FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — When Brandi Palin needed gas for her lawnmower, she decided to rush to the store less than a mile from her home. She ignored a slight headache and continued on the short drive ─ only to lose consciousness.
Thanks to immediate care at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, she survived the severe stroke, and now the mother of three, who also works as a Texas Health business systems analyst, is grateful to be able to once again fulfill her passion of helping others.
Pullin survived the stroke at just 47 years old.
Pullin spent two days at Texas Health Fort Worth Hospital, spent a night in the intensive care unit and underwent emergency brain surgery.
“As a Texas Health employee, I didn’t realize there were so many resources available for stroke patients until I became a stroke patient myself,” Poulin said. “God led me to where I needed to be.”
Receive treatment at a comprehensive stroke center
After losing consciousness on a two-lane road in Bosque County, Poulin regained consciousness and awoke with a searing headache and a throbbing pressure behind his eyes.
“I was in pain, I was scared and I didn’t know how to get home,” she said.
Pullin called her adult son, who was able to locate her over the phone.
After a visit to a local hospital, Pring was sent home with a prescription for cluster headaches. Three days later, the pain was still there, so Pring thought he might be having a stroke and decided to go to Texas Health Stephenville.
After tests in the hospital’s emergency department confirmed Poulin had a stroke, paramedics transported her to Texas Health Fort Worth, which is also the only comprehensive stroke center in Tarrant County with advanced accreditation from The Joint Commission, and there are fewer than 50 comprehensive stroke care facilities in the state.
In fact, Texas Health Fort Worth treats more stroke patients* than any other hospital in North Texas.
According to Yen Cher Oi, MD, an open vascular and endovascular neurosurgeon with Texas Health Physicians Group* and member of the Texas Health Fort Worth medical staff, the cause of Pullin’s stroke was a severe right cervical artery dissection that caused severe stenosis, or narrowing, of the carotid artery.
“Mr Pullin’s right artery in his neck was severely compressed, leaving a hole the size of a pinhole – about half a millimetre in diameter – compromising the flow of oxygenated blood through his neck to his brain,” Oi said.
Ooi stressed the urgency of addressing the issue of Pullin’s autopsy.
“If left untreated, the stroke can worsen and lead to permanent blindness or paralysis,” Oi said. “In the worst cases, a severe stroke can be fatal.”
Ooi and his care team performed emergency minimally invasive endovascular surgery to repair Pullin’s damaged arteries and prevent further strokes.
Using a thin catheter inserted through a small incision in Pullin’s thigh, Oi performed a diagnostic cerebral angiogram to obtain video images of the exact location and nature of the carotid artery dissection. Oi then threaded a catheter with a tiny balloon attached to the tip down the artery to the site of the dissection. In the final step, Oi inflated the balloon to open Pullin’s artery and inserted a stent to reinforce the dissection, a complex procedure called carotid angioplasty and stenting.
Understanding the stroke recovery process
Although the severe headaches disappeared, Pullin’s eyesight was impaired as a result of the stroke.
“I had a line down the middle of my right eye that blocked half my vision. I had trouble seeing out of my left eye, as if I was wearing a pirate patch.”
A few days after his brain surgery, Pullin returned to Texas Health Fort Worth Hospital for vision treatment.
“Eye exercises, including reading, mobility tasks and driving simulations, can help improve visual processing speed, depth perception and hand-eye coordination in patients with neurological disorders,” says Robin Milroy, M.D., an occupational therapist at Texas Health Fort Worth.
According to Milroy, Pullin’s partial vision loss included eye weakness and double vision. After Pullin completed vision therapy, Milroy referred her to an optometrist, who prescribed prism lenses, which bend light, reduce double vision and strengthen the eye.
“The ultimate goal is to enable individuals to enjoy independent living again, whether that be participating in leisure activities with loved ones or returning to work.”
Rekindle your passion
Less than two weeks after his stroke, Pullin was back at work.
In his management role at Texas Health, Pullin analyzes a wide range of medical data and submits it to the state health department.
“I really love what I do and being able to help other people,” Poulin said.
That selflessness extends outside of work too.
When she’s not spending time with her family, Pullin volunteers with nonprofits and local food pantries.
“As a stroke survivor, I witnessed God’s hand at work from the moment I arrived at Texas Health Stephenville and throughout my entire treatment journey at Texas Health Fort Worth,” Pullin said.
“I feel incredibly grateful and blessed.”
*Source: Statistics provided by the Texas Health Care Information Collection.
*Physicians employed by Texas Health Physicians Group practice independently and are not employees or agents of Texas Health Resources hospitals.
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For additional images, please contact Chandra Caradine.
About Texas Health Resources:
Texas Health Resources is a faith-based, not-for-profit health system serving more patients in North Texas than any other provider. Serving a 16-county, 7 million-plus population, the system is committed to providing quality, coordinated care through its Texas Health Physicians Group and 29 hospitals under the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial, Texas Health Harris Methodist and Texas Health Hagley umbrellas. Texas Health’s access points and services range from acute care hospitals and trauma centers to outpatient facilities, home health care and preventive services, providing a full range of care at every stage of life. The system has more than 4,100 licensed hospital beds, 6,400 active staff authorized physicians and nearly 29,000 employees. For more information about Texas Health, call 1-877-THR-WELL or visit www.TexasHealth.org.
Brandi Pullin at work Brandi Pullin at home