Pictured above: Angel Spaulding is embracing life after a health scare.
When Angel Spaulding noticed a sudden change in her vision while driving one afternoon, instead of brushing it off as just another sign of aging, she asked her grandson to take her to the Emergency Department.
“We were in the car, and suddenly, the road started looking like it was tilting sideways. My body was telling me that something wasn’t right, so I listened,” says the 62-year-old Leonardtown, Maryland resident.
Spaulding’s grandson drove her to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, where imaging tests revealed a blood clot at the base of her brain. She was experiencing a stroke.
“It turns out that getting to the hospital as quickly as I did may have saved my life,” she says. “The doctors said that if I had gone home and slept it off, there’s no telling what would have happened.”
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen to the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures. According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the fifth largest cause of death in the U.S. and a leading cause of disability, affecting people of all ages, genders, and races.
In May 2023, the St. Mary’s County Commissioners Office proclaimed St. Mary’s County as Stroke Smart, thanks in part to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital education and awareness efforts to teach the community the signs of stroke and encouraging them to call 911 as soon as possible. The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) has also designated MedStar St. Mary’s a primary stroke center.
“With a stroke, every minute matters,” says Jennifer Sams, RN, Stroke Smart coordinator, MedStar St. Mary’s. “The earlier a patient receives the proper medication, the earlier the blood flow is restored, and the less likely they will have permanent brain damage.”
According to the American Stroke Association, patients who receive tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)—the medicine that breaks up blood clots blocking blood flow to your brain—within four and a half hours of the first signs of stroke have the greatest chance of recovery. The more time that passes without treatment, the more brain cells die, which means a greater risk of long-term disabilities.
Sams says that many people delay going to the hospital because they assume the symptoms they’re observing are caused by something less severe than a stroke.
“When they start experiencing symptoms, some people decide to get some rest and hope they feel better in the morning or they’ll plan to call their primary care doctor in a few days,” says Sams. “That’s why we’re getting the word out and letting the community know exactly what to look for and what to do.”
Stroke education efforts encourage using the “BE FAST” acronym—balance, eyes, face, arms, speech, and time—to identify stroke symptoms. (see infographic)
Our team at MedStar St. Mary’s participates in county fairs, health expo and fire department events throughout the community. This awareness campaign includes outreach to even the youngest community members in St. Mary’s public and private schools, teaching students how to recognize stroke symptoms in their parents, grandparents, teachers, and loved ones.
“A lot of our community outreach and education focuses on ways to prevent a stroke, like eating healthier and keeping diabetes and blood pressure under control,” Sams says. “Learning how to identify a stroke is just as important.”
Former stroke patient Spaulding agrees and says that acting immediately on her suspected stroke was a lifesaving decision.
“I encourage anyone who feels any of the sudden symptoms of a stroke to take it very seriously,” says Spaulding, who, because she arrived at the hospital just 30 minutes after experiencing symptoms, was able to get the treatment she needed to make a full recovery. “Don’t brush it off and think it’s nothing, then end up regretting your decision.”
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