MUSC Stroke Center procedure saves the life of a 20 year old stroke victim

At 20 years old, Brandon never thought an afternoon basketball game at the Church near his grandparent’s house in Fayetteville would end with him being flown to MUSC in Charleston for a life-saving procedure after suffering a stroke.  But that is just what happened on Friday, June 22, 2012. 

At only 20 years old and in good health, his friends thought he was just taking a rest when they saw him lying down during a break from playing basketball. It wasn’t until they tried to talk to him and get him up that they realized he couldn’t speak or move and that something was very wrong.

Brandon was brought by EMS to McLeod Medical Center in Dillon where it was determined that he had indeed suffered a stroke.  The team at McLeod activated the REACH MUSC program so that a stroke specialist was able to review Brandon’s situation and he received tPA, the only FDA approved stroke drug. They were also able to determine that Brandon’s stroke was so large that he would need an interventional procedure to remove the clot if he hoped to live.

Because Brandon was brought to a REACH MUSC hospital, a MUSC stroke specialist was able to evaluate him and recognize that his best chance of survival was a minimally invasive endovascular treatment to remove the clot.  MUSC is one of only two hospitals in the state that are able to perform this type of procedure.

Brandon was flown to MUSC and within thirty minutes of arriving was receiving a neuro-interventional procedure that allowed doctors to go into an artery in his hip and reach the blood clot in his brain and remove it.  MUSC is one of only two hospitals in South Carolina with the doctors and specialized equipment to perform this type of procedure. Brandon’s grandmother, Tonya, who arrived at MUSC hours behind Brandon because they had to drive to Charleston, said it was just amazing. When Brandon had left the McLeod Dillon ER he was struggling to get one word out and only hours later he was able to speak full sentences.  

Now less than a week later, Brandon is on his way to a full recovery. Brandon’s grandparents say it is his positive attitude and love for God that is allowing him to overcome this major health crisis. Brandon says he is just lucky to be alive and thankful to God.

Learn more about MUSC’s Comprehensive Stroke Center and our REACH MUSC tele-stroke network.

Channel 2’s Carolyn Murray recently shared Brandon’s story on the news.