VIC:Stroke survivor back at work in four days

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2010
VIC:Stroke survivor back at work in four days

Eds: strictly embargoed until 1000 (AEDT) December 8

MELBOURNE, Dec 8 AAP - A Melbourne schoolteacher who suffered a life-threatening stroke
behind the wheel of his car last month is already back in the classroom.

David Baker, 68, was running an errand for his daughter on November 4 when he hit another car.

After that, things got pretty vague.

"I was very conscious I was slurring my words and I was afraid people would think I'd
had too much too drink," Mr Baker said.

"It was the middle of the day."

He was taken to Box Hill Hospital, where the stroke team soon realised Mr Baker's stroke
was so severe it would require neurointervention at Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH).

His wife Helen was warned that Mr Baker was likely to face a long stay in hospital
for rehabilitation.

But at the RMH, doctors used a special retrieval device called a Solitaire to remove
a three-centimetre-long blood clot from the cerebral artery behind Mr Baker's eye.

A stent was also inserted into the carotid artery in his neck which had narrowed.

Professor Peter Mitchell from the RMH says the efforts of both hospitals had ensured
a complete recovery.

"This is an outstanding success story and a great example of how our health services
work together to save lives," he said.

Four days later, Mr Baker was discharged from hospital and is now back at work to relate
the experience to his biology students.

AAP ees/jhp/cdh

KEYWORD: STROKE EMBARGOED

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