Larry Baker: My name is Larry Baker and I live in Madison County. I've lived in Madison County for 38 years. I believe it was on June the 21st, and it was around 7:30 in the morning or so and I just got up and I felt fine and all of a sudden I felt a little dizzy. So I laid down, so I wouldn't fall and I crawled to the phone and called 911. And that's when they came and got me and I was still very aware of what was going on. There was no mental incapacitation at all. It was very surreal, was the way to describe it. They took me to UVA and they gave me the medication and I would say, I would say within an hour I was fine.

Andrew Southerland, MD: Time is critically, critically important when you're treating stroke patients and so everything we can do, from the moment that individual starts to have a stroke till the time that we can treat them, is vital.

Larry Baker:        As far as breaking the record of having the medication in 19 minutes, that was to my advantage and I'm grateful for that.

Andrew Southerland, MD: The effects of stroke in many cases can be prevented, if you can treat the patients soon enough.

Larry Baker: Well the care I received here was excellent and that's what I expected. I think any time a patient comes in with a major stroke symptom, it's probably, almost a case study so to speak because people are trying to find out your background and your health and so forth.

Andrew Southerland, MD: Stroke is a leading cause of long term adult disability in this country and for that reason and that reason alone it is one of the most devastating illnesses that we have to treat as physicians. 

Larry Baker: I've been a vegetarian for 30 years and a vegan for four, five, six years so I guess what I'm saying is, I think I've optimized my health in what I do in my lifestyle. In fact, I feel very grateful that I can continue my life as it is.