Patient Testimonial: A Life-Saving Moment and a Grateful Return

At TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center, we often care for patients during their most critical moments, but we rarely see the impact of our care once they leave the hospital. That’s why Ken and Lori’s recent visit back to the hospital was so meaningful for the entire emergency care team. With Shannon’s coordination, the team was reunited with the couple, who returned to share their story and express their gratitude.

Lori recalls the terrifying moment she knew something was wrong: “We were getting ready for church, and I asked Ken to grab a bar of soap. When he didn’t respond, I turned around and saw his face—his mouth was crooked, and I immediately knew he was having a stroke. I grabbed my phone and called 911 while trying to keep him calm.”

As Lori describes it, the next few minutes felt like an eternity. The EMS team arrived quickly, and it took several of them to get Ken from the bathroom to the stretcher. “He kept asking for coffee,” Lori recalls with a laugh, but the situation was dire. The EMS team reassured her that Ken was in good hands and that they would perform tests as soon as they reached the hospital.

At TriStar StoneCrest, the emergency team immediately sprang into action. Ken was taken for a CAT scan and evaluated by Dr. Tran, who strongly suspected that Ken may be having a stroke due to a blockage in the blood vessels of the brain. Lori remembers the support from the staff during those early, uncertain hours: “The nurses were phenomenal. They were kind, supportive, and honest about what we were facing. I trusted them completely.”

Ken, who doesn’t recall much of that day, is grateful for the care he received. After being transferred to Skyline for surgery, he spent five days recovering. Thanks to Lori’s quick recognition of his stroke symptoms and the expert care he received from both the EMS and the hospital team, Ken is now back to his everyday life, even returning to driving just last week.

Lori emphasizes the importance of acting fast: “If I had waited even an hour, things could have been so different. Recognizing the signs of a stroke and getting help immediately made all the difference.”

For the team at TriStar StoneCrest, seeing Ken healthy and smiling was an emotional and rewarding experience. “In the ER, things move fast, and we rarely get to see our patients after they leave,” said Shannon, who helped organize the reunion. “To see Ken doing so well reinforces that we’re making a difference and inspires us to keep going.”

Ken and Lori’s return visit was a reminder of the importance of swift medical care and a celebration of life and the many hands that helped save it. Ken is now looking forward to a long-awaited trip to Tucson, grateful for the care that allowed him to live life to the fullest.

“We cannot thank you enough,” Lori told the team. You didn’t just take care of Ken; you cared for our whole family, and we will always be grateful for that.”

This heartwarming reunion reminds us of the life-saving work that happens every day at TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center and the importance of acting quickly when a stroke occurs. Getting treatment fast is crucial to decreasing the long-lasting effects of a stroke. Remember the signs with the acronym BE FAST—symptoms that could mean you or a loved one is experiencing a stroke:

• Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
• Eyes: Trouble seeing out of one or both eyes
• Face: Drooping on one side of the face
• Arms: Inability to raise one or both arms
• Speech: Slurred speech or difficulty repeating a simple sentence
• Time: If you or someone around you is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is time to call 911 and seek emergency care immediately.

Ken and Lori’s story powerfully reminds us of the difference swift medical intervention can make in saving lives and restoring health.