Deans' stroke musings: Independence reclaimed: the power of rapid stroke care

Changing stroke rehab and research worldwide now.Time is Brain! trillions and trillions of neurons that DIE each day because there are NO effective hyperacute therapies besides tPA(only 12% effective). I have 523 posts on hyperacute therapy, enough for researchers to spend decades proving them out. These are my personal ideas and blog on stroke rehabilitation and stroke research. Do not attempt any of these without checking with your medical provider. Unless you join me in agitating, when you need these therapies they won't be there.

What this blog is for:

My blog is not to help survivors recover, it is to have the 10 million yearly stroke survivors light fires underneath their doctors, stroke hospitals and stroke researchers to get stroke solved. 100% recovery. The stroke medical world is completely failing at that goal, they don't even have it as a goal. Shortly after getting out of the hospital and getting NO information on the process or protocols of stroke rehabilitation and recovery I started searching on the internet and found that no other survivor received useful information. This is an attempt to cover all stroke rehabilitation information that should be readily available to survivors so they can talk with informed knowledge to their medical staff. It lays out what needs to be done to get stroke survivors closer to 100% recovery. It's quite disgusting that this information is not available from every stroke association and doctors group.

Friday, May 1, 2026

Independence reclaimed: the power of rapid stroke care

You blithering idiots; survivors don't want 'care'; THEY WANT RECOVERY!

GET THERE!

Independence reclaimed: the power of rapid stroke care

Army Veteran Jocaiah “Jo” Spahr, 78, credits the VA’s nationally recognized stroke team for her continued independence.

Recognizing the warning signs, a quick-thinking neighbor insisted on an immediate hospital evaluation for a suspected stroke.

Spahr, who served in the U.S. Army from 1977 to 1983 with assignments in Germany and across the U.S., recalls very little of her time in the emergency department. However, the trajectory of her recovery was shaped by the rapid intervention of the Minneapolis VA’s nationally-recognized stroke team. Their swift clinical decisions, paired with the expertise of stroke specialized rehabilitation therapists, ensured that Spahr didn't just survive—she thrived.

“Quick action makes a huge difference when it comes to strokes,” said Dr. Sheetal Patel neurologist and co-chair of the Minneapolis VA Stoke Committee. “Remember the acronym BE FAST. B – Balance: sudden loss of balance.
E – Eyes: sudden vision changes. F – Face: facial drooping. A – Arm: arm weakness or drifting. S – Speech: slurred or garbled speech. T – Time: if you notice any signs, call 911 immediately.”

Today, at 78 years old, Spahr continues to maintain her independence, living alone in her own apartment. "I think I can still move better than most of the others in the building, even though I am older than most of them," said Spahr.

She attributes her remarkable mobility and quality of life to the elite care she received. Her story illustrates Minneapolis VA’s commitment to neurological excellence, proving that specialized care can return Veterans to the lives they worked so hard to build.

The VA offers dedicated programs to support Veterans and their families through the recovery journey to include:

National TeleStroke Program: Provides 24/7 emergency access to stroke neurologists via video for rapid diagnosis.
Rehabilitation Services: Comprehensive care through Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), including physical therapy for movement and speech-language pathology for communication and swallowing.
Caregiver Support Line: Call 1-855-260-3274 (Monday -Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.) for local support teams and the RESCUE stroke lifeline (VA–funded resources to help caregivers of Veterans recovering from stroke feel more prepared, informed, and supported).
Stroke Recovery App: A mobile tool to track vitals, medications, and access educational lessons at home.

Learn how to recognize the signs of a stroke and discover prevention tips to reduce your risk at the VA Stroke Awareness Fair, May 11, 2026, in the Minneapolis VA Medical Center Flag Auditorium from 8:30-11:30 a.m.