The following essay was written by Julia Austin Spanek after her father, Mark Spanek, had a stroke in 2018. Julia, who was 13 when she authored this piece, is now 15 and a sophomore at Franklin High School. Mark Spanek, a Stroke Ambassador for the American Heart Association in Boston, credits his stroke for being
At 23 years old, Portsmouth local, Kristin Walker, survived a stroke. This World Stroke Day, Kristin, now 25 years old bravely shares her story to help spread the importance of stroke awareness, at any age. I typically have a big smile on my Face; but the night of September 8th, 2019 my left side was
Christina Crowley had been looking forward to the trip for months. New York City. Broadway. The theater. As she drove from her Shrewsbury, Mass., home through Connecticut with her daughter, they sang show tunes, laughed and chatted excitedly about the day ahead. The plan: Crowley’s sister and niece would meet them in New York. The
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Senate voted on Thursday to support a bill that would ensure stroke patients get the best treatment as quickly as possible. The bill, which passed in a 40-0 vote, would allow first responders to transport stroke patients to the facilities best-equipped to treat them, rather than the closest, ensuring they immediately
Two Boston stroke doctors are urging Massachusetts lawmakers to support a bill that would ensure stroke patients get the best treatment as quickly as possible. In Massachusetts, first responders are required by law to take stroke patients to the closest hospital, regardless of the stroke’s severity. Unfortunately, the closest hospital may not be the best
COVID-19 has exacerbated systemic challenges that contribute to inequitable health outcomes in Philadelphia. During these difficult times, the American Heart Association continues its efforts to improve access to healthy foods and quality clinical care for Philadelphia residents as part of an overall strategy to address social influencers of health. Through partnerships with local organizations, the
I am a survivor. I am a 40-year-old mom of three boys, a hairless Chinese crested and black cat and at the age of 33, I suffered my first silent stroke. I was employed with an organization that presented extremely intense situations daily. While I loved my career greatly and especially adored my colleagues, I
From the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic in Boston, stroke experts Dr. Gioacchino Curiale and Dr. Thanh Nguyen have witnessed the power of partnership. “Whether it is a parent homeschooling their child, an EMT responding to a 911 call, a nurse caring for patients at the bedside, or someone observing the social distancing guidelines,
I’m A Survivor It was April 11, 2009, a normal Saturday morning. I lived alone and had just gotten up to let my two dogs out. My brother worked close by on the weekends and he had just called me to ask a favor. I told him I would go brush my teeth then do
Guest blog by Gina Petrone Mumolie, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, Senior Vice President, Hospital Administration, Capital Health and board member for South/Central NJ American Heart Association Capital Health and the American Heart Association are thinking about you during this challenging time. We hope you are taking all precautions to keep yourself, loved ones and coworkers