokes and survivors are unique, so secondary prevention must be tailored to each survivor.

Statins

Many ischemic strokes are due to the narrowing of blood vessels to, or in, the brain brought on by plaque buildup. This buildup is known as atherosclerosis (“hardening of the arteries”) and high levels of cholesterol in the blood may contribute to its development.

Statins work in the liver to keep cholesterol from forming. Several medications lower cholesterol levels, but statins are recommended for most patients because they’re also known to significantly reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke. “There are other benefits of taking them beyond lowering the cholesterol. For instance, they can also be anti inflammatory,” Vidakovic said.

Another advantage to statins is that they are well tolerated, with few side effects. “It’s important to check your liver function and, in a very small percentage of people, they can cause myopathy, but the benefit of reducing your risk of stroke by lowering your cholesterol, specifically your LDL, is large,” she said.

Your doctor may consider other medications, too, especially if statins cause serious side effects or they don’t help you enough.

Depression medications

Depression has been reported in as many as 33 percent of stroke survivors, but we currently don’t have reliable estimates for how often depression happens with stroke. What we do know is that when stroke survivors experience depression, it can be an obstacle to their participation in their own recovery.

“There are neurochemical changes that can happen after stroke that cause depression,” Vidakovic said. “Some patients are going to have depression and if we treat that depression, those patients have a better functional outcome.”

One study of fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for depression, demonstrated that it was also helpful for motor recovery. There have been several small studies of SSRIs that suggest this benefit, but larger, well-controlled trials are needed to confirm the validity of the findings. When Vidakovic prescribes it for motor recovery, it is typically no longer than 90 days.

Blood pressure medications

High blood pressure (HBP) is a risk factor for recurrent stroke and other cardiovascular conditions. There are many types of HBP medicines that work in different ways to reduce BP. It may take more than one and several dosage adjustments before blood pressure is under control.

“Since we typically don’t feel our blood pressure, it’s very important to monitor your blood pressure at home,” Vidakovic said. “And take your blood pressure medications consistently. It’s important for patients to talk to their doctor about getting a blood pressure regimen that they can do every day. Sometimes blood pressure is controlled with just one medication; sometimes they may need two, three or even four.”

Vidakovic suggests using brushing your teeth as the cue for taking HBP or diabetes medication, and she reminds us that every increase in blood pressure increases the risk for recurrent stroke significantly.

Following the Plan

It is very important to take your prescriptions as directed. These medications are prescribed in the doses and at the times they are because the science has shown them to work best when taken that way. Any deviation from these instructions should always be discussed with your healthcare provider. Don’t assume that “taking more” will increase the effect or “taking less” will give you the same result with fewer side effects. Never stop a long-term medication unless advised to do so by your healthcare professional.

Many side effects can be minimized by taking the drug at a certain time of day, e.g. blood pressure meds taken at bedtime, or to take advantage of the body’s circadian rhythm. Many drugs also can be absorbed differently if taken on an empty stomach or with food. Taking medications as directed is important, and changing how they are taken should never be done without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. Learn more about some of the side effects of common post-stroke medicines on the Stroke Connection website.

Even with full understanding of the purpose and benefits of post-stroke medications, many survivors experience challenges taking their medicine as directed. Let’s explore some of the main barriers people deal with, along with tips for overcoming them.

External Barriers



It’s too complicated!

Stroke survivors often have to take multiple medications, particularly if they have other conditions such as atherosclerosis, high blood pressure or diabetes, which may have contributed to the stroke. The more complicated the drug or lifestyle prescription, the easier it is to miss doses, miss refills or just simply be overwhelmed.





Solutions: Create a medication map. A medication map is a schedule covering the whole day that plots when you take what medicine, the dose and any other instructions, such as whether or not to take with food. It organizes all your medication in one place so you see at a glance what, when and how much.

Schedule a “brown bag” session with your doctor or pharmacist. Put all your prescription and nonprescription medications in a bag and take them to your doctor’s office or pharmacy. They may find overlapping or duplicate prescriptions from different doctors. This would also be a good time to make a medication map. Periodic medication reviews allow you to ask if simpler, less expensive or otherwise better alternatives are available.
______________________________________________________
Medications are prescribed in the doses and at the times they are because the science has shown them to work best when taken that way
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It costs too much!

Prescriptions can be expensive, and even patients with good insurance may find that their out-of-pocket costs are more than they can afford. Patients on fixed incomes may think they have to choose between their prescriptions and other necessities. In an effort to stretch their medicine, they may reduce the amount they take or the frequency, hoping it will still be effective. But a medicine not taken as directed can’t work as expected.





Solutions: If you’re having challenges affording your prescriptions, speak to your healthcare team about it, they may be able to help find medications that are affordable and within your health plan. You may also want to see Managing Prescription Costs for ways to save money.




Internal Barriers

I don’t really need this.

For many people, taking a prescription reminds them that they are sick, and they prefer not to be reminded. Or they may not feel better or even feel worse taking blood pressure medication, so they figure ‘why bother?’





Solutions: Following a stroke, survivors often find a “new normal” - and medicines are often a part of that. It may be difficult to accept and adjust at first but keep in mind that the medicines and lifestyle recommendations from the doctor are designed to keep the risk of another life-threatening event at bay.

Talking with a professional counselor may also help with moving beyond feelings of denial. Enlisting the support of family and friends to help keep on track with meds and to encourage and participate in healthy behaviors, like eating right and making time for physical activity, can be helpful for all involved.





I have a hard time remembering.

Survivors with high blood pressure or diabetes must monitor those conditions closely. If they’re also experiencing dementia or memory loss, it can interfere with their ability to keep track of these conditions.





Solutions: Thought process challenges may be difficult to compensate for. Medication maps (see above) and simplified drug regimens are helpful. Family support is important, but professional caregiving services may be necessary in dealing with this barrier. Caregiver creativity can help. For instance, they may mask the medication by putting it in food or drink. For patients who do well with a smartphone or tablet device, there are also apps that can alert a patient at the right time with the name of the medicine and instructions for using it.





I don’t know why I need this.

Some survivors don’t understand the underlying condition that may have caused the stroke and aren’t ready for the amount and complexity of information that comes with their diagnosis. That information is often given at hospital discharge, a time when patients may find it hard to focus on what is being said.





Solutions: Ask someone on your healthcare team, whether it’s your doctor, nurse practitioner or a clinical nurse specialist about anything and everything that you’re not sure you understand. Ask if they have any printed material for patients that explains your condition(s) or a list of credible, layperson friendly websites you can visit. The American Stroke Association’s website is a great place to start. If you have more questions after exploring print materials or the internet, write them down and discuss them with your healthcare provider. If you are unsure about medication, ask questions of your nurse, doctor or pharmacist.





I just can’t get this into my routine.

It seems like taking a few pills every day would be easy to do, but sometimes things that should be easy simply aren’t, especially if there are no immediate repercussions for not taking medicine, eating the wrong foods, or not exercising. At first your medication may be the highest priority, but as you get further from the event, other priorities pop up and demand attention. A prescription bottle gets pushed behind something else, and without a symptom to signal that something is wrong, might be forgotten for days or weeks.





Solutions: You can’t make something a habit until you’ve made it a priority, so make taking your medicine as important as brushing your teeth. Most people don’t wait until someone tells them they have bad breath before using a toothbrush. Don’t wait for your body to tell you that you need to take your medication.

Making a written commitment can help. If yours is a complicated treatment plan, ask your doctor, nurse practitioner or a clinical nurse specialist if it can be simplified. Use a weekly pill box where a week’s worth of pills can be allotted. Cue pill taking with some other activity, like eating. Set an alarm or find a smartphone app that lets you schedule automatic reminders. Ask your family to help you remember.





I don’t like putting foreign substances into my body.

Some people fear being defined by their condition, and taking medicine reminds them of it. Others are simply afraid to put foreign substances into their bodies, fearing there will be unknown consequences or that they will become addicted.





Solutions: Many fears are unfounded. Talk with your healthcare provider about any fears or concerns; they may have information that will put you at ease. If you experience side effects, report them and talk with the doctor about other possible ways of taking the medicine (with food? change frequency or dosage?).

For more information on things you can do to prevent another stroke, visit StrokeAssociation.org.
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Monday, November 5, 2018

Luckily, her daughter was home


www.strokecamp.org



http://www.unitedstrokealliance.org/


United Stroke Alliance in partnership with Medtronic is offering
a resource for Stroke Support Groups called The Booster Box. Included in the box is everything a leader needs to conduct a support group meeting for up to 24 attendees.

To receive your free Booster Box please call our office at 
309-688-5450 or email info@strokecamp.org to request yours. 

Subscriptions will be available for purchase and information will be inside your free box.  

Show Me The Booster Box
*****************************************************************
*****************************************************************
Luckily, her daughter was home -- and remembered what her science teacher said a few days before

By American Heart Association News


Days after learning about stroke at school, Katie Murphy recognized her mother's symptoms and got help. Katie (left) with mother Christa Murphy. (Photos courtesy of Christa Murphy)

Christa Murphy was in the bathroom getting ready for work, yet the routine wasn’t going like it should.

She kept dropping the soap in the shower. She squeezed globs of toothpaste out of the tube, seemingly everywhere but onto the bristles of her brush.

“I started to feel really strange,” she said. “But I didn’t feel sick. I didn’t have a headache.”

With her husband out of town and her son away at college, the only other person home was her daughter, Katie, an eighth-grader. Katie wasn’t even supposed to have been home that Saturday morning; she was only there because a sleepover the night before got cancelled.

Katie was in bed, watching Netflix on her phone, when Christa went into the teen’s room and asked for help.

What Katie heard was gibberish.

“What’s wrong with you?” Katie said.

As Christa struggled to give a coherent answer, Katie remembered a lesson from her science class just two days before. Teacher Beth Tomlin told the students that when a friend of hers had a stroke, her words were jumbled.

Katie immediately called her dad, but he didn’t answer. So she called her grandmother, Christa’s mom. She told Katie to take a deep breath and call 911.

Christa and Katie Murphy with Beth Tomlin, the science teacher who taught Katie the signs of stroke.
Christa and Katie Murphy 
with Beth Tomlin,
  the science teacher 
  who taught Katie 
  the signs of stroke.
As Katie suspected, Christa was suffering a stroke – a blood vessel in her brain had become blocked. Thanks to Katie’s quick response, Christa got to the hospital in time to receive clot-busting medicine. In most cases, the medicine must be administered within three hours of the stroke’s onset; the sooner it’s delivered, the better the chances of recovery.
For Christa, the delivery came soon enough.

“It was like a switch was flipped,” she said. “Suddenly I was able to talk, my mind cleared up, and I knew I was going to survive.”

Christa was in the hospital for three days and underwent a series of tests. More than a year later, doctors still don’t know why she had the stroke. This happens in about 30 percent of all ischemic strokes; it’s classified as cryptogenic.

Christa – who lives in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee – had no other warning signs. She has no family history, aside from a grandmother who died of a stroke at age 94.

Christa was 45. While in relatively good health, she faced plenty of stress as a mother, daughter and wife. She also worked two jobs.

Now, she’s more health conscious, eating better and regularly walking the family dog – a new addition since her recovery.

She also was recently an honoree at the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women luncheon in Milwaukee.

Not only did she tell her story to about 400 attendees, she also watched for the first time a video in which she, Katie and Tomlin recounted the morning everything had to go right to save her life.

“The bond between the three of us will last a lifetime,” Christa said.

Stories From the Heart chronicles the inspiring journeys of heart disease and stroke survivors, caregivers and advocates.
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American Heart Association News Stories

American Heart Association News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in American Heart Association News stories reflect the official position of the American Heart Association.

Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, to link to, quote, excerpt or reprint from these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to the American Heart Association News. See full terms of use.

HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately.