Minutes Made the Difference

Two and a half years ago, while sitting in church in Grosse Ile, Wilfred Lorenz began showing signs of a stroke. By the time the emergency medical technicians arrived Mr. Lorenz already was losing consciousness. An ambulance transported him to the emergency department at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital.

"When he got to Henry Ford Wyandotte, they didn't think he would survive," said Keith Haddix, son-in-law of Mr. Lorenz. "But, the team there was very quick. They administered TPA (a clot-busting drug designed to stop stroke) and he responded."

Even with quick treatment, stroke patients like Mr. Lorenz often are left with long-term effects like paralysis, difficulty speaking and memory loss. Fortunately, the attending physicians also were part of a larger group at Henry Ford investigating new drugs for stroke that can eliminate some of these devastating effects.

Mr. Lorenz qualified for a new clinical trial and immediately was transported to Henry Ford Hospital to receive the drug. Because of this clinical trial he experienced no paralysis and very little speech loss. Most importantly, he likely survived a year and a half longer than if he did not receive this quick treatment.

Although he passed away from a second, more severe stroke eighteen months later, his family is grateful for the extra time they had with him.

"If it wasn't for the doctors at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital we never would have had the year and a half of closure we had with him. We are so thankful for the quick care and good treatment he received."