Dignity Health | hello Healthy | Spring 2019

4 DignityHealth.org/Bakersfield | Spring 2019 ‘I just couldn’t wrap my head around it’ Rapid response Banks was rushed to Mercy Hospital Downtown on Truxtun Avenue, where emergency department (ER) doctors determined that a blood vessel had ruptured in his brain, causing a large blood clot. Bakersfield Neurosurgeon Majid Rahimifar, MD, performed an emergency craniotomy to remove the blood that was filling Banks’ brain. “Nathan was very lucky,” Dr. Rahimifar says. “Time was the biggest factor in his case. The ER team was able to diagnose his stroke in less than 30 minutes, which is critical for a positive outcome.” When he woke up from a medically induced coma two weeks later, Banks was shocked to learn what had happened. “When they told me I had a stroke, and then a second one while in the ICU, I couldn’t believe it,” Banks says. “They really had to explain it to me because I just couldn’t wrap my head around it.” For most young people, the chance of having a stroke seems like an impossibility—but there is no such thing as being too young for stroke. While the risk increases after age 55, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports an alarming rise in the number of young adults experiencing stroke. A silent risk factor “It’s important that young people get regular checkups to make sure their blood pressure is normal,” says Dr. Rahimifar. “They should also find out if they have a family history of stroke.” Dr. Rahimifar says Banks had undiagnosed high blood pressure, which contributed to his stroke. Several months and two surgeries later, Banks is on the road to recovery and extremely grateful for the excellent care he received at Mercy Hospital Downtown. “The doctors and nurses really exemplified the motto Hello humankindness ,” says Banks. “And Dr. Rahimifar was fantastic. I saw him shortly after I was released from the hospital, and I gave him a big hug and told him, ‘Thank you for allowing God to use your hands to save my life.’” “Nathan is a very charming young man and we are very pleased with his remarkable recovery,” Dr. Rahimifar says. Since his brush with death, Banks has adopted a healthier lifestyle. He takes medication to manage his hypertension and has added exercise to his daily routine. For Nathan Banks of Bakersfield, what started out as a relaxing dinner with a friend turned into a fight for his life when he had a stroke at the age of 23. One evening in August 2018, Banks finished up at his job as a campaign field representative and headed out to dinner. That’s when it hit. All of a sudden Banks had a severe headache. He immediately drove home, and his mother called 911. “When the paramedics arrived, they couldn’t believe I was actually having a stroke, because I was so young,” Banks says. A stroke can strike at any age. Regular checkups can help find problems early. Need a doctor? Call 661.487.1042 .