While on vacation in Northern Ontario, Hamilton resident Dave Zelinski had a stroke.
"One day I was out relaxing on the lake fishing and the next day, I was having trouble speaking. A few hours later I couldn’t speak at all and my wife noticed that my face had dropped on one side."
"Not knowing what’s wrong with you is a terrifying feeling," says Dave.
Dave’s wife rushed him to the local hospital where doctors confirmed he had suffered a stroke. As the hospital was not equipped to deal with stroke patients, Dave was air-lifted to Hamilton General Hospital for urgent treatment in the Regional Stroke Program.
Though doctors were able to quickly restore blood flow to the affected area of his brain, Dave would spend the next two weeks recovering at The General. During that time doctors monitored his progress 24 hours a day to ensure his arteries remained clear and he did not suffer another stroke and Dave worked with physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech language pathologists to help him regain function.
"You can’t prepare for things like this, they happen unexpectedly. The best thing you can hope for is expert help to tell you what’s wrong and make you better."
Thanks to the specialized interventional care Dave received upon arriving at the General and the dedicated staff in the Hospital’s Stroke Rehabilitation Program, Dave has made a full recovery.
"Looking back, I’m so grateful to have an elite centre like Hamilton General Hospital, right here in my community. The staff at The General saved my life and thanks to them I am around to provide for my family and see my kids grow up."
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