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Every Minute Counts During a Stroke
Tim Howe of Lincroft learned the hard way that anyone can have a stroke. Despite being a healthy and active 64-year-old, he faced a
life-altering health crisis.
After finishing rehearsal for a tai
chi performance, Tim Howe had
gone home for lunch and was
back in his car to leave again. But, when
he tried to pick up the key from the center
console to start the ignition, his hand
never responded.
"It was like my hand told my brain,
‘Who, me?’" he recalls. "It just lay there.
I remember thinking, 'This is weird,' and
tried again. I knew what I wanted to do,
but my arm wouldn’t respond."
He went into the house and called to
his wife, Patti, but his words came out
slurred. He discovered then that the right
side of his face couldn’t move either. Patti instinctively feared that Tim was having a
stroke, which is caused by a blockage in a
blood vessel or a burst blood vessel in the
brain, so she gave him aspirin and called
911. Within minutes, Lincroft First Aid
was there with an ambulance. Knowing
that every minute counts for a stroke victim,
they rushed Tim to the hospital, notifying
the hospital to have the stroke team
standing by.
Quick, Effective Treatment
After arriving at Riverview Medical
Center’s Emergency Care Center, Tim was
promptly evaluated by an acute stroke
team consisting of an emergency physician,
a neurologist, a nurse-practitioner,
and an emergency triage nurse. As part
of Riverview’s designation as a Primary
Stroke Center, these team members are
specially trained in stroke evaluation,
treatment, and recovery.
"I haven’t seen a team work together
like that since I was last on a racing
sailboat, or watching a pit crew at the
Indianapolis 500," marvels Tim. "The
team was organized, well-trained, motivated,
and reassuring."
Window of Opportunity
Emergency physician James Cameron,
M.D., was part of the stroke team that
quickly evaluated Tim and diagnosed the
stroke. In less than an hour, Tim was given
t-PA, a clot-busting drug that can reverse
the effects of a stroke. "T-PA can only be
administered in a three-hour window, so
getting medical help immediately is critical,"
says stroke team member and neurologist
Rafiya Khakoo, M.D.
In addition to knowing the signs of
stroke, individuals should be aware of its
risk factors. Family history of stroke, age
older than 65, high blood pressure, diabetes,
heart problems, high cholesterol,
smoking, and excessive drinking can put
people at greater risk.
Lowering his cholesterol and blood
pressure became a top priority for Tim
after his stroke. Fortunately for him, Patti
is a gourmet cook. She saw his need for a
low salt, fat, and cholesterol diet as a personal
challenge. Patti modified her recipes,
started to carefully read food labels,
and used healthier spices.
Tim is a fortunate man: He has a caring
wife who knew the signs of stroke and
had access to a designated Primary Stroke
Center at Riverview Medical Center, where
experts were ready to deliver the treatment
he needed.
 – Donna Sellmann
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Symptoms for a stroke occur suddenly and may include:
- Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body
- Confusion or difficulty talking or understanding speech
- Vision problems
- Dizziness
- Difficulty walking
- Loss of balance and coordination
- Severe headache with no known cause
If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
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