Leading cause of adult disability: Stroke survivor reunites with those who saved him
LEE’S SUMMIT, MO. (KCTV) - This week, a Lone Jack, Missouri, man was able to thank the first responders and medical professionals who saved his life and helped him recover after a stroke. The reunion coincided with National EMS Week and Stroke Awareness Month.
Last year, Vinnie Amoriello said one minute he was holding his phone, and the next, he lost feeling in his right arm.
“Then I started having a funny feeling in my face,” said Amoriello. “The next thing I knew, I tried to call out to my wife, and I couldn’t get the words out. Luckily, I was able to flip my cell phone over with my left hand and send her a text message to get upstairs. She was able to call 911. I wasn’t thinking stroke, I just knew something was wrong and I needed help.”
Lone Jack Fire and EMS rushed him to Lee’s Summit Medical Center, alerting the hospital that Amoriello may be experiencing a stroke.
“We let them know we recognize symptoms and signs of a stroke, and we are on our way to their facility with this kind of patient,” said Captain Jim Fox, with the Lone Jack Fire Department. “At that point in time, they do what they have to do on their end. They activate their people, their team, in order to save time.”
While in the hospital, it was discovered Amoriello also had a hole in his heart. He underwent physical and occupational therapy and was able to leave the hospital a few days later.
“The medical team are heroes, from the response time to the work they put in behind the scenes to ensure they had those fast response times,” said Amoriello. “It saves lives, and they really do every day. I could not have done it without them, and I want to make sure they get their credit.”
He says he still sometimes has to use a cane, but for the most part, he’s almost back to normal.
“I’m able to play catch with my son, which is something you never think would go away,” said Amoriello. “You take it for granted, and then after the stroke, you start to realize, ‘Thank goodness I can still do this with my son.’ That’s the kind of gift these workers give to you, to other patients on a daily basis.”
Amoriello says the stroke was a wake-up call, and he’s been focusing on his health going forward.
“I’ve been trying to watch my diet and take heart health into consideration now since it happened,” said Amoriello. “I’ve been exercising and just have a deeper appreciation of life. Believe it or not, I’ve been much happier after the stroke because you just get to appreciate everything you have and all the experiences that life has to offer.”
“You hear about these things all the time and never think they can happen to you,” he continued. “At 39 years old, I never thought a stroke was in the realm of possibility, but it can happen at any age. Take your health seriously and think about a heart-healthy lifestyle. Not just diet, but exercise. It’s very important and was something I took for granted in the past.”
Soon after he left the hospital, Amoriello visited the Lone Jack firefighters and paramedics who got him to the hospital.
“He walked down to the station like three or four days after,” said Fox. “It definitely took us by surprise. They brought us some treats. The bigger treat for us was seeing him up and moving.”
This week, Amoriello was able to thank the first responders and medical professionals at Lee’s Summit Medical Center. All were given awards for their efforts in saving Amoriello’s life and helping him on his road to recovery.
“It’s a good feeling,” said Fox. “We don’t usually get to see the fruits of our labor. A carpenter can stand back and look at the house he built. First responders just go on with our day. We don’t know what happened, so sometimes it’s nice when they get to come up and say hi and let us know they’re still around.”
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