Silver Cross Partnerships Provide Stroke Care When Time is Critical

Frankfort man shares stroke experience, importance of recognizing symptoms

The Midwest Institute for Neurosciences at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox has been a designated Primary Stroke Center for the past decade, handling 700 to 800 stroke cases each year.

And ever since, the program has continued to advance by adopting the most up-to-date medical technology and procedures, and through collaboration with experts available at the neurology program at University of Chicago Medicine and the therapists at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at Silver Cross.

The case of John Dugan of Frankfort combines all of these strengths, as well as a reminder of the importance of recognizing the symptoms of stroke and the necessity of addressing them immediately.

For many years, Dugan says he was a person who visited the doctor once a year for blood tests, and was told, “You’re boring. Come back in another year.”

Then, on Dec. 31, 2021, a blood test showed he had prostate cancer. He also had a pacemaker put in. A hole in the heart was plugged up. Then came July 14, 2022.  His wife, Denise, a former Silver Cross nurse for 40 years, remembers it well.

Something Wasn’t Right

“It was about 6:30 a.m. I was half asleep, but I heard my husband go the bathroom. When he came back to bed, I could feel him quivering on his left side. I called his name and told him to open his eyes. He said, ‘I am awake,’ but he didn’t open his eyes. I opened them for him and put my finger in his left hand and told him to squeeze it. When he squeezed my empty right hand instead, I called the ambulance.”

Genevieve Shimkus, Silver Cross Stroke Program Coordinator, said they were notified by the EMTs and were waiting for John in the emergency room.

“What was great about John’s case is that Denise recognized the stoke symptoms immediately, she called 9-1-1, we were alerted and able to get him a CT scan right away.” The scan showed there was a blood clot near the right cerebral artery.

Emergency personnel immediately administered tissue plasminogen activator, or TPA, a powerful blood thinner used for emergency stroke treatment.

Dr. Michael Hurley, board-certified in Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, arrived and got to work on a thrombectomy, a minimally invasive surgery that removes a blood clot from an artery. He inserted a catheter through an artery up to the artery in the brain that’s blocked.

A tiny wire mesh tube is used to open and trap the blood clot, which allows the doctor to remove it.

“Staff explained to me what the scan showed and what they were doing every step,” Denise said. “I just can’t say enough about them.”

Strength Through Partnerships

Dr. Hurley is among the neurology staff at Silver Cross, bolstered in March 2022 by the hospital’s partnership with University of Chicago Medicine.

“The goal for Silver Cross is to be a regional center for neurology,” said Michelle Bober, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. “We have three neurologists on staff, and if we can’t recruit enough, we partner with the best experts in our area, such as those at University of Chicago Medicine. Dr. Peleg Horowitz, Dr. Paramita Das, Dr. Michael Hurley and Dr. Tareq Kass-Hout help us provide 365, 24/7 stroke coverage for our hospital.”

Silver Cross also recruited Dr. Matthew Ryan Reynolds, who specializes in treating neurological disorders of the brain and spine. He is board-certified in both Neurosurgery and minimally invasive Neuro-Endovascular Surgery.

Dr. Kass-Hout said the partnership “means bringing the best care in neuroscience, stroke and neurovascular surgery to the patients of Silver Cross. Now you don’t need to go to Chicago, we can come to you at Silver Cross.”

Denise said she could tell the surgery was successful as they were wheeling John to his ICU room. He was fully responsive, she said, and he was able to move his left arm, which was totally flaccid before the surgery.

The Work Begins

The first 24 to 48 hours after surgery are critical, Denise said. But soon, it was apparent John was on the mend and ready for inpatient physical therapy at the award-winning Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at Silver Cross. In fact, he celebrated his 64th birthday at Silver Cross.

“Not everything came back right away,” John said. “It comes back with work, but it doesn’t come back when you want it to.”

He said the therapists were great.

“I would be doing a workout, and she would ask me to name Rock and Roll bands from the ‘70s, to make sure my mind and body were working at the same time.”

Denise said John and the therapists worked on an issue with recognition on his left side. “He can see fine, but he will notice something on his left side only if you point it out.”

Still, Denise is thrilled how little effect the stroke had on her husband, thanks to the quick work by Dr. Hurley and his staff, and the therapists at Silver Cross.

And her quick work as well. Denise said knowing what to do in a stroke situation is critical for everyone to know.

“At some point, you have to take off your wife hat and put on your nurse hat. I kept thinking, he’s too young for this. What would have happened if I didn’t know what to do?”

As a Certified Primary Stroke Center, the Midwest Institute for Neurosciences at Silver Cross provides expert stroke care around the clock. For more information, visit silvercross.org.