Cathy Hummel, employee in Baptist’s Neurology unit, with her husband, Jeff , and daughter, Courtney. Jeff suffered a stroke while Cathy was pregnant with their daughter.

With a new baby girl on the way, 37-year-old Jeff Hummel thought his life was about to speed up, not slow down. He was stopped in his tracks, however, when a stroke suddenly interrupted his plans. Jeff woke for work early one Saturday morning, stumbling. He felt numb on the right side of his body.

“I knew immediately what was happening,” said Jeff’s wife, Cathy, a health unit coordinator on Western Baptist’s Neurology unit.

Cathy rushed him to Baptist’s Emergency department where physicians diagnosed a stroke.

While Jeff’s age makes him an unlikely stroke statistic, the National Stroke Association says stroke can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender or race. Every 45 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke, the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in this country.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Cathy. “You don’t think a stroke can attack someone as young as Jeff, but it can.”

Jeff had high blood pressure, a risk factor for stroke. Others include:

• High cholesterol.
• Smoking.
• Alcohol consumption.
• Failure to exercise.
• Eating a high-sodium, high-fat diet.
  

The National Stroke Association says that 80 percent of all strokes can be prevented by paying proper attention to risk factors. If a stroke does occur, FAST thinking can save lives. This includes:

• F—Face. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• A—Arms. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one side drift downward?
• S—Speech. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
• T—Time. If you observe any of these signs, phone 911 or get to your nearest emergency room.

“Time saved is brain saved,” said neurologist Van Woeltz, M.D. “With quick attention, drugs and other medical intervention can be administered to reduce disabilities and save lives.”

For Jeff Hummel, life now has a whole new meaning.

Just one week after completing rehabilitation, Jeff and Cathy’s daughter, Courtney, was born.

“All babies’ births are miracles,” said Cathy, “but for us, it was even more special. We feel like we’ve been given a special gift.”