Violet’s Story

Violet had plans to babysit her grandchildren one morning but started to have severe symptoms that stopped her in her tracks. She called her daughter and was immediately rushed to the Emergency Room. At Parrish Medical Center, Violet was diagnosed with a stroke. In collaboration with Mayo Clinic, Parrish Medical Center was able to provide treatment for Violet close to her home and family.

“It was a group effort to save me. From the nurses and doctors at Parrish Medical Center to the expertise from Mayo Clinic, it all truly made a difference.”

Be Fast and spot a stroke with these key indicators:

• BALANCE Is there a sudden loss of balance or coordination?
• EYES Is there sudden blurred or double vision or sudden, persistent vision trouble?
• FACE DROOPING Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
• ARM WEAKNESS Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• SPEECH DIFFICULTY Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “the sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
• TIME TO CALL 9-1-1
  • If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately. DO NOT DRIVE YOURSELF to the emergency room if you suspect you are having a stroke.