Surviving Stroke Becomes Team Effort

I asked Tom if he'd been scared by his stroke. Not really, he said. He'd survived two rounds of cancer after all. Instead, the experience was like a race. A clock had started ticking at 2:15 -- when the coming attractions began -- and so he counted from there, hoping that he'd be treated by 5:15. He sneaked glances at the paramedics' watches as they strapped him to the gurney.

"I was so focused on the time, to beat the time," he said. "It was a competition for me."

He made it to the hospital in no time, where the cardiovascular and interventional radiology team cleared multiple blood clots and administered the clot-busting drug TPA. After just four days in the hospital, Tom went home. Any lasting side effects?

"No," he said. "People ask me that when they see me, and I jokingly tell them that the only thing they found is that my IQ went up 20 points, and it was a stroke of genius. I felt like I walked away from a plane crash."

And what about the movie, which The Post's critic said was "completely beguiling"? Did Tom ever see "Copying Beethoven"?

"I went back to the theater to thank the manager, and she gave me a free pass, but the movie was gone," he said. "But I did get to rent the DVD a couple weeks ago. It was okay."

Signs of Stroke

In case you hadn't noticed, May is American Stroke Month. According to the American Stroke Association, you should call 911 immediately -- or ask someone else to -- if you experience any of these symptoms:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

My e-mail: kellyj@washpost.com.