His headache and blurry vision felt like a hangover. Paramedics found a different and scary diagnosis

Nestor Montalvo’s Story of Survival: A Year After Stroke

When Nestor Montalvo woke up one September morning, he knew something was off. A pounding headache and blurred vision made him feel like he had a bad hangover, even though he hadn’t been drinking. As he tried to stand up, he realized the right side of his body was numb. The situation escalated quickly, and his wife called 911. Paramedics arrived and informed him that he was experiencing a stroke. Rushed to the emergency room at Catholic Health’s Mercy Hospital in Nassau, Long Island, Montalvo faced a grim prognosis with a mere 15% chance of survival.

“Time is brain,” say doctors who treat strokes. Dr. Taylor Kimberly, chief of neurocritical care at Massachusetts General Hospital, explains that strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. Montalvo had an ischemic stroke, causing a blockage in his brain. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the more severe the damage can be. Dr. Cini Thayil, an emergency medicine attending at Mercy Hospital, acted swiftly upon seeing Montalvo’s neurological deficits. Following the hospital’s stroke protocol, Montalvo received clot-busting medication and underwent a minor procedure to remove the clot.

Despite the immediate treatment, Montalvo faced a complicated road to recovery. His vocal cords collapsed, necessitating a tracheotomy for breathing. Aileen Fairchild, an acute care speech pathologist at Mercy Hospital, worked tirelessly with Montalvo for six weeks. From struggling to swallow a quarter-teaspoon of applesauce to regaining his ability to eat and speak, Montalvo underwent three procedures and regular therapy sessions. By Thanksgiving, he was able to enjoy a regular meal with his family.

Now, a year after his stroke, Montalvo is on the path to recovery. He can speak and eat normally, enjoying retirement with his family and their dog, Paris. While he still uses a cane for walking and continues outpatient physical therapy, Montalvo reflects on the wake-up call his stroke provided. “You take life for granted, and then when something like this happens, it wakes you up,” he said. Despite the challenges, Montalvo remains grateful for his second chance at life.

Kerry Breen, a news editor at CBSNews.com, shared Montalvo’s inspiring story of survival and recovery. A graduate of New York University’s Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, Breen covers current events, breaking news, and issues including substance use.