Dear Editor:
Here are a few facts that people who live in Osoyoos should all know.
Firstly, my wife recently suffered a serious stroke and I discovered, much to my surprise, that no doctor in the South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver is able to diagnose or perform early treatment for a stroke victim.
Secondly, there are two basic types of strokes – one resulting in a blood clot and the second featuring bleeding in the brain.
Without a proper CAT Scan machine, no doctor can determine which one has happened.
The signs of a stroke are well known to most senior citizens.
In my wife’s case, the signs were particularly obvious as she had a crooked smile and complete paralysis of the left side.
The medical community recommends immediate transportation to a hospital in order to possibly minimize the damage, but does not emphasize the importance of that facility having the diagnostic tool(s) to make the ambulance trip of any value.
In conclusion, if your loved one has any of the classic symptoms of a stroke, insist the ambulance driver go to a facility with a CAT Scan.
In our region, that means having to be rushed to the Penticton Regional Hospital.
Thank you for allowing me to write about this very important issue.
Don Forsyth
Osoyoos, B.C.
