Mistaken for an Ear Infection — Danielle's Stroke Story
August 5, 2022
By: WakeMed Rehab & Physical Therapy
Categories: Physical Therapy, Raleigh Campus, Surgery
After more than a decade of serving as an EMT for the United States Air Force as well as at a school for at-risk youth, Danielle Lance decided it was time to take her career to the next level. She completed paramedic training in 2020, transitioned into a mentorship and achieved full paramedic status in May 2021.
Six months into her newly-minted career, Danielle — a 34-year-old wife and the mother of four children — began experiencing the most bizarre health crisis of her life. Over the course of a month, she suffered an ongoing and debilitating double ear infection. No medications helped, and eventually, for Danielle — a high-energy, persevering fighter — it all became too much to bear.
The Ear Infection that Wouldn’t Go Away
On Saturday, January 29, 2022, Danielle was lying in bed fast asleep after working a 24-hour shift.
She says, “My husband and then two-year-old came to wake me. When I awoke, I sat up and was talking to them, but I got very dizzy. I stayed dizzy all day. My husband wanted to take me to the local emergency room, but we talked about it and decided to wait it out.”
Danielle says, “It was late when we got home, so we went to bed. Then, I woke up early the next morning and could not move my right side.”
An Accurate Diagnosis and Comprehensive Treatment at WakeMed Raleigh Campus
The couple arrived to WakeMed Raleigh Campus Emergency Department that Sunday afternoon on January 30, 2022. Danielle was weak, dizzy, unable to move her right side and had trouble speaking — all while suffering an ongoing double ear infection. She also required two people to help her with maximal assistance at the time of admission.
Shortly after her arrival, the care team requested her MRI from the prior emergency department. WakeMed triage nurse, Bhreanne Rawls, recognized Danielle’s symptoms as a possible stroke and called emergency medicine physician, John Edwards Adams, MD. He came to see Danielle in the triage room, activated a Code Stroke to move the Stroke Program into action and ordered a computed tomography (CT). Alok Patel, MD, the WakeMed tele-neurology specialist, also examined and aided in her care.
Danielle was diagnosed with an ischemic stroke, a complete basilar artery occlusion. She was scheduled for emergency surgery.
Dizziness, vertigo and nausea are common symptoms of an inner-ear infection, but they can also be signs of a stroke. For doctors, especially those working in emergency departments, quickly and accurately making the distinction is vital.
WakeMed neurosurgeon Andrey Belayev, MD, performed an intra-arterial mechanical thrombectomy procedure to remove the clot.
Danielle says, “They had me in surgery and getting the clot removed within about an hour.”
Danielle says, “The rehab team members were all amazing. Thank you, Nunzio, Kelly, Courtney and Portia!”
“My husband, my mom, my husband’s parents, friend Janel and her mom were my support system.”
A Return to Motherhood
On her last day, Danielle was thrilled to go home since she’d been sick and then in the hospital for the first part of 2022. She was gifted a “my independence day” shirt from her WakeMed rehab care team and was allowed to leave with light touch assistance and no assistive equipment.
Danielle acknowledges, “It was very emotional leaving all the professional help behind and doing everything on my own.”
A Return to Work
“In May 2022, I graduated occupational and physical therapy. Occupational therapy helped me with my arm and hand. Physical therapy helped me start driving and also running again — although very carefully.”
Danielle says, “My first 24-hour-shift was definitely a busy one. We had four helicopters that flew patients to bigger hospitals, a gunshot victim as well as car wreck victims. Thankfully, they’ll all make it.
“Also, I have the best coworkers. They got me a cake and flowers as a welcome back. I’m so glad to be back.”
Danielle’s Life Today
“My limitations are that my speech isn’t as good as it was before. My right arm is still weak, so I have trouble with carrying things or opening things. I still have some trouble with my short-term memory, but it’s getting better. I do all the things I did before just a little slower. I’m walking, talking and caring for my kids. Thank goodness for that!”
WakeMed’s Stroke Program
Each year, thousands of families in our community are impacted by stroke — a brain attack that can occur at any age.
At WakeMed, we offer a full continuum of compassionate, innovative stroke care — from diagnosis in our emergency departments to rehabilitation in both our award-winning inpatient and outpatient facilities.
As leaders in stroke care, we also collaborate with less capable hospitals through our Telestroke Program to ensure that patients in various regions of the state receive the timely support required to recover from stroke.
Prevent the devastation of stroke. Learn BEFAST.
Remember the signs of stroke by using the acronym BEFAST. Here’s what it means:
B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
E – Eyes: Sudden vision change/trouble seeing
F – Face: One side of the face droops when the person smiles
A – Arm: One arm drifts down when the person raises arms
S – Speech: Person’s speech in slurred, slow or strange
T – Time: If you or someone around you is experiencing one, some or all of these symptoms, BEFAST and call 911 immediately for emergency medical assistance.
Do not drive yourself or the person to the hospital. Paramedics can begin to help stop a stroke in the field. This is critical. The longer the brain is starved of oxygen, the greater the chances of death or permanent disability.
