Talking About TIA

The Most Important Phone Call of My Life

When away from my husband, Alfred, I always call him three times per day — morning, noon and night. Little did I know that one of my regular calls to Al would help him realize he was having a transient ischemic attack (TIA). I was visiting our daughter in North Carolina during the fall of 2007 while Al stayed home in Delaware. When I called him early one afternoon, something seemed "off."

Al was slurring his speech and wasn't able to say what he was thinking or how he was feeling. He tried to laugh it off, but I was worried because he couldn't tell me what was happening and I wasn't with him. I am a retired nurse, and I thought immediately that Al's symptoms seemed typical of a TIA or stroke. Al has always been a little stubborn and when I suggested he go to the emergency room, he tried to convince me he was fine. So I asked my son-in-law, who lives nearby, to check on Al. When he reported back to me on Al's symptoms I had him call 911 and get Al to the emergency room immediately. Once there, Al was diagnosed with a TIA.

It was hard being away from Al and knowing he was sick. I don't know what I would do without him, and I'm glad I knew the symptoms of TIA – the rest of my family didn't and would not have known that Al needed to get help quickly. Al's experience shows that knowing the symptoms of TIA can help families get their loved ones the help they need as soon as possible, which is important since TIA is a major warning sign for stroke.

We're happy that Al is healthy now. I make sure he eats a low sodium diet, gets plenty of exercise and works with his doctor to monitor other risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol. I think it is important for my family — and every family — to know what to do if someone they know or love has a TIA.

Barbara M.
Newark, Delaware