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Austin Stroke Survivor Promotes Healthy Lifestyle
Patrick Wright has made it his business to warn others of the dangers of strokes and heart attacks since he suffered a hemorrhagic stroke in 2014.
Austin, Texas – It was New Year’s Eve 2014 when Patrick Wright’s life changed forever.
When he got home from a party at his grandmother’s house, he felt weird. “I felt really tired. My hand was really numb,” he said.
He called his wife in the room for help. “I actually said it, did I just have a stroke?” he said.
His wife, Michelle, initiated some stroke symptom tests. “She asked me to say, ‘Every good dog has a good day,’ or something like that. I couldn’t say that,” Wright said.
He was taken to the hospital. Doctors said he had a hemorrhagic stroke and the prognosis was grim. “Doctors pretty much told my family that this would be a great time if they wanted to see me because we expect his heart to stop in the next three days,” he said, the doctors told them.
But Patrick kept fighting. “God said it is not time for you to go, man, you have things to do in life,” he said.
It took months for him to recover, but since that fateful day he has made it his business to warn others. “If you’ve had a stroke, you probably need to have your heart checked as well,” he said.
“Heart attacks and strokes are linked. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death,” said Drew Thomas, vice president of development for the American Heart Association in Austin.
The American Heart Association works with FOX 7 Austin to make heart disease and stroke a thing of the past. On Saturday, the AHA hosts the annual Austin Heart and Stroke Walk.
“Because cardiovascular deaths are the leading killer here in America and people of color, all sorts of minority groups, are disproportionately affected, we are holding events like this to raise awareness and fundraising,” said Thomas.
Every penny raised is used for their efforts, including promoting access to healthier food in all parts of the city.
“On the east side of Austin, the average life expectancy is 67 years, if you drive into the western part of Austin like the Bee Cave and Westlake area, life expectancy is 87 years,” said Thomas.
Thomas said defeating heart disease and stroke begins with promoting good habits and creating equal opportunities in access to health care and nutrition. “You really have to start with the root causes that treat chronic diseases like high blood pressure, blood pressure, diabetes and fill in the just loopholes,” said Thomas.
“I hope that where I am, I will inspire other people not to do what I have done,” Wright said.
The free Austin Heart and Stroke Walk is open to everyone and begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday at the Long Center.
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