Bob and Joy were having a normal day as they prepared to go to the grocery store.
“Bob was sitting at the computer, and I told him, ‘Okay, come on,’” Joy recalls. “He stood up and spoke some words I couldn’t understand.”
Bob tried again to tell her something was wrong, but his words came out garbled and confused. In that moment, Joy sprang into action. She immediately called their daughter, Susan, to share her concerns. Joy recognized the signs of a stroke, including speech difficulty, and she instructed her daughter to call 911 to clearly request code stroke, alerting emergency responders to activate time-sensitive protocols for rapid assessment and treatment. As soon as Susan connected with the dispatcher, those two words made all the difference.
Reflecting on that moment, their eldest daughter, Lisa, says, “If my mom hadn’t recognized the signs of a stroke and understood the urgency of calling a code stroke, the trajectory of my dad’s life could have been completely different.”
‘SOMEBODY WAS WATCHING OVER ME’
The ambulance came right away, and at Memorial Hospital Gulfport’s Emergency Department, Bob had slurred speech and his left arm and leg were very weak. CT scans identified a blockage in the artery supplying the right side of his brain. He immediately received a “clot-busting” medication, and had a procedure called mechanical thrombectomy to remove the clot sooner. The 12-minute procedure resulted in complete reperfusion, or restoration of blood flow, on the right side of the brain.
Bob was then brought to the ICU, where he was asked a series of questions that would help the care team determine whether there was any significant cognitive damage. He could answer all the questions he was asked — his name, the date and the name of the current president — with no issues. His speech was clear, and his left arm and leg weakness resolved. He was even cracking jokes.
“Somebody was watching over me, and we know who it was,” Bob says.
Lisa adds, “While the procedure was happening, I said a prayer in the bathroom: ‘Lexi, if you can help your Bacha (grandfather) at all, I want you to do it.’” Lexi, Lisa’s daughter, passed away at age 29 after her battle with cancer. Bob, Joy and Lisa firmly believe she had a hand in his quick healing.
A LIFE RESTORED
Bob’s life has been one of adventure, from serving in the Navy, being in management positions at General Motors and raising children and grandchildren to singing on national stages, painting, woodworking and loving his wife Joy for 72 years.
After the stroke, he returned home within a few weeks — following his ICU stay and rehab. Now, at age 92, he still can enjoy walks with his wife, play card games with his family, watch sports and stay strong with daily exercises.
Do you know the signs of stroke?
Remember to BE FAST:
Balance – Sudden loss
Eyes – Sudden loss of vision
Face drooping
Arm weakness
Speech difficulty
Time to call 911
Memorial Hospital Gulfport is designated a Level I Stroke Center by the Mississippi State Department of Health, the highest tier of stroke care available in Mississippi. Learn more at wearememorial.com.