Virgina Plemmons had no idea that, after working at Macy’s Southland for 27 years, her place of employment would be pivotal in saving her life from an acute stroke on March 19, 2023.
“I was checking out one of my customers and, while looking down at the register, the keyboard went blank,” she said.
Virginia said one of the last things she remembers from that day was telling her manager something was wrong.
As Virginia says now, the events that followed were the “stars aligning.” A doctor in line to check out recognized her symptoms and stayed with her until EMS arrived.
She was taken to Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, where, upon arrival, she required a breathing tube, management of vitals, head computed tomography (CT) imaging and medication to address the stroke.
Virginia’s co-workers contacted her son, Jaimie Plemmons, who was in Florida. Jaimie’s wife, Dr. Elizabeth Plemmons, was supposed to be in Florida with Jaimie but didn’t make it due to work commitments. She just so happens to be the chair and medical director of Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital’s Department of Emergency Medicine.
Early intervention and integrated care
Because of early intervention and Dr. Plemmons’ knowledge of Virginia’s medical history and baseline information, doctors discovered a large vessel occlusion (LVO). This type of ischemic stroke happens when blood flow is blocked in a major artery in the brain.
Virginia was transferred to Henry Ford Hospital, where Dr. Alex Chebl, vascular and interventional neurologist and director of Henry Ford Stroke Center, began treatment that included removing the blockage.
Five days later, Virginia was back at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital to begin physical therapy. Doctors said, given the magnitude of her stroke, Virginia progressed quickly through PT.
Though she continues to experience some visual and motor deficits, the 80-year-old woman is back to work at the same store where she suffered a stroke.
“Going back to work helps me with my memory, and I feel it’s an important part of my recovery,” Virginia said.
Her son Jaimie said he is grateful for his mom’s rehabilitation at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital and the care of the team there.
“I am so grateful for the team that intervened to save my mother, both at Henry Ford Wyandotte and Henry Ford Hospital,” Jaimie said. “I always felt welcomed at Henry Ford Hospital and was kept up to date at every turn.”
His wife echoed his outlook.
“I am proud to be a part of a system where someone can have an acute event, get stabilized, get world-class care at a higher level, come back to their home community for rehabilitation, and outpatient cardiac and ophthalmology follow-up, all within the same system in a seamless manner,” Dr. Elizabeth Plemmons said. “This is integration at its finest.”
Recognize signs of a stroke
Every second counts when someone is having a stroke. Know the acronym to spot the signs: F.A.S.T.
- F – Face: Look for a dropping face or uneven smile.
- A – Arm: Be aware of any arm weakness.
- S – Speech: Pay attention to slurred speech and severe headache.
- T – Time: Time is of the essence. Call 911 immediately.
Henry Ford will hold a stroke awareness virtual educational webinar on May 14, where Dr. Pouya Entezami, a neurosurgeon at Henry Ford Health, will discuss how to spot a stroke and why time is so crucial to getting medical treatment for a suspected stroke. Participants will learn how to reduce risk factors that can increase your chances of having a stroke.
In a stroke emergency, having an experienced team with access to the latest stroke treatment is critical.
For more information, visit Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital and Henry Ford Stroke Centers.