Morning Mix

Actions

Spectrum Health- Recovering From a Stroke

Posted at 11:04 AM, Jun 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-06 11:04:19-04

The rehabilitation process can be a challenging time for many patients and the right team and equipment is the key to a successful recovery.

Janette Tazzia suffered a stroke on March 25 during a conference call. She called friends and asked if she was talking strange. Her friends called the ambulance and Janette was taken to Butterworth Hospital.

Dr. Elysia G. James, a neurointesivist from Spectrum Health Medical Group, says that it’s critical that a person having a stroke get medical attention right away. Immediate treatment can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

By remembering the term FAST, it can help detect a stroke and prevent severe damage and less recovery time. FAST stands for:

  • Face: is your face drooping?
  • Arm: do you have arm weakness?
  • Speech: is your speech affected?
  • Time: if yes, it's time to call 911.

Since Janette sought help right away, her recovery was pretty substantial in her rehab process. Thanks to the Rifton TRAM, a new piece of technology at Spectrum, it helped her gain a smooth recovery and get back to doing the activities she loved.

For more information on Spectrum Health's rehabilitation services, you can call (616) 774-5210.