According to the American Heart Association, strokes can occur in individuals of any age. It is estimated that approximately one in four adults over the age of 25 will experience a stroke in their lifetime.
Danny Goldammer experienced a stroke in February 2021, at the age of 35. Upon realizing something was wrong, he immediately called for his wife, Lindsay, who happens to be a nurse at Research Medical Center. Lindsay, however, was initially unaware that Danny was actually having a stroke when she rushed to his side.
Lindsay Goldammer recalled a humorous encounter with someone known to be quite a jokester. “Everybody knows he’s very much a jokester,” she said. “And so when he looked at me and said, the sky is green eggs and ham, I just started laughing. I was like, I laughed at him. I said, You’re joking with me, you’re messing with me. And then he said, I can’t feel my left side.”
Lindsay promptly evaluated him for signs of a stroke and immediately dialed 911. Throughout Danny’s time in the emergency room and the subsequent months, Lindsay stood by his side as his unwavering advocate.
After the stroke, he had to start from scratch because of the challenges he faced, such as short-term memory loss, vision impairment, and various physical limitations.
According to Danny Goldammer, the first six months are a rollercoaster of emotions. You start off feeling good, then you hit a low point, but eventually, you start feeling better again. It’s like a cycle of highs and lows, where each high makes you feel even better than before, but then you inevitably fall back down and feel bad again.
Danny owes his presence here today to a life-saving procedure that removed a blood clot. Dr. Ashish Kulhari, who treated Danny at Research Medical Center, acknowledged that while it is uncommon for someone of Danny’s age to experience a stroke, it is not entirely impossible. According to Dr. Kulhari, the stroke was caused by a damaged blood vessel.
Having a stroke in young patients is often attributed to one of the most common causes. Typically, these individuals are otherwise healthy and do not exhibit the regular risk factors associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol.
Danny is now able to enjoy hunting and spending time on the boat with his wife and children again.
Recognize the indications of a stroke with the help of the mnemonic FAST: facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, and time to call 911.
