“I don’t sweat the little things anymore.”

Like so many other Canadians on a Friday night in April, David Young was watching the hockey game at his home. As the game carried on, the Brantford resident started feeling some short-term pain across his chest. After it subsided after a short while, he thought little of it and carried on with his night.

Five days later, David went to work as usual and carried out his daily tasks – tasks that included running a forklift machine.

“It was when I was in the seat of that forklift that I knew something was wrong,” says David.

Just a couple minutes into his shift, David started feeling funny. “I was starting to feel sweaty and the double vision kicked in, while I felt weakness in my legs,” says the 61-year-old.

David immediately exited the forklift and called his wife, Norma. Right away, she took him to Brantford General Hospital (BGH) where David was diagnosed not only with a mini stroke on his right side, but test results showed that he had a stroke prior to this episode.

A stroke occurs when:

• The blood flow to part of the brain is blocked, or
• When a blood vessel in the brain bursts

Brain cells start to die within minutes, making immediate action critical. “Time is brain,” says Dr. Soliman Kamel, one of David’s physicians’ working in the Brantford General Hospital’s Integrated Stroke and Rehabilitation Unit. “Time lost is brain lost. Never wait to see if symptoms go away.”

Dr. Kamel stresses the importance of FAST. FAST is a simple way to remember the main signs of stroke:

• F - Facial drooping: One side of the face may be numb or droop. Ask the person to smile.
• A - Arm weakness: One arm may be weak or numb. Ask them to raise both arms.
• S - Speech difficulty: Speech may be slurred or hard to understand.
• T - Time to call emergency services: call now; every second counts.

David was admitted for just over a week where he continued to have bloodwork, CT scans, and physiotherapy to help him get home to recover safely. “At first, I had doubts about going to the hospital and was nervous, you hear so many different things. But my experience was completely different,” says David.

“From the staff who got me up in the morning, to the ones who did my bloodwork and everything in between, they were professional, incredibly hands-on, and they were awesome.”

During David’s time at BGH, he was cared for by many healthcare professionals and he especially appreciated the work of Tammy Bird (RPN) and Izabella Antonowicz (PSW) and Susan Brandon (Physiotherapist). “These people were incredible,” says David. “From the staff who got me up in the morning, to the ones who did my bloodwork and everything in between, they were professional, incredibly hands-on, and they were awesome.”

“It was an absolute pleasure assisting David during his stroke journey and recovery,” says Tammy Bird, who was one of David’s primary care nurses when he was admitted. The role she and her colleagues play are integral in caring for stroke patients. Their work includes educating patients and their families on stroke signs and symptoms, upcoming tests, monitoring for new stroke symptoms, administering medications, and answering any questions regarding recovery. “David maintained a positive attitude and was actively involved in all aspects of his care. He has quite the sense of humour which I'm sure aided in his recovery.”

Izabella Antonowicz played an important role supporting David’s comfort and well-being. “From our first interaction, I let him know that while he was capable, he should never hesitate to ask for help. We developed a strong rapport through meaningful conversations, and I especially appreciated his great taste in music.”

“Raising stroke awareness is crucial because early recognition and response can save lives and reduce disability.

Norma believed that her husband was having a stroke those couple days before while watching the hockey game when he originally felt pain in his chest. However, because the pain went away after a couple of minutes, it was brushed off.

“Every moment matters during a stroke,” says Dr. Kamel.  “Raising stroke awareness is crucial because early recognition and response can save lives and reduce disability.

“I would recommend routine physician check ups for blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol. It is wise to follow a healthy diet and exercise, obtain education on ways to quit smoking, and recommended alcohol consumption,” added Tammy.

David is currently doing well, and when asked if he would like to share any pieces of advice that came out of this, he replied, “After the experience I had, I realized how important it is to take the time and really look after yourself. I don’t sweat the little things anymore.”

He also wanted to add, “Just because you hear bad experiences in a hospital, doesn’t make it true. I tell all my friends and family now about my recent positive experience at Brantford General Hospital, and I will continue to share my story.”