Quick Action from Wife and Clinicians Helps Save Stroke Patient's Life

When EMS arrived at the Burkhart’s home, they loaded Calvin into the ambulance and rushed him to Winter Haven Hospital (WHH). EMS called ahead so the WHH emergency department staff could prepare for Calvin’s arrival. Time is of the essence in stroke cases. 

Everett Stucky, an ER nurse at WHH, was waiting for Calvin’s arrival with doctors and a pharmacist as part of WHH’s stroke alert team.

“As soon as the ambulance arrived, we got Mr. Burkhart to the CAT scan room so we could assess his condition and decide on appropriate treatments,” Everett said. 

Based on the scan, a neurologist connected via telecommunications determined Calvin was a good candidate for thrombolytics, sometimes called “clot busters,” medications used as an emergency treatment for strokes. Calvin was the one of the first patients at WHH to receive a powerful new clot buster being offered across BayCare. He was then moved to interventional radiology where he received a surgical thrombectomy to remove his blood clot. 

“Successful thrombolytics and thrombectomy can make all the difference for stroke patients,” said Dr. Sheikh Jasimuddin, an emergency medicine physician at WHH, who was on Calvin’s stroke alert team. “We use an integrated model that involves a team working together to provide timely and aggressive intervention. Thanks to that approach, this patient did really well.” 

Calvin did so well that he was exercising when his bedside nurse first walked into his patient room a couple days later.

“That’s pretty unusual in my line of nursing,” said Alexis Fulayter, a nurse on the 7th floor at WHH. “Mr. Burkhart was very engaged and easy to educate about his care. He wanted all the information and aids we could give him.”

Calvin said he felt great following his treatment, although the experience was hard on his loved ones. At one point, his daughter asked to take a photo so she could show Calvin’s family and friends that he was OK. He made a split-second decision to pose like Fonzie from Happy Days – a reference to Matt Damon’s marooned character in The Martian. It was clear to those who know him that Calvin was OK.

Calvin was soon discharged, and it didn’t take long for him to return to work. He said he feels great – he’s even played a few rounds of golf – but he’s taking additional steps to limit his risks moving forward, such as quitting smoking.