Gill was transferred to Hamilton Health Sciences soon
after for endovascular clot retrieval (EVT) and a stenting procedure.
Within 24 hours, he returned to the Niagara Falls Acute Stroke Unit to
continue receiving care close to home.
“Patients who qualify for
EVT have many different issues. In some cases, they can’t move on one
side of their body, or their speech, language and vision may be
affected,” said Leanne Kent, Niagara Health District Stroke Program
Manager. “But because he got to Hamilton so quickly and was able to have
this life-altering procedure, he has the potential for improved
outcomes.”
On Jan. 15, Gill, known as Jack the Invincible to
Micheline’s friends, was discharged to Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and
Rehabilitation Centre for intensive stroke rehabilitation therapy. He
quickly made friends with patients and staff and came to prefer his
meals from the cafeteria rather than served bedside.
“Everything
was great,” Gill said about the care he received. “I got to know the
people in the hospital. I can’t give enough praise to these people.”
Gill’s
care – from that first call to paramedics, to co-ordinated treatment in
Niagara and Hamilton, to rehabilitation – demonstrates why Niagara
Health is participating in Accreditation Canada’s Stroke Distinction program.
The
distinction recognizes Niagara Health as a provincial leader in
providing outstanding stroke care and provides feedback on how to
continue developing the program, which also has input from stroke
survivors, caregivers, patient partners and the Central South Regional
Stroke Program.
Niagara Health is also working to achieve
Integrated Stroke Distinction for its partnerships with Hamilton Health
Sciences, Hotel Dieu Shaver and the Waterloo Regional Health Network.
“Awarding
Stroke Distinction instills confidence in patients, in primary care
physicians, and the community, to know that they’re going to get the
care they need in a timely way,” Kent said. “Timely care is critical
with stroke. Time is brain. We’ve built this system together and we will
continue to be evaluated by Accreditation Canada.”
Gill’s story
highlights the impact of getting the right care quickly – along with his
own resilience and role in getting better. He no longer needs his cane
to get around at home. His speech is nearly back to what it was. Gill
still experiences some brain fog and has trouble recalling names, but he
continues to improve the farther he gets from Jan. 5.
“As long as he remembers my name,” Micheline said with a laugh.
Gill
checks in regularly with his neurologist and is waiting for a spot in
the Hotel Dieu Shaver outpatient rehabilitation program. In the
meantime, he sticks to those daily breakfasts with friends and his walks
– and a gentle but firm rebuke of anyone who tries to help too much.
There’s
also that one prize he refuses to take his eye off: the independence
that will come when he’s well enough to get his driver’s licence
reinstated.
“Right now, the only thing I’m looking forward to is getting into my truck and going places,” he said.
