Mary Shaw knew her family had a history of stroke - but she didn''t know it would happen to her at only 47. Shaw was finishing an evening at the computer when her legs gave out and she stumbled to the kitchen table and called for her husband, Ken. Alerted by her call, Ken ran to her side and noticed that something was terribly wrong.

One in 10 persons over age 65 (and nearly half of persons over age 85) are affected by Alzheimer's

"Ken said that my speech was slurred and the side of my face was drooping," Shaw remembers. "Even though I didn't realize I was having a stroke, Ken knew what was happening and immediately called 911."

Lifesaving Care
Within minutes, Shaw was rushed from her south St. Louis City home to Barnes-Jewish Hospital by ambulance. En route, emergency medical service employees called ahead to the emergency department with a stroke alert, so that upon her arrival, the multidisciplinary rapid response team could begin performing lifesaving tests and treatment.

Shaw was fortunate, because her husband knew enough about stroke to get her to the hospital in time for tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a clot-busting medication that quickly dissolves blood clots.

Although fewer than 5 percent of stroke patients nationwide make it to the hospital in time to receive tPA, the efficient work of the Barnes-Jewish stroke team makes it possible for more than 25 percent of stroke patients here to receive the drug.

"Barnes-Jewish is one of the premier stroke centers in the country because of the volume of patients we see and the level of expertise of the board-certified stroke specialists on our staff," says Abdullah Nassief, MD, Washington University vascular neurologist at Barnes-Jewish and director of the clinical stroke center. "Our comprehensive stroke center is certified as a stroke center of excellence by The Joint Commission. When you come here, you get the highest level of stroke care available from a team of specialists."

The experience and expertise is evident. The neurology and neurosurgery programs at Barnes-Jewish Hospital were recently ranked #7 by U.S.News and World Report.

A Second Chance at Life
After Washington University neurosurgeon Robert Grubb, MD, repaired the blocked artery that had caused Shaw''s stroke, Shaw returned to her job, quit smoking and now exercises more and takes medication to keep her high blood pressure under control.

"Now that I have a second chance," says Shaw, "I''m doing everything I can to ensure that nothing cuts my life short."

Stroke Symptoms
Each year, more than 700,000 Americans suffer a stroke. Would you recognize these sudden-onset stroke symptoms?

• numbness on one side of the body, particularly the arms, leg or face

• confusion or difficulty speaking or understanding

• vision problems

• problems walking, usually due to dizziness, coordination problems or loss of balance

• severe headaches for no known reason

For more information or to make an appointment, call 314-TOP-DOCS (314-867-3627) or toll-free 866-867-3627.