Knowing stroke signs was
key for Sarah Whitehair,
when she, mid-conversation
with her daughter after
school in their Huntingtown
home, found herself having
stroke symptoms.
“I got dizzy and the room seemed to tilt. When I tried
to speak, I noticed only parts of some words would
come out. My right arm was weak and started to
tingle. I couldn’t communicate to my daughter what
was going on. I immediately thought I was having
a stroke. I checked the time, noting the onset of
symptoms and thought, ‘You don’t have a lot of time.
This is the onset of your symptoms’. I knew I had to
get to the hospital immediately,” Whitehair said.
The 35-year-old single mother and CalvertHealth
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse was
trained to recognize the signs of a stroke and treats stroke patients regularly.
Once she realized she was making the grunting
sounds and she couldn’t communicate, she immediately
thought she was having a stroke and knew how critical
it is to get to the hospital quickly to receive clot-busting
medication to prevent lasting effects from the stroke.
Early Intervention Key to Recovery
Early intervention to stroke symptoms is critical, as
well as stroke prevention. Keys to stroke prevention
include managing high blood pressure (the leading
cause of stroke), avoiding tobacco use and vaping,
getting regular physical activity, managing cholesterol,
and having a healthy diet.
Whitehair’s health checked all the boxes, but
she still had symptoms. After quick intervention
at CalvertHealth and other area providers, it was
discovered that the cause of Whitehair’s stroke was
a 20-milimeter hole in her heart, not one of the more
common risk factors. She also suffered what is called
a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mini stroke, which is known to be a “warning shot”
and can lead to a full-fledged stroke
within two years. TIAs differ from
strokes in their duration and severity,
but still require medical attention to
differentiate it from a stroke.
CalvertHealth is designated as
a Primary Stroke Center by the
Maryland Institute for Emergency
Medical Services Systems (MIEMMS),
surveyed every five years to be a
primary stroke center.
“This assures CalvertHealth is
using the latest and best therapies and
treatments to ensure the best possible
outcomes and permits emergency
medical services to transport stroke
patients to CalvertHealth over a nondesignated
center,” said Crystal Gray,
RN, BSN, quality outcomes coordinator
for CalvertHealth, and coordinator of
CalvertHealth’s stroke program.
It was a puzzle initially to diagnose
Whitehair, since she didn’t have any
of the typical risk factors. Additional
testing was needed to learn about
the hole in her heart, which required
surgery to implant a device in her heart
she will have for life.
“The team at Calvert listened
and got me to where I needed to be,”
Whitehair said.
Thanks to quick action and
knowing the signs of a stroke,
Whitehair’s symptoms resolved within
a day of her TIA and as long as she
maintains a healthy lifestyle and avoids
other risk factors, she doesn’t have any
lasting physical effects from her scare.
However, her experience will impact
how she empathizes with her stroke
patients at CalvertHealth.
“To know what my patients feel
like, when patients come to us and
when they have a stroke and their
ability to communicate is not always
normal for them, I now know what that
feels like – it’s not a cognitive defect,”
Whitehair said.
Being “Stroke Smart” is Community Effort
As part of a community awareness
campaign, the Calvert County
Commissioners recently issued a
“Stroke Smart” proclamation to call
on everyone who lives or works in
Calvert County to educate themselves
and others about how to recognize the
symptoms of a stroke.
CalvertHealth Offers Stroke Support Programs
The Stroke Wellness Group offers
support for stroke survivors and
caregivers as they go through their
journey to recovery. The group meets
the first Wednesday of each month
from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and is open to
anyone interested in learning more
about stroke wellness, prevention
and support. Guest speakers provide
education on nutrition, risk factors,
prevention and fitness. For more
information, call 410.414.4759.
In addition, CalvertHealth
Outpatient Rehabilitation (CHOR)
provides physical, occupational
and speech therapy to help stroke
survivors relearn skills lost after
a stroke. Depending on the part of
your brain affected by the stroke,
rehabilitation can help with movement,
speech, strength and daily living skills.
Stroke rehabilitation can help you
regain independence and improve
your quality of life.