I may have saved a friend's life today

[CharleyL]

I had met with a friend fellow woodworker, and his wife for lunch on Wednesday. I was there and seated a few minutes before them and when they arrived, he was acting a bit drowsy, like he had just woke up. His speaking was slightly garbled, and I at first considered that he maybe did really just wake up, since the restaurant was only a few miles from his home and mine, but in opposite directions. He had a bit of difficulty reading and deciding what he wanted on the menu, but I wasn't yet concerned about him.

In the 10 or so minutes that we waited for our meals, he seemed to be getting more tired and was cradling his head in his hands with his elbows against the table. Our meals arrived, and he was still talking, but his words were becoming more garbled. I handed him his fork and told him that he needed to eat more and talk less. He couldn't take the fork from my reached out hand and he was going into short periods where he wasn't responding at all to me.

In my earlier life of 40+ years ago I was an EMT II (Emergency Medical Technician) on a fire company rescue squad and studying to be a Paramedic. This training told me that my friend was having a stroke, although I was only seeing a few indications of it in him. I told his wife that he needed medical attention, not using the "stroke" word so as not to alarm her, but she wanted to take him home and wanted me to help her get him out to his truck so she could drive him home. I told her that he really needed medical help and that I wasn't going to be able to get him to the truck. I said that we needed to get him to the hospital and that the ambulance crew could move him (200 lbs) far better than us. She decided that I was right, so I had the waitress get the restaurant manager to call for the ambulance, while I was trying to keep my friend as awake as possible and not falling out of the chair. The hospital is only 2 miles from the restaurant and the ambulance must have been close by as well, because they and the fire department first responders all showed up at the same time. They transported him to the hospital and he was treated quickly.

At 1 AM the following morning (Thursday) my friend called me on his cell phone to ask me what happened to him and why/ which hospital is he in. His voice was clear and no longer garbled, and he was suddenly realizing that about 12 hours of his life was missing from his memory. I explained what had happened to him and said that he sounded like he was his old self again. He is still in the hospital, but I had another cell phone conversation with him this morning. He said that he feels great and is wondering why they are still running tests on him. He said that he still doesn't remember anything about going to the restaurant and the hospital, but did remember getting into his truck to go to the restaurant. Then nothing at all after that until he awoke in the hospital room with all kinds of IV hoses and monitors attached to him. This is when he called me at 1 AM.

Though he wasn't showing enough signs to fully convince me that he was having a stroke, his wife wasn't believing that anything at all was wrong with him. How he managed to drive to the restaurant with her is a bit of a surprise to me, considering how rapidly he was deteriorating. He was in the ER getting treated in less than an hour. Stroke victims can usually be saved if they get treated within the first two hours of their showing signs of a stroke, and most will survive with no loss of their body functions and be back to living full lives again. Unfortunately very few people, and none of the victims of a stroke, recognize it when it happens. He would likely have died if she had taken him home. My 40 + year old training saved someone, again.

A good indication of someone having a stroke is to ask them to stick their tongue straight out at you (I couldn't get him to do this for me). If it is significantly curved to one side or the other, they seem unreasonably tired, and/or their speaking is a bit slurred, they need help. There are other signs to, but these seem to be the most immediately obvious signs from my experience.

Edit -

This was written to be posted this past Wednesday, but my taking care of sick wife and handicapped son have kept me away from the computer.

I just received a text saying that my friend in the above note has been released from the hospital and on his way home.

Charley

[old55]

Great outcome Charley

[Herb Stoops]

You are a good fella to have around at a time like that.
Thanks for relaying the situation to us. I am glad you could convince his wife to let the paramedics come for assistance.
Good Job, Charley.
Herb

[Stick486]

Your buddy sure is lucky to have you for a buddy Charley...

[HandyDan]

Good going Charlie. You did save his life.

[Cherryville Chuck]

Good info Charlie. I would have suspected a diabetic low instead.

[DaninVan]

Well done; That Man!