After a stroke, Mr. Parker's got this!

Mr. Parker's ER team included Tina Cothern, Gina Coville and Dr. Tanisha Favor.

Mr. Parker's ER team included Tina Cothern, Gina Coville and Dr. Tanisha Favor.

Mr. Parker had experienced mini-strokes in the past, but he knew something was very wrong when the Ware County EMS brought him to Memorial Satilla Health in late June.

The ED team immediately calls a stroke code when someone comes in with stroke symptoms and the stroke team does a rapid evaluation of the patient, followed by a CT scan, lab studies and a neurological evaluation.

The goal is to administer clot dissolving medication to the patient within 30 minutes of the time they arrive at the ER if they're a candidate for the drug. The standard time is 60 minutes.

Mr. Parker received clot dissolving medications within 29 minutes of his arrival at the ER.

"I knew to call 911 right away. He kept leaning to the right and his face was drooping," said his wife.

After receiving treatment, the Memorial Satilla team transferred Mr. Parker to the neuro intensive care unit at our sister facility in Savannah, Memorial Health.

After a week of great care in Savannah, Mr. Parker came back to Memorial Satilla Rehab to begin physical, occupational and speech therapy. The stroke had left him unable to walk or speak clearly.

After lots of hard work and intensive therapy, Mr. Parker is now walking with a hemi walker - a special walker for stroke patients - and speaking clearly. According to his wife, "He's worked so hard and I'm so proud of him. He needed the best and he got great care."

Mr. Parker says he feels blessed by the entire experience and feels hopeful about his future. He looks forward to years of spending lots of time with his wife, seven children, 16 grandchildren and six great grandchildren (and another one on the way). In his own words, "I've got this."