Publication

In February 2024, Harrisonville resident Kathleen Huseman attended a routine appointment at her primary care provider's office at Harrisonville Medical Clinic. Her husband shared with the staff that Huseman had just started exhibiting concerning symptoms: headache, vomiting, trouble speaking and difficulty following commands. Clinic staff quickly recognized the signs of a stroke and called 911.

Within minutes, first responders from the Harrisonville Fire Department arrived and transported Huseman to Cass Regional Medical Center's Emergency Department, where she was evaluated and given a clot-busting medication. As her symptoms improved, Huseman was transported by ambulance to a Kansas City-area hospital for further care.

Cass Regional celebrated Huseman's recovery Oct. 30 by reuniting her with her local care team at a "Great Save" event.

'Thank you from the bottom of my heart'

"From the patient's perspective, they have no idea who was involved in saving their life and are not given the opportunity to thank them," explained Jay Sebelien, MBA, BSN, RN, chief nursing officer. "The Great Save program is designed to bring the health care team and the patient back together to celebrate a positive outcome. Often members of a patient's health care team—including first responders and hospital nursing and ancillary staff—are the first people to take care of the patient but do not get to see the patient's outcome or realize the impact they made on that person's life."

At the event, Huseman was able to thank them for the care she received.

"Without your exceptional and dedicated care, I would not be standing here today," she said. "I can't say thank you enough. The roles each of you played on Feb. 5 saved my life. I remember very little of that day. But ever since, when I would see an ambulance crew or someone in scrubs out and about, I often would wonder if they were part of the team that treated me. It is so nice to put it all together and meet my heroes. You are God's angels on earth. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am so grateful for you."

Know the signs of a stroke

A stroke happens when blood cannot reach a part of the brain, which deprives brain cells of oxygen and nutrients. Recognizing the signs and immediately calling emergency services increases the chances of a successful recovery.

Tim Gillam, RN, BSN, stroke program coordinator at Cass Regional, expressed the importance of recognizing the signs of a stroke and immediately calling emergency services.

"Kathleen had a positive outcome because she received timely treatment," noted Gillam. "It is vitally important to get care quickly when a stroke happens. If you notice someone's face drooping or they're unable to smile, if they're unable to lift either one of their arms, if they have trouble with speech—it's time to call 911."

F.A.S.T. is a simple way to remember the main symptoms of a stroke. These symptoms can happen suddenly.

F.A.S.T. stands for:

F: Face drooping. Ask the person to smile. Look for drooping on one side of the face.

A: Arm weakness. Ask the person to raise both arms to the same height. One arm may drift downward or not raise at all.

S: Speech difficulty. Ask the person to speak. Listen for slurred or unintelligible speech.

T: Time to call 911. When alerting emergency medical services, note the time symptoms started and other possible signs of stroke.

Other symptoms of stroke may include:

• Nausea or vomiting.
• Sudden change of consciousness, such as fainting, confusion or seizures.
• Sudden loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden, severe headache.
• Sudden trouble understanding simple statements.
• Sudden vision impairments, such as double vision.

A stroke occurs every 40 seconds in the U.S. Recognizing the symptoms of a stroke and calling 911 immediately can make a significant difference in treatment options and recovery outcomes.

Sources: American Stroke Association; National Institute on Aging

Categories: Great Saves