Stroke Survivor Credits OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital Support Group With Some of His Recovery
Patrick Harp was given hours to live when he arrived at the emergency department after suffering a stroke in 2007. 17 years later, he's enjoying life with his wife, getting out of the house to socialize, and woodworking to keep himself busy. He and his wife credit some of his recovery with the OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital Stroke Support Group.
Patrick underwent an emergency craniotomy days after his stroke. "In this case, we were able to perform an emergency surgery called a hemicraniectomy, where essentially half of the skull is removed, allowing the brain to swell outward, thus relieving the pressure and hopefully preventing further brain damage," said Bohdan Chopko MD, the neurologist who performed the craniotomy." This procedure was also combined with a bypass surgery, where a scalp blood vessel was linked into the edge of the damaged brain region so as to improve overall blood flow." Patrick spent three months in the hospital, before returning home with several new challenges. Patrick now has severe aphasia, a language disorder caused by damage to his brain. He struggles to articulate his thoughts and speak in complete sentences. He's also lost peripheral vision and movement in his right arm. Still, he holds on to a positive attitude, something his wife says has helped him persevere.
The Harps have been going to a stroke survivor support group once a month since Patrick's stroke. They also attend some sort of outing once a month hosted by the group. The support group meets the second Friday of each month from 1-2 p.m. at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. Some of the outings include dining-out socials, game nights, and local tours. Ronda Harp, Patrick's wife, says it's helpful to talk to others going through similar struggles. It also gives them hope when they see others make improvements. “We like to keep up with what’s going on with them, what improvements they’ve seen and what tips they might have,” said Ronda.
Just as it's helpful to discuss similar challenges with survivors, it's also comforting for caregivers to talk amongst themselves. “Just don’t stay in the house in front of the TV,” Ronda said. “Just get out and try the community things.”
Mansfield Hospital's stroke medical director, Gubert Tan MD, says education is a critical aspect of stroke care and prevention. Dr. Tan says medical professionals at the hospital teach the acronym “BE FAST”— balance issues, eyesight changes, facial weakness, arm weakness, speech difficulty and time to call 911. The term serves as a reminder of stroke signs and symptoms, as well as when to seek medical assistance. “That’s what we try to encourage patients to learn,” Dr. Tan said. “When they come to the hospital, part of the treatment is education.”
Dr. Tan added Mansfield Hospital is the area's only certified primary stroke center. It provides a dedicated stroke unit for patients, a 14-bed inpatient rehab unit, as well as a stroke prevention clinic for patients who've already suffered a stroke or transient ischemic attack, or mini stroke.
