May is National Stroke Awareness Month, a time dedicated to educating communities about stroke prevention, warning signs and the importance of immediate medical care. Ascension Saint Thomas River Park is encouraging community members to learn the signs of stroke and act quickly when symptoms appear.
For Bruce Atnip of McMinnville, that quick action made all the difference.
“I woke up and realized I was running late for work,” Atnip recalled. “I was trying to get ready and realized my body was not working like it should.”
When Atnip failed to arrive at work, concerned coworkers came to check on him and called 9-1-1 after recognizing something was wrong.
Atnip was first evaluated at Ascension Saint Thomas River Park, where emergency teams quickly activated stroke protocols and connected with specialized TeleNeurology services. Care teams rapidly performed scans and coordinated his transfer to Murfreesboro for advanced stroke treatment. Within 14 minutes of arriving at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, Atnip was taken to surgery where he underwent a mechanical endovascular reperfusion procedure that removes blood clots from large vessels in the brain to restore blood flow. He also received care from neurohospitalists, cardiology specialists, and rehabilitation teams.
When Atnip arrived for advanced stroke care, he had complete loss of movement on his right side and difficulty speaking. Thanks to the rapid response from his coworkers along with EMS and stroke teams at Ascension Saint Thomas River Park and Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, Atnip received life-saving treatment quickly, significantly improving his recovery outcome.
Following acute treatment, Atnip returned to River Park for inpatient rehabilitation, receiving physical, occupational and speech therapy for three hours each day.
“Everyone checked in regularly and explained things. That has gone a long way to get me where I need to be,” Atnip said.
“We want to thank Bruce for allowing our rehab team to play a small role in his recovery,” said Kayla Greer, program director of Acute Inpatient Rehab at Ascension Saint Thomas River Park. “No one plans to have a stroke, which is why it is so important to recognize symptoms early and seek emergency care as soon as a stroke is suspected. I encourage everyone to know the warning signs. You never know when it may happen to you or someone you know.”
Today, Atnip says he is “100% improved.” He has regained his speech, improved his mobility and hopes to return to work within the next few weeks.
Atnip encourages others not to ignore possible warning signs.
“If you feel something is not right, go get it looked at. Don’t put it off,” he said. “Quick response time is what pulled me out of it. If I had waited much longer, I might not be here.”
According to the American Heart Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 795,000 Americans experience a stroke each year. Tennessee ranks among the highest states in the nation for stroke risk.
Stroke experts recommend remembering the acronym B.E.F.A.S.T.:
Balance – sudden loss of balance
Eyes – sudden vision changes
Face – facial drooping
Arm – arm weakness
Speech – slurred speech
Time – call 9-1-1 immediately
Recognizing stroke symptoms early and seeking immediate medical attention can save lives and improve recovery outcomes.
