SETTING THE BAR IN STROKE CARE

Edgar Sites walks nearly two miles each day. He helps his wife, Linda, perform tasks inside and outside the home. And he can spin and turn with the best of them on nights when he’s ballroom dancing.

To observe the 85-year-old resident of The Villages today, you’d never guess he suffered a stroke on February 19.

One might call him a walking miracle. He has full use of his limbs. His speech is not slurred. And he hasn’t endured a long, arduous road to recovery.

administered within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms and helps minimize physical damage caused by stroke.

“Thankfully, my brain wasn’t starved of oxygen, and that’s why I’m doing as good as I am today. LRMC saved my life, and I realize how fortunate I am. I never had to undergo any type of rehabilitation or relearn how to talk or swallow.”

Edgar was hospitalized for nine days.

“Nobody obviously likes to stay in a hospital that

Edgar is unsure whether his story truly represents a miracle or not. However, he has nothing but praise for the team at team at Leesburg Regional Medical Center (LRMC) for effectively diagnosing his stroke and promptly treating him.

“If it wasn’t for LRMC, I’d either be dead or I’d be a vegetable for the rest of my life,” he says.

After arriving at the hospital via ambulance, Edgar was immediately treated with tissue plasminogen activator, or TPA, which dissolves the clot and improves blood flow to the brain. The drug is most effective when long, but I must say that my experience was wonderful. The nurses, in particular, were very attentive and always took the necessary time to answer my questions. After I was discharged, one nurse even emailed me to ask how I was doing. I truly appreciated that.”

Prior to his stroke, Edgar had been hospitalized in January for pneumonia. His symptoms never went away, and he constantly felt weak and tired.

“I felt much better when I left LRMC. I credit the hospital for finishing off my pneumonia and saving my life.”