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David |
Interview Transcript
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"I'm a designer by trade. I also do the martial arts. I'm a fifth-degree black belt in American martial arts style."
Brenda (David's Wife):
"The day that Dave had his stroke, he was on his way out the door to go to work. He couldn't focus his eyes on anything; his speech was off. He wasn't holding his mouth like he would normally hold his mouth. He wasn't carrying his body the same way. I called 911, and they took him to the hospital and diagnosed that he was definitely having a stroke.
When I had to make a decision about having the Activase administered to him, at that time he was pretty coherent. He said, 'I'm willing to try anything to be myself again.' And so he's lived with stroke with his father, and he didn't want to be like him, not being able to function. So I was relieved he wanted the Activase."
David:
"So they gave me the drug, and then I think within about 45 minutes, all of the sudden I started getting some of my movement back. My hand was opening up. My face became symmetrical.
Activase and all the rehab and all the care that I received kind of got me back to where I am now today.
I told my wife and my family I'm not going to let this stroke beat me, and it hasn't so far. I mean, I'm getting back to doing a lot of things I used to do. I'm not there 100 percent yet, but we're getting there."
Product Indication Activase® (Alteplase), also called tissue plasminogen activator, or t-PA, can be used to treat patients with acute ischemic stroke. For certain patients, Activase may improve the chances of recovery from stroke with little or no disability. Patients can receive Activase only if they begin treatment within 3 hours after their stroke symptoms start and only after they have had a scan to rule out bleeding in the brain.
Important Safety Information All thrombolytic agents increase the risk of bleeding, including bleeding in the brain, and should be used only in eligible patients. In addition, drug therapy that dissolves blood clots increases the risk of stroke, including stroke caused by bleeding into the brain, particularly in elderly patients.
Not all patients will be eligible for Activase therapy, including those patients in the following situations, because of an increased risk of bleeding which could result in significant disability or death: active internal bleeding; history of stroke; recent brain or spinal surgery or trauma; brain tumor, an abnormal connection between veins and arteries, or an abnormal bulge in the wall of an artery; problems with blood clotting; or severe uncontrolled high blood pressure.
A plug of cholesterol that blocks an artery (cholesterol embolism) has been reported rarely in patients treated with all types of clot dissolving agents. This is a serious condition which can be lethal, and is also associated with invasive medical procedures involving the arteries and veins.
Swelling of the mouth and throat (orolingual angioedema) has been observed in patients treated for acute myocardial infarction. This occurred during and up to 2 hours after infusion of Activase. Patients treated with Activase should be monitored during and for several hours after infusion for signs of orolingual angioedema.
Important Safety Information (stroke) There are risks involved with Activase treatment. Because Activase is a medication that causes clots of be dissolved, the most common side effect is bleeding, including bleeding in the brain; this is called intracranial hemorrhage (ICH).
Not all patients will be eligible for Activase therapy, including those patients in the following situations because of an increased risk of bleeding which could result in significant disability or death: evidence of ICH at time of hospital evaluation or a history of ICH, possibility of bleeding in the lower part of the brain at time of hospital evaluation, recent (within 3 months) brain or spinal surgery, a serious head injury or previous stroke; having a seizure when the stroke began, severe uncontrolled high blood pressure; active internal bleeding, brain tumor, an abnormal connection between veins and arteries, or an abnormal bulge in the wall of an artery, or problems with blood clotting due to a low platelet count or current use of blood thinning drugs.
Swelling of the mouth and throat (orolingual angioedema) has been observed in patients treated for acute ischemic stroke. This occurred during and up to 2 hours after infusion of Activase. Patients treated with Activase should be monitored during and for several hours after infusion for signs of orolingual angioedema.
Please see the full Product Information for additional safety information.
Individual results may vary.