One Man's Battle with Stroke and His Inspiring Road to Recovery

Last September, Nestor Montalvo awoke with a severe headache and blurred vision. The symptoms felt like a bad hangover, but he hadn't consumed any alcohol. When he attempted to stand, the right side of his body was numb. He felt disoriented and fell.

His wife immediately called for emergency assistance. Paramedics informed him he was experiencing a stroke and rushed him to the emergency room at Mercy Hospital. The situation was critical; he overheard a doctor tell his daughter, a nurse, that his chances of survival were slim. He feared he wouldn't have the chance to say goodbye to his loved ones.

Strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is disrupted. In Montalvo's case, it was an ischemic stroke, caused by a blockage. This lack of blood flow deprives brain cells of essential nutrients and oxygen, leading to damage. The longer the stroke goes untreated, the more severe the damage becomes.

Dr. Cini Thayil, the first doctor to see Montalvo, noted significant neurological deficits. The hospital's stroke protocol was immediately activated. Within minutes of his arrival, he was assessed, and a CAT scan was performed. Shortly after, he received a clot-busting medication. He later underwent another procedure to ensure the clot was gone.

Despite the treatment, Montalvo's condition remained precarious. He required a tracheotomy due to collapsed vocal cords, making it impossible for him to speak or swallow. He struggled to eat and speak due to the stroke's aftereffects. He was unable to swallow even a small amount of applesauce without assistance.

For six weeks, he worked with a speech pathologist, receiving daily speech therapy and exercises to strengthen the throat muscles involved in eating and swallowing. He underwent regular scans to monitor his progress. After the tracheotomy tube was removed, he focused on regaining his ability to eat and speak. He underwent additional procedures to aid his recovery. By Thanksgiving, he was able to eat a regular meal with his family.

Now, a year after his stroke, Montalvo is recovering. He can speak and eat normally and is enjoying retirement with his family. He still uses a cane and continues outpatient physical therapy. He hopes to continue his recovery, which he describes as a challenging process. He reflects on how the experience has changed his perspective on life.