Teen stroke survivor shares his miracle story on World Stroke Day

17-year-old Timmy Anderson had been up late working on his AP Physics homework, so when the junior at Cox High School in Virginia Beach had trouble waking up for his morning classes, he chalked it up to not getting enough sleep.

"I felt this weird ringing in my ears," says Timmy. "Then I tried to wake myself and get dressed. When I stood up, I fell right back on my bed. I tested it out again and collapsed at the end of the bed."

Timmy's phone was under his pillow. He managed to text "Come" to his mom but she didn't respond. Then, he tried calling.

"I said 'Mom, you need to come up here,' but as soon as I started talking, I thought this was not going to work," says Timmy, who remembered a video he had seen in physical education class about a teen having a stroke and started putting the pieces together. "You think you're talking normally, but you realize your speech is all messed up."

No time to waste during a stroke

Timmy's mom, Jen, found her son lying on his bed and thought her son might be having a stroke.

"The telltale signs were there," Jen says. "Half of his face was sagging, and he couldn't control the right side of his body. He is young, healthy, a talented athlete and musician. The whole thing was so surreal."

Jen called 911 and they arrived at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital minutes later. The Andersons knew brain cells die during a stroke, so every second matters. Shortly after the family arrived at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, Timmy received a CT scan to look for a blood clot or internal bleeding. Doctors confirmed a blockage in an artery in his brain was causing a stroke. Timmy was quickly transferred to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital to prepare for emergency surgery. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital is the only certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in South Hampton Roads, meaning it achieves the highest quality treatment of serious stroke events.  

"They were completely prepared when we arrived at the hospital," says Jen, who added that Dr. John Agola, an interventional radiologist at Sentara Healthcare, was waiting for them in the ambulance bay as they pulled into the ER. "They got him an MRI immediately. Dr. Agola was the key to the speed of everything. That made all the difference in the ultimate result."

Dr. Agola performed a thrombectomy, a non-invasive procedure in which doctors used an artery in Timmy's leg to insert a catheter and access the blood clot in his brain, essentially vacuuming it out. Timmy's stroke occurred at about 7 a.m. and just a few hours later, by 12 p.m., he was out of his procedure and beginning his recovery.

"Stroke can affect lives of all ages," Dr. Agola said. "I am so impressed by the team effort displayed across two cities to save this young boy's future. Timmy's recovery shows us that Sentara's dedication to quality stroke care directly improves the lives of our patients."

Searching for the cause

Timmy felt drastically better after the clot was removed. His mom saw him the next morning after he received a negative COVID-19 test result, part of Sentara's COVID-19 safety protocol.

"Timmy had wonderful care," Jen says. "His nurses were amazing. They communicated well when I couldn't be there and made sure he was comfortable. Doctors of all different specialties explained the tests they were running to figure out the cause of the stroke."

A stroke can happen to anyone, at any time. One in four adults will have a stroke in their lifetime, and it is the leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the World Stroke Organization. In Timmy's case, doctors discovered he had a heart condition known as patent foramen ovale (PFO), which is referred to as a "hole in the heart."

PFO occurs after birth when the foramen ovale, a hole in the wall between the left and right atria, doesn't close. About 25% of people have the condition but few are diagnosed. However, when patients suffer a stroke with unknown origins, doctors discovered that 40% to 50% of them have a PFO, according to the American Heart Association.

With the diagnosis in hand, Timmy was able to leave the hospital after five days. He appreciated the well-wishes he received from his friends and teammates, who also put up a "Welcome Home" sign at his house.

"I feel like nothing ever happened," says Timmy, who's back to doing online schoolwork like the rest of his classmates. "I can play the violin and piano. I have been walking around as anyone else would do. I just can't return to sports yet.

Timmy takes an aspirin every day to thin his blood and prevent clots. He will undergo a procedure in November to close the PFO. Timmy is able to play the violin just as magnificently as he did before his stroke and will be able to return to sports in a few months.

The Andersons are eager to share their story on World Stroke Day, October 29, even though it's only been less than a month since the shocking experience. They want to be sure everyone recognizes the signs of a stroke to get medical attention immediately. Prompt treatment is vital for a positive outcome.

"We want to express our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Agola and all of the Sentara staff for their impressive teamwork and quick care to make Timmy's stroke treatment successful," Jen says. "It has made all the difference to our family."

Recognizing Stroke Symptoms—B.E. F.A.S.T.

How can you determine if someone is having a stroke? Remember to B.E. F.A.S.T. by doing this test.

B – Balance: Does the person have trouble walking or was there a sudden loss of balance?

E – Eyes: Does the person have blurry vision or trouble seeing out of one or both eyes?

F – Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A-Arm: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S – Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?

T– Time: If you observe any of these signs, it's time to call 9-1-1.

Check out Sentara's Stroke Education Toolkit for students to learn the signs and symptoms of a stroke as well as how to prevent them.