May 6, 2022 – As families prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8, it promises to be an extra-special day for two Florida mothers – one whose life was saved by her firefighter son and another whose life has been forever changed.
Firefighter Son, Right Place at Right Time
Earlier this year, Ocala firefighter Jerry Tafoya and his team responded to a call of an unresponsive woman whose car collided with another vehicle in a parking lot.
Jerry and his team rushed to the scene as they have hundreds of times, but as they ran toward the car to assist, Jerry was stopped in his tracks by what he saw behind the window. The unresponsive woman, who was having one of the worst strokes he had ever seen in his career, was his mother, Linda Muncy.
“I’ve been a medic for 28 years, and I get calls every single day,” Jerry explains. “Usually someone who’s having a stroke can still move a little bit, but she was completely paralyzed. She had no control over anything. Seeing anyone like that is terrible, but seeing my mother like that was one of the hardest days of my life.”
Jerry’s team broke the window of Linda’s van and rushed her to the Comprehensive Stroke Center at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, part of the HCA Florida Healthcare network.
Within minutes, she underwent surgery, where doctors removed the blood clot as a result of her ischemic stroke.
Today, Linda has no deficits – a remarkable outcome given a stroke causes two million brain cells to die every minute until blood flow is restored to the brain.
“Linda’s rescue story is extraordinary. Our team is honored to have been a part of her care and recovery, and we are beyond grateful that she can celebrate this Mother’s Day alongside her son, her rescuer,” said Dr. Iraj Nikfarjam, the neurosurgeon who cared for Linda at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital.
Dr. Nikfarjam added, “May is National Stroke Awareness Month, when we take time to shine a light on the signs of a stroke and the need to act quickly, as Jerry and his team did. Stroke is one of the most time-sensitive conditions in all of medicine and fast treatment is crucial to saving a life.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stroke is a leading cause of death in the U.S. Every second without treatment during a stroke increases the risk for brain damage, disability or death. Hospitals nationwide measure how quickly they provide treatment to stroke patients by what is called door-to-needle (DTN) time: the time it takes caregivers to administer medication that will dissolve a life-threatening blood clot. HCA Healthcare reports its hospitals respond to stroke 30% faster than the national standard.
“This is why HCA Florida Healthcare’s presence, with stroke care professionals across the state, is so critical,” adds Dr. Nikfarjam.
HCA Florida Healthcare includes 10 hospitals with certified designated comprehensive stroke centers that treat thousands of patients every year.
Jerry says the access to nearby expert care saved his mom’s life.
“For a day that started out normal, but was anything but, we are grateful that everything panned out the way it did that day,” he adds. “I’m thankful that this Mother’s Day, I am still able to celebrate with my mom by my side, and I could not be more grateful to her care providers for making it possible.”
Surgical Weight Loss at HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital Leads to Healthier Lifestyle for Young Mother
Photo: Kim Naylor and her family (photo courtesy of HCA Florida Healthcare)
Kim Naylor of Tampa loves being a mother, but not the extra weight she gained during both her pregnancies.
Despite constant dieting, her weight continued to fluctuate, which she knew was not healthy.
As Kim’s boys grew older and more active, she was determined to keep up with them. She knew the importance of setting an example and being a role model for living a healthy life, so she turned to Dr. Amit Tagger of HCA Florida Surgical Weight Loss Specialists in Tampa.
Through online research, she found the medical team who provided her the options, detailed explanations and support she needed to achieve her goals.
Kim successfully lost 28 pounds, just four weeks after surgery, and is back to work and her life, which includes looking forward to spending time at the beach with her husband and two boys on Mother’s Day.
About HCA Florida Healthcare
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 570 affiliated sites of care, including hospitals, physician practices and freestanding emergency rooms. United as a statewide network in 2021, HCA Florida Healthcare includes approximately 11,000 experienced doctors and 77,000 colleagues working together to deliver advanced, collaborative care to more than 6.4 million patients each year. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. The network provided nearly $836.6 million in uncompensated care and invested significantly in innovative technologies and facilities across Florida, including the new $360 million state-of-the-art, multi-specialty HCA Florida University Hospital in Davie, Fla. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Healthcare is also a major supporter of university-based healthcare programs and residencies and fellowships throughout the Sunshine State. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.
