‘A lucky man’: Sudbury stroke survivor shares his story
A Sudbury-area stroke survivor is sharing their story with CTV News.
Sean Gilroy, 36, faced an uncertain future after having a stroke but has now made what doctors are calling a remarkable recovery thanks to a ground-breaking procedure.
The procedure known as Stroke EVT is now being offered at Health Sciences North (HSN) and staff told CTV News it is revolutionary.
Sean suffered a sudden and severe stroke in late 2020.
“I don’t know if I would be alive today to be honest,” Sean said, talking about the care he has received.
“That (death) could have been in the cards.”
Sean’s wife, Rebecca, was 29 weeks pregnant when he had his stroke.
She said it was the most terrifying day of her life.
“I thought that I was going to lose my husband,” Rebecca said.
“That my baby would never meet their dad.”
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Doctors said that Sean was outside of the window of time where clot busting medication could assist his condition.
“He was experiencing a severe stroke where he couldn't move his right side and couldn't talk clearly,” said neurologist Ravinder-Jeet Singh.
“This was a very disabling stroke. So when we did the initial scan we found that there was a big clot.”
An extensive team of medical experts at HSN made the determination that Sean was a candidate for the EVT Stroke procedure.
“We use small devices – tiny tubes – which was passed from after puncturing one of the arteries in the groin or in the wrist,” said Dr. Ravinder-Jeet Singh.
“Then we go to the brain and either apply suction or we put small mesh tubes called stents to trap and pull the clot out. “
Susan Bursey, the regional program director of the Northeast Ontario Stroke Network, said prior to February 2020 patients in northeastern Ontario who sustained a stroke and might benefit from this specialized treatment had to be transported to southern Ontario.
The Gilroys now have a baby girl name Emma.
“As a wife and as a mom I am just thrilled,” said Rebecca.
“It still surreal every day that he is here and that he is doing everything that he could do before.”
Sean said his family is very lucky.
“Not only were we lucky enough to have Emma but I am lucky enough to have recovered to a point where I am going to be able to do a lot of the things that I imagined I would have been able to do with her,” he said.
Hospital officials said the EVT procedure was first offered at HSN in February of 2020 and Since then 115 patients from across the northeast have benefited from the life-saving procedure.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.