萝莉社

Lying on the couch after a long Monday might not be unusual for some, but it was for Richard Raposo. When his wife, Sandy, saw him fast asleep in the living room around 5 p.m. on May 23, she knew something was wrong.

鈥淗e was in a very deep sleep, which was unusual because he never naps,鈥� Sandy recalled. 鈥淗e woke up around 5:30 p.m. and didn鈥檛 look right. The right side of his face was drooping. He couldn鈥檛 talk.鈥�

Sandy was certain Richard was having a stroke and called 911. The paramedics arrived and told her Richard would be taken to 萝莉社 Jacksonville. 鈥淩ichard came into the Emergency Department with right-side paralysis, facial droop and vomiting,鈥� said Vicki Coppen, stroke program coordinator at the 萝莉社 Neuroscience Institute 鈥� Jacksonville.

The staff in the ED knew they had limited time to stop the effects of the stroke or there might be irreversible damage. After lab work, a CT scan and additional radiographic imaging, Richard received a tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, which is a concentrated dose of a protein used to naturally dissolve clots. It must be given within the first four-and-a-half hours after the onset of stroke symptoms.

鈥淎fter he received a peripheral intravenous therapy tPA, he was admitted to the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit. He was then intubated for decreased mental status. After further evaluation, he was taken to the interventional suite for clot retrieval,鈥� Coppen explained.

As the physicians worked, Sandy waited, hoping Richard would pull through. 鈥淚 sat in the waiting room for a while when a doctor came out and told me there was brain swelling,鈥� Sandy said. 鈥淭hey were waiting for the swelling to go down to determine the type of stoke he had.鈥�

Richard was diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke. The following morning the physicians removed the clot in Richard鈥檚 brain. 鈥淗e had the type of stroke that if left untreated, he would have been 鈥榣ocked in鈥� 鈥� meaning he would be unable to communicate,鈥� Coppen said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when you know what you want to say and how to say it, but can鈥檛 get it out.鈥�

This is common if stroke victims are not treated in time, and it鈥檚 one of the most frightening possibilities.

鈥淚 was terrified,鈥� Sandy said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 believe it was happening. The doctor came out and showed me pictures. When I saw the before picture, I panicked. The clot was the size of the tip of your pinky. However, the after picture showed that the clot was the size of a pin top.鈥�

After retrieving the clot, interventional radiologist James Cunningham, DO, told Sandy that Richard was able to squeeze his right hand. She knew then Richard would recover.

Coppen said that at his 30-day follow-up appointment, Richard met with neurologist , who noted he only had a slight change in his voice and an occasional gait change.

Now, only three months since the stroke, Richard has almost fully recovered. 鈥淲hen he first came home, he was weak and tired,鈥� Sandy said. 鈥淣ow he walks our 2-acre property down to the lake. He can do just about anything, but he has to consciously apply himself when doing things with his right side.鈥�

Richard鈥檚 care is a great example of the multidisciplinary cooperation for stroke treatment that can only be found at an advanced, comprehensive stroke center.

鈥淩ichard鈥檚 stroke was very complex, and multiple medical disciplines were needed to manage his case,鈥� said Wayne Hodges, a stroke educator at 萝莉社 Jacksonville. 鈥淚f you take everyone into consideration 鈥� EMS, Emergency Department staff, neurologists, neurointensivists, neuroradiologists and radiologists 鈥� there were probably 30 people working on his case within the first 24 hours.鈥�

Richard and Sandy are extremely grateful for the care he received at 萝莉社 Jacksonville. 鈥淚t was outstanding,鈥� Sandy said. 鈥淚 would recommend 萝莉社 to any stroke patient. As a nurse, it really impressed me that there was always someone from the neurology team with him through the entire process. They followed his progress every step of the way.鈥�

Timing is critical when it comes to a stroke. During an ischemic stroke, blood flow to the brain becomes blocked and if left untreated will cause permanent damage. The 萝莉社 Comprehensive Stroke Program provides inpatient and outpatient services for the diagnosis, management and rehabilitation of stroke patients. To learn more, visit 萝莉社HealthJax.org/stroke.