Know-Stroke.org » Share Your Story

We need to do more

David — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:32:04 +0000

I know this is a start but we need to do more to raise stroke awareness. I was contacted on my blog today by AGA Medical letting me know of their new stroke awareness campaign. Congratulations, this is a step in the right direction, but it is something we should have started years ago. Here’s what they wrote,
“Thanks for your work on stroke awareness with Tedy’s Team. I know you are familiar with AGA Medical Corporation.
We have just launched a new stroke awareness campaign called TacklingStroke on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. It features video testimonials from professional football player Tedy Bruschi, who had a stroke in 2005, recovered fully, and was able to resume his career.”

The post references a video link to Tedy’s PR piece about the stroke warning signs, but the FDA still prohibits AGA Medical from mentioning the word PFO. Here’s the video, it is the same one that has been on AGA’s site except now you view it on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TacklingStroke

Bottom Line:
We need to do more by getting out there and educating in our schools, so our teachers, coaches and youth know stroke warning signs. Tonight I’m at Lincoln Middle School doing just that. If you think I did A good job, post your comments here. If you think I can improve, I want to know more. If you want to help with my goals, I’ll take that too!!

Drop me a line, I don’t bite….

Posted in Advocacy, PFO, Rehabilitation, Share Your Story Tagged: PFO, Stroke Awareness, Tedy Bruschi

Please help young stroke survivor Jaime Coyle

David — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:05:21 +0000

While I was reading through the Valley Breeze newspaper earlier today, the story of 13 year old Jaime Coyle jumped out at me. I learned from the article Jaime is one of the top young female hockey players in Rhode Island and just like Tedy Bruschi and myself, she apparently suffered a stroke from a PFO while playing in a hockey tournament this past weekend. Don’t ask me why, but even before I turned the page from the headline “Young skater Coyle suffers stroke during tournament” my gut told me it was related to her heart. Please read her story here and help if you can. She is currently battling to recover in a Massachusetts hospital and her coaches are planning a fund raiser to help in her recovery.

For additional updates regarding Jamie, and any upcoming events planned, please visit http://www.RIGirlsHockey.com. A message center has been established so Jamie can stay in touch with her friends and family as she recovers. Please contact the coaches through this website if you would like to assist in any way.

http://rigirlshockey.com/

Jaime’s story in the Valley Breeze can be viewed here:
http://www.valleybreeze.com/Free/MAIN-8-14-ALL-Jaime-Coyle-stroke-victim
The Valley Breeze article was written by Paul Dubois-Sports Editor

Perhaps we should be asking physicians to “GIVE ME FIVE” more minutes

David — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:14:36 +0000

In my last post I discussed how to recognize a stroke and the controversy surrounding which method or reminders are the best tools to use to educate the public on stroke awareness.

http://knowstroke.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/give-me-five-for-stroke-or-act-fast/

I also set aside some time last month in my business ezine, Health-E-News to remind my subscribers about just how much more still needs to be done in this area of stroke education. I mentioned in this issue that many stroke patients still aren’t immediately diagnosed or may not receive the most appropriate treatment and therapies and too often they are left with the debilitating effects of a stroke. Here’s the issue if you aren’t on my email list

http://www.my-physical-therapy-coach.com/HealthENews-know-stroke-awareness-month.html

Shortly after making these comments I picked up my May issue of Heart Insight and read the cover story of TV personality Mark McEwen and how his stroke was initially misdiagnosed as the flu. J Gelles also commented on my blog today about Mark’s story, so in case you missed the comments I’ve copied them to the end of this post for more information. These events made me reflect on my own stroke story and how physicians also had trouble recognizing my stroke symptoms.

So, my point in this post is “Yes” – I agree stroke warning signs are missing from “FAST” and a person may only experience one symptom (ie)sudden headaches, as I experienced. “Yes”-it is important that all symptoms be remembered and acted upon quickly. The big idea here is to also get physicians to take the time to know-stroke as well. Even if the public is taught to “ACT FAST”, physicians are also sometimes trained to act too FAST to try to push patients through the system and may miss a stroke. Perhaps patients should be asking physicians to “Give Me Five” more minutes to listen to me and understand my symptoms.

Either way, both the ASA and the NSA agreed Mark McEwen’s story was well worth their attention. If you’d like to learn more on Mark McEwen’s story here’s where to find it:

Stroke Smart Magazine from the Nat’l Stroke Association

http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=SS_MAG_nd2006_feature_mcewen

Heart Insight Magazine from the American Heart Association

http://heartinsight.com

(At last check the May issue was not online yet)

Bottom Line: Learn about Stroke all year long-not just in May

J Gelles Says:
June 4, 2008 at 6:36 pm

Legendary TV Personality Mark McEwen has a new book out on life after stroke. In November 2005, Mark suffered a minor stroke while visiting relatives in Baltimore. The hospital misdiagnosed it as the flu and discharged him. A few days later, on a flight back to his home in Orlando, McEwen suffered a massive stroke during the plane’s descent. It almost killed him, and it might have been prevented.

McEwen, a talented and witty public speaker, suddenly found himself stuck in a hospital, unable to talk, swallow, or move half his body. In his new book, CHANGE IN THE WEATHER: Life After Stroke, McEwen’s writes candidly everything that happened next, in an intimate chronicle of inspiring perseverance.

Today, over two years later, McEwen has returned to much of his normal life—walking, talking, driving, and even going back on TV. With CHANGE IN THE WEATHER, McEwen has decided to share his story because “I want stroke survivors to know that they’re not alone. There is indeed life after stroke, and even in the most extreme cases, patients can expect to recover pieces of their old lives and graft them onto whatever new experiences lay in wait.”

In addition to discussing what we need to know about stroke and its warning signs, he can discuss his illustrious career and how stroke humbled him.

For more information on the book visit: http://www.markmcewen.com/

Thanks also to Stephanie Trelogan for her comments to my last post and for giving my blog recognition. If you missed it:

Stephanie Trelogan Says:
May 12, 2008 at 4:19 pm

Great post, David. I think your blog is a fantastic resource, and in honor of Stroke Awareness Month, I’ve thrown a little link love your way:

http://www.caring.com/blogs/caring-currents/link-love-for-stroke-awareness-month

Stephanie Trelogan
Senior Editor, Caring.com
Heart Disease, Stroke, and Depression

Share Your Story

David — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:38:09 +0000

If you have arrived at my blog after searching for information on PFO,stroke,migraines and/or are researching the connection between the heart and the brain, I’d like to hear from you. Please consider sharing your own story, or if you’d prefer to reach me in private I can be contacted through my corporate website using the link below at my-nutrition-coach.com (sorry I will not post my personal email here as I don’t like to let the internet spiders get my email address) :

http://www.my-nutrition-coach.com/contact-us.html

If you’d like to read some of the other stories that have been posted, simply click on the comments link below to read more or post your own story.