When Amy Quesinberry, MA, BSN, RN, NCSN-E, went to bed on a Friday night, she felt completely normal. By Saturday morning, everything had changed.
“I noticed my right hand was numb and my fine motor skills were greatly diminished,” Amy recalled. “I couldn’t turn on my lamp, brush my teeth, or brush my hair with my right hand. I knew something was wrong.”
Amy immediately prepared to head to Northern Regional Hospital’s Emergency Department. What happened next reinforced just how critical it is to seek immediate medical attention when stroke symptoms appear.
“When I got there, I was telling the lady at the desk about my symptoms,” she said. “I heard a code stroke called and never thought it was for me, but it was.”
Within moments, Northern Regional Hospital’s rapid stroke response team was in action.
“When the nurse came around with a wheelchair, immediately the stroke rapid response team came to provide care,” Amy shared. “It was amazing how quickly everything happened.”
Because Amy’s stroke occurred while she was asleep, known as a “wake-up stroke”, doctors could not determine exactly when her symptoms began, making thrombolytic therapy unsafe. Even so, the care team moved quickly to evaluate and treat her.
“In a matter of minutes, I had a CT Neck Angiography, CT head, chest X-ray, EKG, blood work, and many other tests and scans,” she said. “All of this happened so fast.”
As a retired nurse herself, Amy said the level of care she received stood out immediately.
“The staff was amazing. I had the best care,” she said. “Being a retired nurse and in my professional opinion, Northern Regional Hospital is the best.”
Amy continued to receive support even after leaving the hospital through the hospital’s Stroke Bridge Program, which helps patients transition safely from hospitalization to recovery at home.
“The support I received from the NRH Stroke Bridge Center was excellent,” she said. “They were excellent and a much-needed follow-up. The care coordinator called me a month after I was discharged to check on me. After a stroke, you need this kind of follow-up. There are so many questions following a stroke. Having this valuable resource is needed.”
Today, Amy encourages others in the community to recognize the warning signs of stroke and seek help immediately.
“If you notice symptoms of a stroke, get help immediately,” she said. “Educate yourself on the symptoms of a stroke. It could save your life. The quicker you get to the hospital, the better outcome you will have.”
Her experience also gave her a new appreciation for the importance of having trusted stroke care available close to home.
“Never thought I would be in a situation where the stroke response team was needed,” Amy shared. “Northern Regional Hospital has the best stroke response team I have ever seen. They are amazing.”
Amy also remembers one special moment that reminded her how deeply personal patient care can be.
“I told Dr. Eric Melvin I needed to be discharged on Monday because my great-granddaughters had a softball game,” she said with a smile. “When he discharged me on Monday, he said, ‘Go enjoy your great-granddaughters’ game,’ and I did.”
Northern Regional Hospital encourages the community to learn the warning signs of stroke using the acronym BE FAST:
- Balance – Sudden loss of balance or coordination
- Eyes – Sudden trouble seeing
- Face – Facial drooping
- Arms – Arm weakness or numbness
- Speech – Slurred speech or difficulty speaking
- Time – Time to call 911 immediately
Fast action can save lives and improve recovery outcomes. To learn more about stroke services at Northern Regional Hospital, visit Northern Regional Hospital or speak with your healthcare provider.
Amy back to the moments that matter most. Spending time on the ballfield with her great grandkids (Andrew, Arya, Allie and Sidda)
