Nearly 2 million brain cells die each minute a stroke goes untreated, according to the American Stroke Association. For this reason, it’s crucial that someone having a stroke is treated as quickly as possible. Recognizing a stroke while it is happening can save a person’s life.

This was the case for Wayne Davenport of Buckingham County. His wife, Elaine, helped him to call 911 when he was having a stroke on March 7.

Because of their fast action, Wayne was able to be transported by helicopter to the University of Virginia’s (UVA) Stroke Center.

The American Stroke Association uses the acronym FAST to teach the three signs to diagnose a stroke. It stands for face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call 911.

In the case of Wayne, he experienced these symptoms, recognizing he was having a stroke and called 911.

“I never had any pain, none at all. I just felt kind of lightheaded and disoriented,” Wayne said. He said on the way to the hospital, his whole left side became numb.

Once Wayne arrived at the hospital, he received clot-busting drugs to help fight the stroke. “The whole time I was conscious and I knew what they were doing. I couldn’t talk,” Wayne said.

“Clot-busting drugs have made strokes largely treatable, but every second counts. The faster you are treated, the more likely you are to recover without permanent disability,” according to American Stroke Association’s website.

“There’s only a three-hour window that we can give this medicine, so he was very fortunate that he was able to get that (treatment),” said Dr. Nina Solenski a vascular neurologist at UVA’s Stroke Center.

Davenport’s stroke was moderate in nature, but after leaving the hospital, he was back to normal, according to Solenski. 

According to Solenski, Wayne’s recovery was successful because of Elaine calling 911 at the first sign.

“After the operation, they told me I had to stay in the ICU for 24 hours … but other than that, I didn’t have complications at all,” said Wayne. “It’s just amazing how good I did feel. When I went back over there for my follow-up visit, they said they just would release me to my family doctor. I never had any pain.”

Solenski described the signs of stroke as “…anything that comes on rapidly, or abruptly, so it’s (an) abrupt change in vision, change in language, being paralyzed, weakness, numbness, difficulty with walking — where you feel like you’re drunk, vertigo, spinning sensation, particularly if you also have change in your vision, meaning double vision, or slurred speech.” She said, “It’s something that really grabs your attention … It’s something that is out of the ordinary for you and abrupt.”

For more information on strokes and their symptoms, visit www.strokeassociation.org.