Denver's Swedish Medical Center offers expert stroke treatment and stroke rehabilitation. Read the stories from stroke survivors who have benefited from our care.

Ade . . .

The day after giving birth to a baby boy by C-section, 35-year-old Ade Adeladan, felt her right hand go numb.

"My hand was coming down even though I was willing it up. Then I found I couldn’t even talk," she explained. Ade was having a stroke.

The stroke neurologist at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, Nebraska where Ade had just given birth evaluated her and consulted with regional stroke experts at The Stroke Center at Swedish Medical Center in metro-Denver. Why Swedish? Because Swedish treats more stroke patients than any other hospital in the region.

The collaborative decision was made that Ade’s best chance for stroke recovery was to receive intra-arterial (IA) therapy. She was flown to Swedish where specially trained interventional neuroradiologists conducted the delicate procedure that used a suction device to remove virtually all of the blood clot in the brain that had caused the stroke.

By the end of the week, Ade was headed home back to her newborn son with very few deficits resulting from the stroke. On arrival to Swedish, Ade could not use her right arm at all. On the day of discharge, she was able to raise her arm without difficulty — something she’ll defiantly need use with a newborn at home. Her language skills are also greatly improved and getting better each day.

Working together, regional hospitals and physician partners delivered efficient, timely and lifesaving stroke care for Ade who has a full life ahead of her as a new mom.

Katherine . . .

In the summer of 2010, Katherine Kerrick had a potentially devastating stroke. She came in to Swedish by EMS after her husband noticed that she couldn’t speak. A Stroke Alert was called to let the Swedish Stroke Team know she was on the way and they were waiting when she arrived. Katherine abruptly worsened in the ED to not speaking, understanding or moving her right side. She received a clot-busting drug called IV-TPA through her blood vessels. This drug can only be administered within three hours from the onset of stroke symptoms— therefore, it is extremely important that the time a stroke starts is noted.

Because she came to Swedish, Katherine was offered a treatment she wouldn't have gotten at any other hospital in the Rocky Mountain region—she was enrolled into a national acute stroke trial, the IMS-3 trial—the goal to get intra-arterial (IA) therapy for acute stroke (the procedure that lead to her great outcome) to be standard of care. Interarterial (IA) therapy was then conducted so that more clot-busters could be administered directly on the clot in the brain.

Other hospitals have IA therapy but no one else is leading the way in research/evidence/outcomes for this treatment. At this point IA therapy is elective so not all stroke patients have the opportunity to have the incredible outcome that Katherine had. What's more is that her experience and participation in the research could lead to many more lives saved from the devastating effects of stroke.

Read an excerpt of the letter her husband sent>>

Sarah . . .

"There are far too many people at Swedish Medical Center to list individually who were on the front lines and behind the scenes of my remarkable care. They are the best group of people I've ever come to know. There was not a single negative interaction with me or my husband throughout our entire time in their care. The nurse practitioners in CCU rock! Under the direction of Christy Casper, they are exceptional caregivers and exceptional people. Thanks to every one of them who helped my recovery be complete.

Thanks to Dr. Dennis Vollmer, my surgeon, who is in partnership with Dr. Elliott and Dr. West at Colorado Brain and Spine Institute. These guys do total justice to brain surgery and their chosen professions. They dealt with me as a patient and Bill as my support team with sincerity and kindness.

Thank you also to Som Phommatha, physician assistant extraordinaire for Dr. Vollmer. Her thoroughness, knowledge and follow-through are exceptional."

Read former patient Sara Fisher's complete story in the Vail Daily.

Brandy . . .

Brandy, 26, was at Jackson Lake enjoying a hot, end-of-summer weekend and a break from radiology school when the unexpected happened. On the water knee-boarding, she suddenly felt "strange." She slipped into the water and could barely hold on.

"Grab the kneeboard," shouted her friends. Her arm didn't work. And soon, her friends realized that something was wrong.  

A stroke. At age 26.

One of her friends recognized the signs of stroke and the group moved fast. They called 9-1-1 and before long she was helicoptered to the Stroke Center at Swedish Medical Center. Brandy's friends met her at Swedish and the dedicated stroke nurse practitioner talked with them to confirm the sequence of events and timing while a board-certified stroke neurologist evaluated her.

Because of her friends' swift action, Brandy reached the hospital in time to receive a clot-busting drug called IV-TPA through her blood vessels. This drug can only be administered within three hours from the onset of stroke symptoms — therefore, it is extremely important that the time a stroke starts is noted. Interarterial (IA) therapy was then conducted so that more clot-busters could be administered directly on the clot in the brain. She was taken to Swedish because Swedish treats more patients with stroke than any hospital in Colorado.

Brandy has zero neurological deficits and within two days was walking around the hospital. She has choices and options in her life because of the quick thinking and action of her friends. Knowing the signs of stroke and what to do can save a friend's life. Stroke is an EMERGENCY.