| Surviving major stroke transformed city councilman |
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By: By LISA MARCHESONI, Senior Writer
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Posted: Sunday, July 13, 2008 7:51 am
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David Edwards is ready for the Heart Walk.
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Surviving a stroke transformed David Edwards into an advocate for life.
Edwards, 54, a senior vice president at Pinnacle and Murfreesboro City councilman, experienced a stroke Nov. 6, paralyzing his right side. Through months of therapy, he learned to walk again and regain strength in his right hand. He returned to work in May.
“While you have your health, guard it,” Edwards advised. “Don’t be passive about your health.”
Because of his experience, Edwards chairs the Heart of Tennessee Heart and Stroke Walk Sept. 27 in Murfreesboro. He hopes to raise $200,000 for the American Heart Association. He’s already seeking corporate and individual donations.
Kelly Jackson, AHA regional vice president, said the walk includes events to “inform and empower people about how to take control of their health to build a longer life free of cardiovascular disease.”
Companies may sign up at www.heartoftnheartwalk.kintera.org or contact Jackson at 340-4119 or email her at Kelly.jackson@heart.org.
While sitting in his downtown Pinnacle office, Edwards weaves the story of his own health walk.
Edwards and his wife, Vickie, have three grown children and two grandchildren. He is involved in the Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Rutherford, the Rutherford County Sportsman’s Club and the Walter Hill Country Club.
He’s worked in the financial services industry since 1978, joining Cavalry Banking (now Pinnacle) 13 years ago. As a senior vice president, Edwards makes commercial and consumer loans, helping clients manage sophisticated financial needs.
At age 31, he was diagnosed with diabetes. He suffered from sleep apnea. He suffered serious injuries requiring surgery after a tractor-trailer struck him during a crash on Broad Street. His weight rose to 325 pounds.
Edwards decided to get a second mortgage on his home to pay for gastric bypass surgery in September 2004 at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. He lost down to 155 pounds, a weight he’s maintained for 2-1/2 years.
To stay in shape, Edwards exercised compulsively the past three years, hiking six to 10 miles with a 65-pound backpack on his back at Barfield-Crescent Park and biking 50 to 100 miles.
“I wanted optimum health,” Edwards said. “I didn’t want to be a couch potato.”
The stroke
Edwards awoke about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6 for a 7 a.m. breakfast meeting. He couldn’t slip his right arm in his robe or his foot into his house shoes. He stumbled into the kitchen with a gait he described as a “walk, slap” to make coffee but he couldn’t figure out how to hold the coffee can. He reached up to feel his face drooping.
Vickie Edwards glanced at her husband and simply said, “stroke.” Edwards dressed himself without help for the last time in months and they drove to Middle Tennessee Medical Center.
A hospital clerk asked a number of questions, causing Edwards to burst into tears at the worst moment of his life.
“Lady, I’m having a stroke. I need to see a doctor before I die.”
Stroke patients have only a three-hour window to get medications to combat the stroke. He remained hospitalized four days. On the second day, two of his primary doctors told him the gastric bypass surgery saved his life, otherwise, he would not have survived the stroke.
“It’s the gift that keeps on giving,” Edwards said of the surgery that improved his health.
After being released from MTMC, Edwards transferred to Vanderbilt’s Stallworth rehabilitation center in Nashville for 30 days. He spent most of the time in a wheelchair because he couldn’t walk.
He suffered emotionally, one time sobbing because his child lived 9,000 miles away.
Edwards refused to feel sorry for himself but stayed motivated with the help of his wife and parents, Preston and Cleo Edwards.
“A stroke is like a bridge on a highway that’s washed out,” Edwards described. “The road downstream is intact and the road up above is intact but data cannot cross that bridge.”
The stroke victim’s brain re-creates normal paths up to one centimeter per day. The memory of muscle functions must be kept intact or the patient forgets what to do.
A team of doctors and speech, occupational and physical therapists worked with Edwards, observed him and consulted with each other for improvements.
“The level of care and accuracy of the course of action was almost psychic,” Edwards recalled.
He worked steadily on devices to move his hand and others to work his legs, actions he described as “very painful and draining.” His quest to recover was so intense he volunteered for open slots in therapy.
One action involved trying to dance down a hallway.
“It was the most God-awful thing you’ve ever seen in the beginning” but he energized his muscles enough to glide down the hallway.
After his 30-day in-patient stay, Edwards’ family and friends drove him to outpatient therapy for three days a week for three months and two days per week for another month.
During one session, he cried out in frustration but visualized himself accomplishing the movement during the weekend. The following Monday, he accomplished the movement.
After the stroke
While in therapy, Pinnacle paid for the medical expenses and disability so the Edwards family survived financially. His co-workers cared for his clients, building his portfolio.
“This place took care of me in so many different ways,” Edwards observed.
Since resuming his activities, Edwards slowed his life down, a choice that’s brought benefits.
“I say no to more than I say yes,” Edwards said. “As I go slower, I get a lot of details I missed before like the richness of relationships. I’ve always considered myself an advocate for others. … I intend to be more involved and engaged in people’s lives.”
For example, he urged one friend to adopt healthier habits or change his will so Edwards could raise his children “because you will not be here.”
Another friend related to Edwards some symptoms he experienced, prompting Edwards to advise him he was suffering a stroke. The man immediately sought medical help.
“The challenge is up to you to get some real balance in your life,” Edwards advised. “While you can, make changes” to prevent heart attacks, diabetes and high blood pressure. Be proactive and take charge of health issues with regular doctor visits and education.
“What you don’t know is melting away the iceberg of denial,” Edwards said. “If I can keep any child from being an orphan, it’s worth it.”
Lisa Marchesoni may be reached at 869-0814 or lmarchesoni@murfreesboropost.com.
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