Time is Brain: Dana Horton’s Story

When Dana Horton suddenly collapsed during a family cookout, swift action and expert care made all the difference.

On April 18, Dana and her family were hosting friends for a cookout when the evening took a frightening turn. “They told me I started talking nonsense then fell from my chair, hit the kitchen floor and became unresponsive,” says the 46-year-old from Saltillo.

Recognizing the Signs of Stroke

Her very observant 24-year-old son noticed she wasn’t moving her left side and her face was drooping. “Mama has had a stroke,” he told his father.

He was right. Dana had suffered a right middle cerebral artery stroke, meaning a blood clot had blocked one of the brain’s largest arteries.

The stroke paralyzed the left side of her body and caused her to fall. The impact from the fall also caused bleeding between the brain and the tissues that cover it.

When Dana arrived at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, the Emergency Department called Dr. Richard Arriola, an interventional radiologist, who immediately rushed to the hospital.

“When it comes to stroke, they say, ‘time is brain,’” she says, “And it’s true,” 

Because of the bleeding in her brain, Dana was not a candidate for Tenecteplase (TNK), a clot-dissolving medication used to treat certain strokes. Her best option was an emergency thrombectomy, a procedure that removes the clot and restores blood flow to the brain.

The procedure was successful. “By the time I got to the Critical Care Unit, I was already moving my left side,” Dana says. 

A Remarkable Recovery

The next day, Dana was moved to NMMC’s Acute Stroke Unit. Soon, she was up and walking. Though the immediate results were remarkable, the experience was overwhelming.

“I was full of questions,” Dana shares. “I was scared to death.”

Coordinated Care

Dana says she was impressed with how well her specialists worked together. In addition to Dr. Arriola, Dana was cared for by neurologist Dr. Sachin Bhagavan, hematologist-oncologist Dr. Mythri Mudireddy, neurosurgeon Dr. John Winestone and cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. Jim Stone. 

Because Dana uses the MyChart app, she could view test results in real time, review her care team’s notes and track her medications and care plan.

By Tuesday, Dana was discharged home. Less than a week later, she returned to work as a nurse practitioner with NMMC, where she has taken care of patients for 25 years.

The stroke came without warning, and Dana’s doctors are still working to determine what caused it. She was active and had no prior health issues, making her case highly unusual. 

“It just came out of nowhere,” she says. 

Grateful for a Second Chance

Dana recognizes how easily things could’ve turned out differently. Many people who suffer a major stroke face long-term disability or worse. Instead, she is back to working full time, being a mom and helping care for aging parents.

“I am very humbled and grateful to North Mississippi Health Services—the doctors, nurses, ER, interventional radiology team and Critical Care Unit,” she says. “We are so lucky to have such advanced medical care in our community.”

Dana still feels amazed by her recovery. 

“I had a major stroke, and I made a full recovery, thanks to my team,” she says. “I’m still in awe, honestly.”

Today, Dana says she is 99% recovered with no major limitations. She has only minor lingering effects: her left arm shakes a little and her left eye occasionally twitches.

“A big thank you to God above,” Dana says. “He aligned the stars for me that day.”