May 27, 2011 | A helicopter carrying UAMS stroke neurologist Salah Keyrouz, M.D., grabbed Arkansas Travelers fans’ attention by circling and landing just outside Dickey-Stephens Park.

After exiting the helicopter, Keyrouz gave a baseball to stroke survivor Ticia Covington, of Searcy, who ran it to a group of other stroke survivors who handed it to UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D., on the pitcher’s mound. Rahn then threw the game’s ceremonial first pitch of Strike Out Stroke Night.

In addition to raising awareness about stroke, the night was held in honor of stroke survivors who received the emergency stroke care they needed for a complete recovery. Each of the five survivors at Thursday night’s game received treatment through the Arkansas SAVES stroke program, which uses high-speed video communications that allow stroke specialists like Keyrouz to help diagnose and treat patients at community hospitals across the state.

Stroke patients who are diagnosed by a stroke neurologist within 4.5 hours of symptoms are eligible to receive medication that can break up the blood clot causing the stroke. Patients who receive this treatment are much more likely to have a full recovery. That was the case for the survivors who attended Thursday’s game. They are:

• Covington, an elementary teacher who was treated at White County Medical Center. After treatment, she was symptom-free and back in the classroom in a matter of weeks.
• Rev. Charles Kendrick, of Alexander, who was treated at Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton. He had a speedy recovery and was able to return to preaching and hobbies that include carpentry and gardening.
• Linda Cole, of Jacksonville, who was treated at St. Vincent Infirmary North in Sherwood. She was able to resume her favorite pastime – fishing.
• Marica Griffith was taken to her local hospital, Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. After receiving treatment for her stroke, she has become a community stroke education advocate.
• Rev. William Robinson, pastor of First Baptist Church in North Little Rock, experienced a major stroke while guest-preaching at a church in West Memphis. He was treated at Crittenden Regional Medical Center, and has returned to his congregation and is a champion of stroke prevention, early recognition and intervention.

“Strike Out Stroke is really a celebration of those survivors,” said Julie Hall-Barrow, Ed.D., education director of Arkansas SAVES (Stroke Assistance Through Virtual Emergency Support). “We want to celebrate their lives, which they are enjoying without disabilities. And thanks to Arkansas SAVES, their families get them back as a whole person. They’re excited and we’re excited.”

Thursday’s Strike Out Stroke Night was similar to the Strike Out Stroke Night hosted in April by the Northwest Arkansas Naturals minor league baseball team in Springdale. At that event, a helicopter flew in with Margaret Tremwel, M.D., a stroke neurologist based in Fort Smith. She gave a ball to Lt. Gov. Mark Darr, who threw out the first pitch.

At each game, dozens of volunteers from Arkansas SAVES hospitals greeted fans wearing Arkansas SAVES T-shirts and handing out materials with tips for recognizing stroke symptoms and the need to call 9-1-1 as soon as symptoms appear. Both Strike Out Stroke events were sponsored by Cisco Systems Inc.

On Thursday, the first 1,000 fans through the gate received a special Travelers T-shirt that included logos of Strike out Stroke night sponsors. They also received information about Arkansas SAVES.

The UAMS Center for Distance Health has led the Arkansas SAVES program since its inception in November 2008.

Arkansas SAVES is available to stroke patients 24 hours a day. The SAVES program is a partnership between the UAMS Center for Distance Health, the state Department of Human Services and Sparks Regional Health System in Fort Smith.