News

Kathryn McKenzie, 86, is grateful to be alive. She suffered two strokes, but thanks to her husband’s quick actions, the coordinated efforts of emergency teams and expert physicians, she is moving well and feeling like herself. 

When Kathryn came in from outdoors, she knew something was wrong. Her vision was distorted, making things appear farther away than they were. When her husband, Dennis, entered the room, she couldn’t form words. He immediately called 911. Emergency Medical Services transported Kathryn to MyMichigan Medical Center Alma where she required evaluation from a stroke expert.
“The ambulance team was very good with me,” Kathryn shared. “When we arrived at the Emergency Department in Alma, staff was ready for me at the door. They quickly did a CT scan and used video to talk with a doctor at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor. The doctor asked me questions and did an evaluation; I had a blood clot and needed medication to break it up.”
Telestroke is a specialized form of telemedicine that connects patients experiencing stroke symptoms with stroke experts in real time using secure video technology. When the patient arrives in the emergency department, the care team can quickly consult with a remote stroke expert who evaluates the patient, reviews brain imaging and helps guide immediate treatment decisions. 
Michigan Medicine providers, Cemal B. Sozener, M.D., emergency medicine physician, and Shani Mannion, M.D., neurologist, ordered a single-dose thrombolytic medication for Kathryn and asked that she be transported to MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw – a Comprehensive Stroke Center – for advanced stroke care. 
In Saginaw, the stroke team was ready for Kathryn upon arrival in case she needed surgical intervention. Fortunately, the thrombolytic medication, designed to help dissolve blood clots that can cause lasting damage by interrupting blood flow to the brain, had done its job. Kathryn was alert, speaking clearly and able to go home. 
The following day, however, Kathryn had trouble speaking again. A second telestroke consultation revealed another stroke, with the CT scan showing a blockage in a different section of her brain. She wasn’t eligible for a second dose of the thrombolytic medication, so she was sent back to the Comprehensive Stroke Center at MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw.  
Further evaluation of Kathryn revealed atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition involving the heart’s electrical system that can increase the risk of stroke. She was treated with IV heparin and an oral blood thinner. 
“The second time was a little scarier for me because I was more aware of what was happening,” said Kathryn. “I could see the clock on the wall but couldn’t tell what time it was. I was very anxious. The doctors and nurses were so good to me, efficient but kind. I can’t say enough about the great care they gave me.”
Kathryn’s family has been a constant source of support through every stage of her recovery; as an inpatient for speech, physical and occupational therapy, home care therapy and follow-up visits with neurology and cardiology specialists. Now moving without a walker, Kathryn is happily back to her active lifestyle, working in and around her home and attending functions for her great-grandchildren. 
“I have been so impressed with my care from MyMichigan Health. Everyone works together and are in sync about my medications,” she shared. “I understand that the speed of the care I had was a key factor to my recovery. I would tell others that following directions of the doctors and therapist and attending necessary follow-up appointments are also important to having a positive outcome like I’ve had. I am so grateful.” 
Those interested in understanding their personal risk for stroke may visit www.mymichigan.org/stroke to take MyMichigan’s free, online assessment. This resource evaluates both controllable and non-controllable factors and provides a personalized report along with practical steps to help reduce risk. Those interested in learning more about MyMichigan Health’s stroke program may also visit www.mymichigan.org/stroke.

MyMichigan Health, a non-profit health system headquartered in Midland, Michigan, is a leader in providing award-winning, high-quality care across the 26-counties it serves. With two tertiary hospitals in Midland and Saginaw, MyMichigan also has Medical Centers in Alma, Alpena, Clare, Gladwin, Mt. Pleasant, Sault Ste. Marie, Standish, Tawas, Towne Centre and West Branch. MyMichigan Health provides a full continuum of care across a wide array of settings, including urgent care centers, home health, virtual care, as well as medical offices. Their expertise spans 85 specialties and subspecialties, including behavioral health, cardiology, primary care, hematology/oncology, neurosciences, orthopedics, women and children services, and vascular surgery among others. Dedicated to advancing the future of medicine, MyMichigan Health collaborates with leading institutions to offer medical education programs. These initiatives are designed to train the next generation of medical professionals, including medical students, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nursing students and other clinical experts. For four consecutive years, from 2022 to 2025, Forbes has acknowledged MyMichigan Health as one of “America’s Best Employers by State” and, in 2025, was also named to Forbes’ list of ‘America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals.’ With more than 13,200 employees and operational support staff, MyMichigan Health is a significant employer within its service areas and is committed to creating healthy communities and responding to the changing needs of the more than one million residents it supports. In fiscal year 2025, MyMichigan Health provided $243 million in community benefits, as well as supported its patients and families with new equipment, services and programs with funds raised by the MyMichigan Health Foundation and Field Neurosciences Institute.