It can happen in an instant.
For Kerrville resident Patricia Gray, it happened while driving her car down Sidney Baker Street.
"I was driving, and I don't remember a thing when the stroke hit," Gray said.
"I was totally paralyzed on one side of my body. I couldn't talk, and had trouble chewing and moving around."
She was given 72 hours to live.
Thanks to the help of the medical staff at Peterson Regional Medical Center, stroke victims like Gray are getting the help they need to combat this deadly affliction.
Strokes are the leading cause of disability in the United States. There are two main types of strokes: The most common, embolic, are caused by blood clots; and hemorrhagic, which are caused by a hemorrhage in the brain.
According to PRMC rehab physician Mirelle Foster, "smoking, obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are all controllable factors that could lead to a stroke."
All types of strokes are serious, and medical attention should be sought out immediately. Symptoms can include a sudden numbness in the face, arms or legs, sudden confusion, trouble seeing out of one or both eyes, trouble walking or a severe headache.
The new Acute Rehabilitation Unit in PRMC is a state-of-the-art facility that takes care of stroke patients from around the Hill Country.
"The average stroke patient stays with us about a month, and they average about 70 years old" said ARU admissions coordinator Courtney Brazil. "We offer the most comprehensive stroke rehab in the Hill Country. We require a three-hour per day therapy session and have a psychologist on staff to evaluate our patients."
Depression often can set in after a person suffers a stroke.
"Patients can be very emotional with mood swings and anger after a stroke," Brazil said. "It can especially be hard on seniors who are used to being independent."
Experts advise that if someone is having a stroke, get them to lay in a position where they won't hurt themselves, be calm and call EMS immediately.
PRMC has a full staff of on-call rehab nurses that will assist patients around the clock. Also on staff in the ARU is a dietitian to help patients with diet needs for prevention when they are released, and a social worker to assist with any discharge needs a patient might have.
Once a stroke patient is ready to leave, they spend the last night or two of rehab in a private apartment set up in the ARU. The apartment has all the conveniences of home, so the patient can get used to doing everyday things that might be difficult after the stroke, such as cooking and laundry.
"All patients continue rehab after they are released," Brazil said. "But, the most important thing is getting a patient intensive rehab quickly after they have a stroke -- that is most important for a better recovery."
And Mrs. Gray?
Given 72 hours to live, she spent seven days in the ICU and 37 more days in rehab before going home.
"I can't say enough about the treatment therapists -- they were fantastic. It isn't fun, but PRMC is great if you have to go through something like that. I still have a little trouble with my left side, but I'm doing great -- prayers work." To see more of the Kerrville Daily Times or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dailytimes.com/. Copyright (c) 2008, Kerrville Daily Times, Texas Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2008 Kerrville Daily Times, Texas