Gary and Cathy B. have been through their share of health scares during their 24 years of marriage. After Gary had his first stroke last year, they joined the Ascension Stroke Support Group to learn the signs and symptoms of stroke, which later proved to be lifesaving.
After meeting at church more than two decades ago and sharing two sons, Gary, 63, and Cathy, 64, eased into their retirement years gardening and enjoying long walks together.
Last year, Gary had undergone numerous heart procedures, including correcting his heart rhythm after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure during an ER visit to Sacred Heart Pensacola. Shortly after his visit, Gary suffered his first stroke. His wife, recognizing slurred speech and facial droop, called 911 and emergency medical service providers rushed Gary to the Advanced Brain and Spine Institute at Ascension Sacred Heart, a certified Comprehensive Stroke Center that provides advanced imaging and complex stroke treatments. Gary was treated for a stroke and released.
Eight months after his first stroke, Gary underwent a cardiac procedure where he received a defibrillator to control his irregular heart rhythm. After another successful procedure, Gary went home to recover. When Cathy went to check on Gary while he was resting in bed, she noticed he was awake but not responding. She was concerned, and acted quickly with the knowledge and training she learned from the Stroke Support Group. Cathy lifted his right arm, and it immediately fell to the bed. This, coupled with his inability to speak, confirmed that Gary was suffering from another stroke. She immediately called for emergency care once again.
Gary was airlifted to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, the only Comprehensive Stroke Center in Northwest Florida. Due to his recent procedure, Gary couldn’t take medication to break up the clot in his brain. Instead, he underwent a thrombectomy, a procedure that removes a blood clot from an artery that was causing his stroke. Shortly after the procedure, Gary was alert and talking shortly after the procedure.
“When we say that we love our stroke care team, and all the members of the monthly Stroke Support Group, we really mean that,” Gary said. “Because of them, my wife knew exactly what to do to save my life. We feel confident and they have really educated us. Everyone has just been wonderful!”
Gary is still recovering from his defibrillator procedure but is back making jokes and looking forward to enjoying working in the yard and spending time with his wife, sons, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.
After their experience, they wanted to give back. They shared stroke awareness with their community by organizing a member of the Ascension Stroke Support Group to share information with their church congregation.
“It was incredible what God was able to do through our care team,” Cathy said. “We cannot say enough about the doctors, nurses, the Stroke Support Group and his entire care team. Sacred Heart has been a blessing. To me, there is only one hospital, and that is Sacred Heart!”
Gary feels blessed that his wife’s quick actions led to his recovery. Looking back with humor, he joked that he checked off one of the items on his bucket list by riding in a helicopter during his Life Flight.
When you or a loved one experience signs of a stroke, it’s important to call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Find an ER close to home by visiting getsacredheartcare.com.