When 76-year-old Timothy Harvey of Litchfield began experiencing stroke symptoms at home on the morning of February 18, he and his wife immediately recognized the warning signs.
This time, they didn’t wait.
They called 911.
“I had suffered a stroke about a year and a half earlier,” Timothy recalls. “Back then, we waited several hours before deciding to seek care. This time, we knew we needed to act fast.”
Paramedics quickly transported Timothy by ambulance to the hospital. By the time he arrived, the emergency team was ready.
“They had all my information. I went straight through the Emergency Department and right into the CT scan room,” he said. “Everything moved very quickly.”
Although Timothy remained alert and able to speak, the stroke had affected the lower half of his body. He could not move his right leg. Within minutes, a coordinated team — including an on-site physician, Dr. Blake Sonne, and a teleneurologist — began evaluating him.
“They were asking me questions, testing my legs, checking my responses. There was no movement,” he said.
After reviewing his imaging and confirming he was within the critical treatment window, Timothy’s physician discussed a clot-busting medication called TNK (tenecteplase).
“He (Sonne) explained the possible side effects and the risks. He made it very clear the decision was mine,” Timothy said. “My wife and I were very grateful for how thoroughly everything was explained.”
Timothy chose to proceed.
The results were almost immediate.
“Within an hour, my lower half started responding. I could move my right leg up and down,” he said. “By the end of the day, I wasn’t 100 percent — but I felt dramatically better than I had that morning.”
Timothy remained in the hospital for several days for monitoring and recovery, first in the ICU and then on a medical unit.
“The nurses were wonderful. Everyone stayed on top of my medications and made sure I was comfortable,” he said. “Overall, it was a very positive experience.”
By Saturday afternoon — just three days after arriving by ambulance — Timothy was able to return home.
Looking back, he believes quick recognition of symptoms and rapid access to specialized stroke care made all the difference.
“It could have gone very differently,” he said. “I’m grateful the team recognized what was happening and gave me the best course of action. Acting fast saved my mobility — and possibly much more.”