What is a Massive Stroke?

My youngest brother is on life support today due to a massive stroke. The prognosis is grim. We are told he is not recoverable and if he survives, he will have many deficits. The scan indicates bleeding in his mid brain the size of a lemon. it is inoperable. There is much brain swellng which they are treating with medicine. He is in a coma and the family has been summoned to gather. He is under the age of 50. The outcome of his condition may ;ikely cause his brain to herniate--meaning, it may be pushed down to the hole in bottom of the skull, to exit the hole into the brainstem, causing death. During this event, he could have a cardiac arrest. Frightening and horrific. I am feeling quite grievous for him. This is tragic news. I have been assured by the hospital staff that he is comfortable which is the only consolation.

His symptoms were sudden right side paralysis.

He was able to use his cell phone contacts to notify another sibling; however, he could not dial 911.

I think it is important for people to know that perhaps 911 should be added to their contacts as he could press the phone to initiate the call to our brother from his contacts.

Family called the EMS for him and they responded quickly; but the massive stroke is severe and damaging.

All my brothers are precious to me but this one has a special place in my heart since he was born one week prior to my seventeenth birthday. He made our family of five, SIX, and wherever he was, we were all gathered around him. I might comprehend this better if he was at least 70 years old, but even that age is too young to have that kinds of condition.

I am waiting for an update regarding the second CT scan results. Believe me, I have put in many prayers for him. We shall see what tomorrow brings. I pray it is miraculous news.

My 74 year old grandmother has a massive stroke in Aug. 2014. We weren't expecting it. A few weeks before she had this weird thing happen with her eye. I can't remember which eye though. She had what she attributed to an allergic reaction but she couldn't think of what she came into contact with. She said her eye swelled, it itched, her face on that side went numb, but it was gone within the next day.

Ever since the day she was admitted, which is also the day she died, we've questioned if this was a mini-stroke or some kind of sign. Nana was a healthy-enough lady but I don't think she went to the doctor when it happened, she was just that kind of person, more concerned with everyone else than herself. Anyone care to comment on the odd thing with her eye and tell me if maybe that was a sign she was going to have the massive stroke?

My dad suffered a hemorrhagic stroke back last Wednesday and had surgery on later on that night in the am. Now it's been a week, and he can move his left side strongly and the right foot. He can move his toes, but not his right arm.

He currently cannot follow commands nor will wake up, however he can move his head and his whole left side. He can respond to pain on both sides and is breathing 100 percent on his own, however they have him still on life support because they are not sure of his mental state.

They are wanting to take him off life support and put in a trach tube and a feeding tube in the stomach and send him to a nursing home at this early stage. Is this something that is normal and has anyone else experienced this rapidity?

My grandfather had a stroke on Friday night. He is currently paralyzed on his right side, cannot talk or swallow and has a feeding tube. The doctors told us that he does not understand words, but does understand facial expressions. The doctors say they expect no change since it was a massive stroke. Today he was laughing, making noise, cracked a smile and even moved his head out for a kiss. Does this sound like someone who has no hope? He is 88 years old but I do believe that this is a positive step. Am I fooling myself?

My best friend had a massive stroke and lived for almost a year. I miss him dearly.

Anyone can have a stroke -- fit or fat, strong or stringy. We all have certain susceptibility depending upon our family history and our bmi and diet and lifestyle. Get off your backside, don't let your fitness slide, walk don't ride and lose those pounds and stones with pride.

My father had a stroke in February 2014 after having lunch with the family. We were able to get him the hospital right away. He was unresponsive for four days. They put in the breathing tube and told us to put in a trach tube and send him to a nursing home. I did not let in or give up helping him fight for his life.

He was tied to a bed for nine days as he tried to pull the breathing tube out. He managed to do it once. Now three weeks later, he is sitting up, smiling and we are grateful to have him alive and see a smile. He can't talk or eat, and he has weakness on the left side, but he can move around a little. Always follow your heart and your gut and don't let the doctors push you around. They will want you to do things you won't agree with. Give your loved one time. Give time for them to heal and maybe surprise you. All I know is three weeks ago on my birthday I was planning his funeral and thank god he is still here.

Good luck to you all and be there for your loved ones while you can. Have no regrets and make sure you tell them you love them every day.

My 84 year old, prior stroke victim, widower Dad is in the hospital as I type this.

He started being unresponsive, so we took him to the ER. After a CAT scan, the doctor said he had a huge amount of bleeding in his brain that was compressing the other half of his brain.

I have never heard any doctor give a guesstimate of how long someone might live, but he said my Dad only has two or three days to live and they already started him on morphine.

I am so mentally tired from the "death watch" for now that I finally had to come get some sleep and found this page to just put something online to make me feel that I have someone to share my troubles with.

I go back to the hospital in the morning to spend the day again.

I don't want to lose my Dad but he is suffering pretty bad, and he can't speak or even focus on our faces. I don't know what I'll do without him as we have taken care of him since his first light stroke in 1995.

I hope everyone who has found this page, luck, peace and love to sufferers and caregivers both.

My husband suffered a severe stroke while on holiday. The doctors said recovery from this type of stroke is rare and to be prepared for the worst. That was eight months ago. He is now learning to walk again and is using the right side of his body, which the doctors said would never happen.

We were told by doctors that he would never ever walk but hey, what the hell? We will prove them wrong. Life will never be the same as it was, and my life has also changed to look after my lovely man full time. So I pray for all you people out there around the world. If you are the victim or the loved one standing by watching this terrible illness, stay strong and have a good scream now and again because you both need to release the stress and fear that you are going through. God bless.

I would just like to share my story. I live in the UK and am so glad we don’t have the complications of having to have health insurance. Our health service is dedicated to making ill people better and our doctors care, most of the time.

Ten weeks ago we arrived home from our Florida holiday. The following Monday, my partner went to work fine, and at 3 p.m., she collapsed. She is 42. She was rushed to hospital and scanned and it was discovered she had suffered a stroke. She was treated in the first three hours with the clot busting drug that I found out the next day did not work. When I arrived at hospital the day after her stroke, the doctors took me to one side and told me she was in a critical condition with brain swelling due to the clot enlarging and creating pressure. I was told she might not make it through the night.

She was put on a saline drip overnight and she was observed closely. This was a very terrifying time, but she pulled through the night and spent seven weeks in the hospital’s main treatment ward being fed through a tube. She couldn’t talk, swallow, walk or move her right side leg and arm. However, she recognized most people and understood most of what was said to her.

Three weeks ago, she was moved to the rehab ward in the hospital. She now constantly tries to talk but can only say a handful of words, and is still improving. She can move her right leg on occasions. She totally understands what is being said to her and she is now swallowing and eating mostly normal foods. She drinks on her own and is learning to write with her left hand. Her physio is going well and she has taken two steps aided this week. She knows what she wants and how she wants it.

Currently her disabilities are she can’t yet walk, there is no right arm movement yet, she can’t talk yet and can’t remember a lot of day to day objects but it is all improving and she has come this far in 10 weeks from being struck down to a point where we nearly lost her. The doctors are amazed because she is showing all the signs of walking and talking again, but they say it’s going to take a lot of time and effort.

I guess I’m saying never give up hope, even when you’re down and think all hope is gone. Keep fighting even when you feel you have no fight left. I hope my story inspires someone and gives someone else hope.

Everyone needs to realize that once we are no longer responding and just lying there with no brain activity, we are truly the living dead. If we did not have the ability to use feeding tubes, our bodies would have passed on as the rest has.

It is more humane to let our loved ones die in peace. My mother begged me not to put her on any type of feeding and breathing machines and we respectfully fulfilled her wishes. She would not have liked to live this way. Let your loved ones go and be at peace.

What I have learned: stroke is common. It is a traumatic brain injury. If you were allowed to review the CT scans and MRI's with a radiologist, you would see the massive amount of damage the brain has experienced. You would be better able to understand that the injury was not your fault or theirs!

It happens to all ages, both sexes, and outcomes have something in common: time and age. When families are more informed, they will rise up to protect their loved ones from procedures and interventions that are or are not desired.

Lack of knowledge of the injury and what it has done to the patient's brain makes family members guilty and the medical community an income. No none deserves a stroke, and nobody can then stop the medical community from telling the family this or that. The damage and age, are the factors for recovery which is not "recovery". It is a different way of living.

Forgive the stroke; it is an unseen, tragic accident. Treat your loved one with knowledge and respect of their body. Do not become stroke's other victim, the family.

My mother survived breast cancer, and woke up from a nap one afternoon, to be completely deaf in one ear. Four years ago she had a hemorrhage stroke with blood on her brain the size of a softball. She survived this with the loss of sight in one eye and memory loss.

When she got home from the hospital she got a urinary track infection from the catheter she had in the hospital. We have her medicine in one of the pill organizers, and she goes into the kitchen and takes over 100 pills at once. She thinks she is taking her pills for that day, and she just keeps going back and taking the pills for that day until they are all gone. She did not know what she was doing!

My mother was 65 at the time. She was not old really but when older people have urinary tract infections, it makes them crazy! Her blood pressure bottomed out, her heart stopped, and they brought her back. It was touch and go for days with all the delayed release blood pressure medicine. But she survived!

The doctors said she shortened her life. She now has congestive heart failure and can hardly open a bottle of water. She cries all the time. I don't know what to do for her. I have no brothers and sisters, she has always been such a strong woman. Now she can't stand to be left alone. I miss her so much! God has to have a plan for her. How can one woman take so much?

My precious Mom suffered a massive stroke recently and the team of neurosurgeons informed us that her very best case scenario would be days, weeks or possibly months in a nursing home with a machine breathing for her and being fed through the stomach. She would not know us and would not be able to communicate.

My brothers and I decided that under no circumstances would Mom ever want to "live" in that state. With us holding her hands and being there with her, she very peacefully went to Heaven about 30 hours after being removed from life support. We loved our Mom more than anything and were extremely close and grew even closer after our dad died 33 years ago when we were teens.

We will see her again someday and until then we will live our remaining lives in her honor. I pray for those who have very difficult decisions to make. I just wanted to share our experience with others facing similar situations. God bless you!

My sister had a massive brain stem stoke while shopping in early April. She has been in a coma ever since. The doctor told us the EEG showed abnormal brain functions and the structure was damaged. They don't believe she will ever wake up.

My family wants to disconnect her from the ventilator. She had a massive stroke at 21. Not only did she recover but went back to school and became an RN. She was a nurse for 25 years. I went to see her today I saw her open her eyes and blink several times. I also saw her respond to pain, but not to commands. My older sister doesn't believe her opening her eyes or yawning is her. She thinks because the doctors see this every day, they know everything.

I don't know what to do. How can I end someone's life whom I think is alive? I know she wouldn't want to live this way. I guess I'm so hopeful she will recover like she did before.

I had a massive stroke at the age of 50. I am now 51. I cannot use my right side. I cannot use my leg/foot or my arm/hand. My speech return was about 90 percent. I have no control of my emotions. Simple tasks are very difficult for me. There are things I cannot eat because they will cause me to choke. I cannot control my body. When I have to go to the bathroom, I have to go right then. There is no feeling before. I have no control.

I remember some things but not enough to answer my questions. I used to be very strong both body and mind. Now I cannot open a bottle of water. I understand that for you who are caring for the stroke victim life is hard. But the truth is I'll trade places with you.

My mother had a severe stroke three days ago. She is 90 and prior to the stroke could walk, talk and enjoy life. She cannot move the right side of her body, or her tongue and cannot speak or eat. Every now and then she smiles at me. But it is hard to say if that is really at me, or just reflexive. I am not going to put her on a feeding tube. She would not want to live like this. We will let her go in comfort.

My mother had a severe stroke on both sides and was recovering. She was eating pureed food and could speak one or two words. Then she started having infections and had hyponatremia. She was back in ICU and now she is in vegetative state. She can open her eyes and that's all. Please pray for my mother.

My mother suffered two hemorrhagic strokes in early February and the second one is massive and affects more than 50 percent of her right brain.

The doctors told us she would not survive the night but she has managed to survive for two weeks. At first, she responded but then she fell into deep sleep and has been like this for the past week and a half, always responding less and less.

The doctors say she can hear us but we are at a loss as to what will happen to her. She is on nasal feeding tube and her stomach has retained the solution she is being fed. Can someone share his experience with me and maybe give me a ray of light?

@anon293835: Sounds a lot like my mom. Her stroke wasn't nearly as bad, but she's bounced back from some pretty serious health issues and we wondered if she would be able to live at home by herself. God is good. He healed her and she is able to live independently! She's a tough old bird, much like your mom. (Said with all affection, of course).

Prayers are answered every day and it sounds like you had an army of prayer warriors petitioning at the gates of Heaven!

I'm so glad your mom showed the doctors that they don't have the final say in any situation, and that the Great Physician can and will step in any time to consult on the case. God bless you and your mom!

My mom suffered a massive stroke last Thursday in the wee hours of the morning. I found her around 6 p.m. when I hadn't heard from her. The ER doctor's prognosis was "If she survives the night" and "the right half of her brain is dead." My aunt joined me at the hospital, where we were given a very slim hope for survival, and the doctors wouldn't even address that possibility. What they hadn't counted on is that my mom comes from a long line of extremely stubborn women!

Mom not only survived that night, she remained in the CCU for four days before being moved to a regular hospital room. Yesterday she was moved to the hospital's extensive stroke rehab floor. Her left side remains paralyzed, but she can swallow and is eating pureed food.

From the first moment in CCU, she knew every single one of her brothers and sisters, and could recite everyone's birth dates! Now that she is in rehab, I think I've finally released that breath I've been holding for the last seven days!

She will be in rehab doing speech, physical and some occupational therapy for as long as medicare allows. My Christian mom has been prayed for by me, six siblings and their families, prayer groups in different churches, family friends, my friends, her friends, etc. God has blessed us!

@anon286425: Your sister is completely worn out and needs a break. I've been there. My sister lives about two and 1/2 hours away, and our mom had a stroke -- a mild one, fortunately.

In any event, right now, your sister is keeping the wheels turning. She's visiting, keeping your mom's house in order, checking her mail, picking up her newspapers, talking with the doctors about your mom's treatment plan, signing paperwork... It seems like it never ends, believe me.

I don't know that you picking up and moving completely is the answer. It depends on your job and living situation. However, it would be good, assuming you can swing it, to go over there for at least a week out of every month and give your sister a break. Do everything she's doing for at least a week. Of course, she can go visit since she's close, but you are your mother's daughter too, and you need to help shoulder the load.

It's a fact that the lion's share of your mother's care will fall to her since she lives just a few minutes away, but saying you can be there if something happens is just not enough. I have a supportive husband too, who treats my mom as if she were his mom. I couldn't do it without him. But when my mom had her stroke in 2010, I needed more help. I have a full time job, too, and I visited and took care of problems that arose. But it got to be a heavy load after a while. My sister did come home and help, and it was a blessing.

It can be a long process when someone is recovering from a stroke, and you and your sister need to work together to help your mom.

My mother suffered a massive stroke in July 2012. She was unconscious and passed away less than 24 hours later. Even though her health had been declining for quite some time (congestive heart failure, had suffered a stroke 15 years ago, high blood pressure, organs failing due to heart condition) I never imagined her leaving us so soon and so suddenly.

I rest easier knowing that she is no longer suffering and she is now with our Lord and in the company of my father, brothers and other family members. I love and miss her very much and think about her all the time. I am so proud to be her daughter.

Can anyone help me? My mother had a stroke six 1/2 weeks ago. After two infections she is now getting stronger but is still entirely dependent - cannot speak etc. I live three hours away. My sister is 12 minutes from the hospital. My sister would like me to move into mum's house and support her (my sister, as well as mum. My sister has a husband and two supportive grown up children).

I find living in an empty house away from my family, friends and routine very depressing. Should I feel guilty (I do) by visiting for a couple of days whenever we can. In the six 1/2 weeks, I have been there about 17 days. My sister does not think this is enough. She is saying, 'you only have one mum', 'I am visiting twice a day,' etc. I am making myself ill with anxiety that I need to be there.

Mum is stronger and I could be there in three hours if something happened. I can see that my emotions are echoed by your posts, but are you there with your loved ones?

I'm 57 years old and have gained an understanding and compassion for people and have learned that sharing in one's pain is important. I also have had loved ones from my past pass on and have lived with pain and grief. My parents are still living, thank God, but my father is currently in rehab due to to a stroke. They're wanting to transfer him to a nursing home, claiming that he can't tolerate the physical part of therapy due to his age. He just turned 94 in July. I believe in miracles. I believe he'll come and again be the dad that I knew before this happened to him. I've seen miracles in my life and I don't doubt that his healing will be another one of them.

My grandmother had a severe stroke on Saturday and the doctors are giving us the doom and gloom report that her brain will eventually shut down.

Today is Wednesday and she's in a calmer state than she was a few days before. She knows who is speaking to her and she has also let us know with her gestures that she plans on fighting. I have read so many reports of people who have lost loved ones and reports about those who have survived this ordeal. I have found there are shades of hope in both.

The common consensus is that the doctors have no control over the destiny of our loved ones and that ultimately God has the final say so. Medical "professionals" are paid to give a certain answer and move on. They don't give and exact prognosis because they are trying to cover themselves from legal ramification if they are wrong.

God made us and he hears our prayers. My faith is stronger now and I have the strongest conviction that God will bring her back to health. Our family will stand by her and I will take your responses and share them with my family. When I return, I will have a victory story to share!

My brother had a massive stroke. The CT scan showed he had lost all of the right side of his brain. He is paralyzed on his left side, and added to the mix he had gone in the hospital because of a blockage in his colon. They removed his entire colon because it was full of cancer. He did not awaken, and developed COPD, and was transferred to another hospital, where he arrived with no blood pressure. They stabilized him, and after about four hours, discovered he had a massive stroke. They did surgery to remove part of his skull, to allow for the swelling. The family was not asked if it was OK.

He has no wife or children, so it is now left to me to decide his further treatment. He is 61, and if he told me once, he told me a hundred times he did not want a half life. Now, three and a half weeks later, he is awake, cannot move his left side, has a pouch on his stomach for waste material, a feeding tube, since he cannot swallow. He has started to speak, but it seems a jumble. Now they want to place the feeding tube into his belly, and transfer him to physical therapy. In a few weeks or months they want to replace the part of his skull they removed.

Is this a kindness to continue? Is this what my brother wanted, when we spoke of these things in the past? Do I allow these things to happen? Should I put him in hospice? I don't know. The family, brothers and sisters are saying yes, to all kinds of treatment, and yet I am not convinced this is the right thing to do.

Is it a kindness, and a loving thing to see a strong, independent and solitary individual left a virtual vegetable? They would transfer him some three hours from close family and he would be alone with therapists and such.

I am confused, and saddened by what is occurring. I am told to be strong, that he would not have named me as his "power of attorney" if he didn't trust I would do the right things for him.

Well, things just changed. The Hospice doctor just called, and my brother is aware enough to take charge of his treatment, and he wants to proceed. Should we? The answer is yes. Will he be himself again? No. Will he completely recover? No. Will he walk in the woods again? No. Will he walk again? No. Will he live a painful life? Yes. These were not his wishes, but our DNA built into us the will to survive at all cost, so thus it will be.

I will do my best to support his decisions, and take the next step in the long road ahead. Wish him well, dear reader, and do better for your loved one should they have a massive, massive, massive stroke, as I was told he has.

My mom died of a massive stroke March at the age of 72. She requested not to be on life support. I miss her a lot!

My grandparent died two years ago from complications of a massive stroke at age 89. The doctors told us from the beginning that most likely he would die from complications after his left side was paralyzed from the stroke.

I refused to believe what the doctors said. It was so hard to see him suffering. He could not swallow or talk, but was conscious. It broke my heart. One night at his hospital bed, I told him that he could leave in peace, and that we would take care of grandma. He died a couple of days after.

My good friend had a stroke five days ago. They put him in a med induced coma and on a respirator. The doctors cannot find the source of the bleed. It's been five days. They took him off the respirator this morning to see if he could breathe on his own - he couldn't - so he went back on the respirator. They say he is paralyzed on one side.

Does anyone have a similar experience? What should we expect in terms of recovery or lasting impairments? All thoughts and prayers please.

My husband's cousin had a stroke. They did the surgery she days ago and she still hasn't awakened. Her brain is still bleeding. The doctor said there is no hope and we don't know what to do, seeing her lying there with her eyes closed. Her head is starting to get bigger.

We're fighting to see if they can unplug the breathing machine. What should they do? Let her go by taking away the breathing machine?

My brother had a brain hemorrhage on March 18. He had a sudden headache and fell to the floor. He was only 32. We called 911 and they took him to the local hospital. CT scans were done and it was discovered he had a stroke. They life flighted him to a hospital 45 minutes away and the doctors did surgery. They said at best he would be paralyzed on the left side.

He never woke from his coma. He did have some movement but doctors said it was just reflex. They seemed to be focused on his pupils not responding to light. One eye was worse than the other. My brother ended up getting really high fevers during the next few days. We decided to run a detailed MRI. The doctors said that there was some brain herniation and that my brother would never wake. The part of the brain stem that was destroyed controlled the pupils, body temperature and waking up. We decided to cut everything off. He died peacefully on March 26. It was truly the hardest moment in my life. Part of me feels we should of given him longer, but the other part of me knows he would have never wanted to live paralyzed or live as a vegetable.

I am a believer in Jesus Christ. I have to believe we made the right decision and that Christ would have intervened if we didn't. One question: why do doctors focus on pupil response? One eye was fully dilated and fixed. The other eye seemed to follow our voices. There were times we felt like he could hear us. But doctors said it was all reflex.

I have a 100 percent block carotid artery and suffered a massive stroke in July. I still have bulimia. Are there dangers doing that?

It is sad to read all of these posts. My mom had a massive stroke as well in her car in January. She was not found until the next day. She was 48 years old. I am 28 and miss her so much.

Her stroke stemmed from high blood pressure. I am so sorry to hear about everything you all are going through with various family members. Having a stroke victim in your life is extremely hard whether they are alive or have passed away. My thoughts and prayers go out to each and every one of you. God bless and stay strong for your family.

My brother had a massive stroke several days ago. His estranged wife wound up calling my mom and saying that he had called her and that she couldn't understand him and for my mom to go and check on him. My mom went, and all I hear is this blood curdling scream. She screamed my name and I ran downstairs. My nephew and my sister and my mom were in the room with him and my mom was just like, “Are you OK, are you OK?”

We called the ambulance, and they were there in less than 10 minutes. They took him to the hospital where they told my mom that my brother had had a massive stroke and that he had a clot on his brain stem and that they were going to do surgery to remove it. They told my mom that extensive damage had already been done and that they were only giving him a 20 percent survival rate. My mom said my brother was conscious, but couldn't talk or write, and he was very agitated. My mom said before they wheeled him into surgery, he was holding her hand and wouldn't let go and he had tears streaming down his face. My brother was a tough guy, and it broke my heart when my mom said that. They were able to remove the clot and he came out of the surgery. They had put him in an induced coma at first to let him heal some, but when they took additional CT scans, they were saying that his brain function was declining and that his brain was still stroking. They were saying my brother is pretty much brain dead.

My brother is 58 and we are not ready to let him go. My mom has held a vigil by his bedside and she talks to him, and he was responding to them pinching him on his feet like a day or so after the surgery, and he seemed to move his feet when my mom was talking to him and saying we love you so much, fight and come back to us, can you hear me? She asked him to move his feet if the could and he moved his feet, not much but we all saw it. That gave me hope, but they have done the light test in his eyes and his pupils show nothing. In fact his eyes would not close on their own. They had to put gauze and tape on his eyes so as not to frighten anyone or so his eyes would not pop out.

They say there is no hope. Everyone says there is no hope, but my mom has hope and so do I. The docs talked to us again about not resuscitating him if he passes, but my mom still has him as getting resuscitated. I know my brother wouldn't want to live the rest of his life hooked to a machine and just lying there, but what do we do. We have prayed so hard and we had the church come and pray. All my Facebook friends are praying, people at work, my mom's friends.

I believe in the power of prayer. It is now four days after his massive stroke, our out-of-town family is starting to arrive, my older sister has called funeral homes and my brother is still with us and the medicine they are using to keep his blood pressure somewhat stable are beginning not to work. My older sister said if he doesn't pass soon that we should pull the plug on him while the family is here so we can properly bury him, etc. I'm so angry at her for saying that. My mom has lost two children already and she doesn't want to feel like she didn't give my brother a chance.

I am there with my mom at the hospital every day. I have cried so much, I literally wonder if I have any tears left. I try to stay strong, and my mom says I need to be strong especially for her. My brother was so good to my mom and called her every day. Her heart is broken and I just wish I could take that pain away from her.

I don't know what will happen, don't know what to do, but I do know I believe in God and Jesus and that they will make the right call. God can perform miracles and I am praying he decides to perform one on my brother. I feel very depressed, I feel scared, worried, unable to cope. I feel like I never told my brother I loved him and I really did love him. My mom says he knew that, but I don't know that he did.

I am praying for everyone's family members who have had a stroke and also I am praying for the people who are affected by it. I feel your pain. I want my family to be whole again, I love you brother! Lord, heal him somehow, let us know he is in there and then they will work harder on healing him instead of saying he is already gone. In Christ's name, amen.

I heard the window of opportunity to seek help for a stroke is up to three hours. A close friend was only found close to three days later in his apartment unconscious. Realistically speaking, what are his chances for any recovery?

My brother had a left cerebellar clot three days ago. He has right side paralysis, but can move his left side freely. His estranged wife is a doctor and told the family she was not going to treat him and was having the respirator turned off.

He is breathing without the respirator and responds to pain stimuli like lung suction. He is on morphine drip with Ativan and several other sedatives so I have yet to see him awake. I was told that he fights and is combative with left arm and leg when awake.

His wife today moved him to hospice where he will only get morphine. Everything was decided and moved so fast I haven't had time to even talk to the doctor and neither I nor any of my sibling were a part of the important life and death decisions. When we were told by his wife he was going on the respirator, she asked me the name of the funeral home I used and told me where she was burying him and what kind of service she would have.

I am still not sure why all of this is happening so fast and my brother, who is also a doctor, has no health living will so his estranged wife is making all decisions based on what she says my brother wants.

My brother is 64 and has three small children whom he watched each day as his wife worked and he was retired. I guess I want input is it possible with massive damage to the left hemisphere from a clot for my brother to recover at all. I know him well and he would not want to live if he were a dependent invalid.

I am so heartbroken but I do pray for him as that is the only say I have at this point.

My mother had a major stroke a week ago. I am so terrified. The doctor says it is not looking good, and he says don't have any false hopes. Please please pray for her to get better, to stay alive. She can't speak, eat or drink because she can't swallow. She can't move the right side of the body.

I don't even know if she understands me as she just nods to everything I say, even if it's ridiculous and untrue.

I feel so alone and scared. I have nobody, just my mum whom I love so dearly. I have no real friends nor family.

I feel as if it is my fault as I didn't know she was having a stroke and I waited a few minutes before calling an ambulance.

Please, please, please pray for her. Lord, no matter what the doctor says, I have faith in you. Please help my mother.

This is very hard. My mother went to the hospital complaining of stomach pain, and minutes later they told my dad she had a massive stroke, that there was a blood clot that ruptured in her brain and she was completely paralyzed down the right side. She was unresponsive and on a ventilator. They told my dad that she would be a vegetable in a nursing home on a ventilator for the rest of her life.

Unfortunately, they removed the life support and my mom died six hours later. It is a very hard decision to make, but she always told us if anything ever happened she would not want to live like this. My father respected her wishes, but I feel not enough was done and they did not even try. They just kept telling him it was the best thing to do. I am completely heartbroken as are my children and grandchildren.

My cousin/sister had a massive stroke on thursday. She was rushed to the hospital, and the doctors said if she can out of this it will be a miracle. The hospital transferred her to another hospital and they did surgery right away to relieve some of the pressure.

Now the family is waiting, and praying that she pulls through. She is also in a coma, and on the ventilator. God, my family needs your help.

She has one son and several cousins that are her sisters. By the way she is only 56 years old. The doctor will do an EEG on Saturday to see if there is more brain damage, and her son and sisters have to make a decision.

From: The mother of a very young stroke victim

Reply to post no 3. CVA: Cerebral Vascular Accident is medical terminology for stroke. So your mother's death was caused by a stroke.

@Post no. 57: Your post is excellent and detailed. You have a good, positive attitude and it's important that your father has someone like you around who does not give up and can offer positive support! Well wishes for a miraculous and total recovery for your father. He is fortunate to have someone positive and not willing to give up hope, like you in his life.

My 19 year old daughter suffered a massive right-side ischemic stroke which left her with left side hemiplegia, catheterized and flat on her back. She was airlifted to a certified stroke center's E.R. and later placed in the ICU.

Meanwhile, the doctors and stroke team were coordinating with our insurance company and a nearby stroke rehabilitation hospital that has an excellent reputation, that after my daughter is well enough and stabilized, that she's a prime candidate for intensive in-patient rehabilitation. Five days a week the patients are to attend physical, occupational, and speech therapies.

She was the only young one in the first hospital who they've ever had who suffered a massive stroke, especially with there being no reason or risk factors, as she was in the rehab hospital.

Later on, the only possible cause they could come up with was that during a TEE test, they discovered a PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale) on her heart, that months later an Interventional Cardiologist enclosed with an ASD. Bret Michaels the singer recently underwent that same procedure for his PFO, which my daughter's doctors say may have attributed to the shocking occurrence of her having a stroke.

Of course none of the neurologists, internists, physical rehab doctors (Physiatrists), acute care specialists, etc. could or would say if my daughter would ever walk again. Well, one month later, she was able to walk out of the rehab hospital with only an orthotic ankle brace, which as of today, she doesn't wear.

One and a half years later she has some late affects of CVA, such as loss of fine motor skills in her hand and 0 powers in the dorsiflexion and lack of movement in her left foot/ankle area, but her memory and ADL skills are greatly improved, and she can walk for miles (though not as fast as before) and most of her cognitive skills have all returned. Considering that almost all of her lobes on her right side of the brain infarction were affected, the doctors and therapists are joyous and amazed at how far she has come!

I wish more people and previous poster could read my post. As of this moment, my father is fighting for his life. He suffered a massive brain stem stroke about three weeks ago. The doctors s had told us they didn't think there was any hope and most likely he would not get out of a vegetative state. As of the last week, he follows movements with his eyes and he is clearly looking at us (his family), and not blindly staring. About two weeks ago he was blindly staring and this was pretty clear to most of us.

But now he is focusing on us and you can clearly see the difference. Anyone can. Even his neurologist said his current state is a miracle -- the very same doctor who had told us that is he was in our position he would remove the ventilator! That was about three weeks ago! I couldn’t believe his words and now he’s saying his current improvements are a miracle! Sometimes doctors can be very insensitive and just stupid with their choice of words. No, they’re not paid to be caring but you would think that in the position of authority they’re in they would have some decency to have a little compassion with broken-hearted family members. They seem as confused as the rest of us sometimes in their diagnosis and prognosis. The doctor has seen us pray for a miracle, since that was all we could do in the state my father was in.

To all of you who are going through the same experience: do not lose hope because your loved ones need you. You need to fight for them too! When doctors tell you there’s no hope, even if your loved one is in a coma or ventilator, give your loved one a chance to fight. My father woke up or at least opened his eyes a few days to maybe five days after they (the doctors) were just telling us to let him go.

Clearly, a stroke is something that one needs a little bit of time to recover from, and why would someone wake up right away after such a traumatic experience to the brain. Don’t lose hope and pray for a miracle!

My mother in law had a stroke and the doctors are telling me some things that I don't feel are the truth. She is sedated but they want her to wake up on her own. She is responding to us by moving her legs and squeezing fingers and trying to blink her eyes but they claim it's a reflex. I don't think so.

I need some helpful answers since most of you have been through it or are still going through it.

Post 50: I totally understand what you're feeling. We took my dad to the emergency room because he just wasn't acting normal. Within a few hours he said he had a severe headache and shortly after went into a coma like state, never to awake. The doctors said there was no hope, so we let him go. It was the hardest thing I've ever gone through.

I am still in shock that my healthy active dad lost his life so quickly. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you who are dealing with these situations.

Stroke can be sudden. My dad was 87, watching TV, talking to me OK. A few minutes later I went back to talk to him, and no response. He passed three days later.

Note the doctor had stopped his Coumadin six months earlier and put him on Plavix instead.

My father had a massive stroke in early July. At only the age of 34 he has the heart of an 80 year old and a mind of a 5 year old. My mother, four sisters and I all had a decision to make the next day: either to do surgery on the brain or just let it bleed so much he would pass away. His brain needed to breathe so we went with the surgery.

My father always said, "if i ever get sick, i would never want to suffer and be paralyzed so let me die." Be careful what you ask for. My father always said he wanted to die and God almost took his life again.

We have been at the USC hospital for 11 days now and even though they say he can't walk or talk, he sure is upset with us. He uses profanity just fine because he is upset with the decision we made.

But to know my father would have died would have broken my heart. I've got to put my life on hold to take care of him now. Even though he hits just fine and gets mad i love him and will take care of him. i still have a lot of unanswered questions.

My mom had a massive stroke a few days ago. She was in a rehab center getting physical therapy for a fall that resulted in several fractures.

We don't know when the stroke actually occurred, but it put her in a coma, the nursing staff found her unresponsive in her bed, but instead of calling for an ambulance to take her to the ER, they tried to "wake her up" over a four hour period of time. They wasted so much valuable time in getting her help. This was a blood clot that caused the stroke. She has severe damage to her left side and can not wake up, or swallow or communicate.

I am so angry with the rehab hospital staff for being so ignorant on the symptoms of a stroke. Even if they didn’t know it was a stroke, they should have moved her to the ER immediately. She also has bilateral pneumonia from aspiration during the stroke. We are all praying she is able to wake up. Right now all we can work on is getting the pneumonia cleared up. Pneumonia is a common severe side effect of a massive stroke and very dangerous.

My husband had a massive stroke in September of 2009. He was transferred from a local hospital by helicopter to a trauma hospital near our home. He developed complications after the stroke and his brain began to swell. I did not opt for removal of his skull, but instead agreed to a high saline solution that reduced the swelling over the next few days. He had multiple complications and I was told that I should place him in a nursing home. At the time he was only 46 years of age and had just embarked on a promising career as a college professor. I could not give up hope.

I refused the offer of a nursing home and found a rehab center in our neighborhood that took him. He remained there for three weeks and then he returned home. It was the most challenging time for both of us. My husband was a man of great physical and emotional strength and to see him reduced to a fraction of himself was painful. Over the next year he was able to eat all the foods that he loved, walk again and find the positives in life. The down side is that he will probably never work again. His short term memory is poor, he tends to reflect on the past and is much slower in all areas of his life.

I miss the man that he was but I am so glad and thankful that he had a second opportunity to live his life.

My dad had a stroke this morning, when he was at the hospital. Even though he didn't lose much time, doctors gives no hope. I don't know what to do. I am the youngest in the family and I am 20 years old. I live with him. Doctors were talking about disconnecting the life support. I really don't know what to do. Please help. God help. --CHI

My Mom just had a stroke (not sure if it was massive or severe) yesterday and today i was told by the nurse that she has hours if days to live - no hope possible.

I'll fly to her and spend the last remaining time that she has on earth with her, but can anyone imagine the shock, pain and anguish this all brings to so many? I told her for years to lead a less stressful life, to eat healthy but she just shooed it all away and said everything is fine.

I cannot imagine life without my Mom. She is the only person I have who I connect with on earth. People need to listen and work on living better lifestyles.

My mom had a massive stroke yesterday and the doctor says her chance of making it is not good and she is paralyzed on one side. I am heartbroken. I live far away and haven't been there since Jan. but will be on a plane tomorrow. She squeezed my niece's hand and I just know she can hear.

Two years ago she was in an unexplained sleep state and the doctor wanted to take her off oxygen and all help, send her to hospice and give up on her. My sister and I decided to find a new doctor. Her new doctor gave her steroids and she snapped out of it, but did require time and rehab. She later told me she heard people talking and heard they didn't think she would make it. So I know she heard even if she couldn't respond.

I think some doctors don't want to bother if they think chances are too slim. Please don't be pushed to let your loved one go too soon. Pray to God to take care of them. I know God has saved my mom more than once, and my dad too, for he is in bad health also, and recently had very close calls.

Pray and accept God's plan. I have known I would loose my mom and dad some day but that doesn't make it hurt any less when it seems near. I will miss them so much when that happens. We must somehow find comfort in our memories and pray that our beloved goes in peace. Mom, I love you. Dad, I will love you forever until we meet again.

My mum had a massive bleed on her brain seven weeks ago. she was in intensive care but now on a ward. she opens her eyes and moves her body, arms and legs. She is, however, still in a sleep and we do not know if she can hear us as there is minimal response.

her trach tube fell out and they decided to keep it out two days ago as they said she was trying to talk, then yesterday we got a bolt from the blue: they said that they we think we should let her go as there is nothing more they can do for her and if she went in a home this is as good as she'd get or she'd die from pneumonia as she was a heavy smoker.

As a family we don't know what to do. i believe that she can hear. i asked her if i could open her hand as it is becoming stiff. as i touched her hand she shock her head and said no, but the docs say they don't think she knows she's saying it, but i do. also they said that she becomes uncomfortable when they do physios. Is this not a sign she is more awake? and she also shows pain in her face and other facial expression.

We are at our wits' end. we don't want her to suffer, but i don't want her to die if she is still worth fighting for. Thoughts on this please.

My mother had a massive stroke almost seven weeks ago. She underwent few surgeries since then. She was in a coma for two weeks and we were told that she wasn't going to wake up because if she did, it would have already happened. Some of her brain is removed and the skull on the right side.

She opened her eyes after two weeks, went off the ventilator and is breathing on her own with oxygen. She can't talk, but we can read her lips. Please don't give up, even if people are saying he or she won't wake up. Please give them a chance.

In between all those surgeries, we were told that we should let her go, but we will fight till the end and you should do the same.

My cousin who was 54 had a massive stroke six months ago and they took him off life support and he passed away. Now his beloved sister just had a massive stroke a few days ago and now fighting for her life. The doctors' job is to treat and to make sure the hospital gets paid. If you have insurance they will not mention taking you off life support. If you don't, you die.

Remember: a massive stroke is severe damage to the brain. The brain will begin the process of repairing itself but it takes months. Sometimes you wake up and sometimes you do not. Don't be in such a rush to remove life support. And if this post tells you anything, family members please get checked out or you could be next. Good luck to everyone. God bless you.

My dearly beloved boss suffered a massive stroke yesterday. He is in a coma like state and has two softball sized bleeding spots on his brain. They took the life support off this morning and gave him two to 48 hours to live. He is the kindest, smartest man i have ever met in my life. I am devastated. My thoughts and prayers go out to him, his family and everyone else who has posted on here. God bless.

my mother had a cerebral hemorrhage june 19, 2009.

it was quite sudden. she complained of the biggest headache at 3 p.m. i rushed over, called 911, took b/p 160/90, and she was hard to wake up, disoriented, nauseous, and pants wet with urine.

Her cat scan showed a cerebral bleed down to brain stem.

brain surgery was performed to clip another aneurysm.

she remains in coma with oxygen machine, although

she can breathe on her own. she lived another eight months in a nursing home with a trach, g.i. tube, and partial response to left arm and foot movement.

my brothers and i were able to spend a bonding time together before she died peacefully. i miss her so much and still question all the what ifs, she may still be alive and enjoying life. my mom's death caused the biggest hole in my life. she was my best friend.

i miss her deeply but i have cherished memories of our trips together in egypt, turkey, greece, china, england, and israel. i have great hope to see mom and dad again when we all get reunited when jesus comes. jl

My sister was 47. She seemed fine to everyone at her work at 11:00 a.m., and at 11:02 a.m., she was on the floor foaming at the mouth. The ambulance arrived and they intubated her. she was having trouble breathing. her bp was 252/147.

they did a CT at the hospital and she had a bleed in her brain. The doctor there said that not many people survive these types of bleeds, (it was on her brain stem). They needed to move her to another hospital for a neurosurgeon.

Her bp was down at 3:00 p.m., to 130/79. It was 5 p.m. before they got her to the other hospital and said that the damage was too bad. So the decision was to take her off the respirator, and she died 15 minutes later. I don't understand why it took so long.

My niece is only 27 years old and she had this massive stroke a week ago. fortunately, she survived.

My ex-husband and father to my 5 and 7 year old children had a major stroke a few days ago. he lives alone and wasn't discovered until 24 hours later. We had the police break in the house and found him on the floor.

He is awake and speech is inaudible, and he has no movement down his left side. How do I tell the children?

@Shanell: Find out if your hospital has a patient advocate or social worker and take your concerns to him/her. That's what those people are there for: to listen to patients and their families when they feel something is not going as it should. Sometimes, they can get results that no one else can.

My mom had a massive stroke and right now she is unresponsive, but barely moving her mouth. She went into the hospital last Wednesday morning, because she wasn't really talking and I wasn't sure what to do for her. I called 911, they came and brought her to the hospital. She was kept in the emergency room from that day up until today when they brought her to a room.

It seemed as though every day I visited her she looked worse than the day before, but Friday she looked the worst. When I went in she was on dialysis and I noticed her mouth was twisted to the right side and her tongue was pushed out.

I started questioning the doctors about her having a possible stroke, and each one gave me a different answer, which led one of them to inform me that two CT scans were done and each came back normal. I continued to refute it in an attempt to have them perform a third, but they were very hesitant and insistent on the fact that two were already performed and came back negative.

This morning I was called and told that another CT scan will be performed today. After this news I went to the hospital only to find my mum in a somewhat vegetative state and I continued saying, "she had a stroke." It's unfortunate that I was ignored and my mum's health was ignored. The result proved that she had a massive stroke; nothing I hadn't already known.

After they brought her back to her room, they noticed that she had stopped breathing for a couple seconds and then rushed to put her on a ventilator. She is completely unresponsive, however I noticed at one point she tried to move her arm and moved her mouth as if she was taking breaths. I see this as a good sign, but the fact that this stroke went untreated for a while might prove to be a problem for her.

Now that I am calmed and collected, I called the hospital to speak with her doctor and I was told that the doctor is busy, so I asked to have him call me and I was told, "he's not going to call you." I asked why not, and of course, I got no answer except for this man transferring me back to the hospital's operator.

What do I do in a case like this? Should I go ahead and build a case against the hospital? Or maybe the doctor(s) involved? What do I do? My mum deserves this much! I want her to be herself again. I do not want to live without her. She is turning 59 in February and I'm 25, so I can't lose her. Please, please pray for her. She really needs it. --Shanell C.

I have read so many of these posts about strokes. My father died 11 years ago and it still seems like yesterday. He went in for a bypass and suffered a light stroke. A day later after putting him in a coma, he suffered a massive stroke. They told me that he wouldn't recover.

I loved him so much I couldn't let him go. I put him on life support waiting on a miracle but it never came. About a month later I had them turn the machine off and he died. I still feel like I could have pleaded his case to the doctors. Maybe found a better a doctor or got a second opinion. He was so important to me and I feel like I choked when the time came. Does anyone else feel like that because it is eating me up inside still.

My aunt had a massive stroke almost a month ago. She is in a coma state and has not moved or opened her eyes since then. When we talk to her, tears fall from her eyes; hence, we believe she can hear us. She seems to be snoring at all times, except when we pray she seems to start coughing. The doctors have given us no hope and say she will not wake up, that what we see is how she will remain. But we believe in Jesus Christ our Saviour. We have prayed for a miracle each day and cannot wait to glorify his name when it happens. I will keep you posted.

My grandmother suffered a massive stroke just a few days ago. She was only 61 years old. Today will be the third day since her operation and she has not woken up.

The doctors gave us no hope whatsoever. They said that the most important part of the brain was damaged, which is the brain stem, the middle and bottom part of the brain, and told us she will never be able to wake up.

We don't know what to do, because basically she is asleep but alive. We don't want her to suffer, but the doctors also assured us that she wasn't the same person she used to be and we should let her go. We don't know what to do. Should we let her go? They gave us 0 percent chance that she will ever be able to wake up.

We don't know if she could hear us. She might be suffering and not be able to move.

My father had a "large stroke" is the term the doctors used last week. He hasn't woke up either. When I asked was he in a coma I was told no.

The hospital moved him to a skilled nursing facility xmas day. How can they rehabilitate him if he won't wake up? How long does it take to wake up?

I am really worried.I lost mom six years ago to a stoke. I am the only child and my dad is all the family I have. Can someone please answer my question? --rsyt

My uncle had a massive stoke on Saturday and the doctors, as they call themselves, are saying there is nothing more they can do, but my family and I strongly believe in God. He is the giver and the taker, and we just have to continue holding the faith and stay strong because God is on our side while the doctors are in our pockets.

May God keep him safe until he is ready for him to wake up. Please say a prayer for him. Thank you readers.

I am sorry to hear about your stories about your loved ones. Strokes are a horrifying event that happens to people and families.

We have an 11 year old child who has had five strokes: three major and two mild. She recovered from her past two major strokes at the ages of 6 and 7 years old.

She went from not talking or moving to a full recovery. It took seven months on the first one before she came home from Children's Hospital and eight months on the second one before she came home.

My daughter just suffered another major stroke but this one was bigger than the other ones and hit the left side of the brain that has not been hit before by a stroke. The doctors' told us that what we see is what we will always see from our daughter. They were once again wrong. Our daughter is doing everything that they told us she would never do. Our daughter is recovering and in time she will recover and talk again.

Do not listen to the doctors when they tell you there is no hope. God is the great physician. God healed our daughter Jasmine every time she had a stroke and I know that God is healing her again.

The doctors’ perspectives have changed about Jasmine. At first they were not going to put her in therapy because they did not think that it would help but now she is in all of her therapy because she has showed them progress and good change.

Never give up, no matter how bad things look. They did not know if our daughter was going to even live, but God let her live and gave her strength. You have got to believe and if you believe God will listen and help you in your situation.

I'm a carer and attended a service user yesterday to find her on the floor in a very bad state. I called the ambulance straight away. They attended within 10 mins and took her to the hospital by air ambulance. I have just received a phone call from my manager confirming that she was on the floor for at least 15 hours and had a massive stroke. The family are now being called to hosp as she is not going to make it. Very, very sad.

If you find that one of your loved ones has had the dreadful misfortune to suffer a massive stroke, then please read and take in what i have to say.

My lovely Mum suffered a massive stroke six weeks ago and unfortunately it was fatal. If my family and I had listened to the doctors and had allowed their palliative care or liverpool care pathway as they strenuously suggested and then tried to force us in to allowing, then my mum wouldn't have lived for the 23 extra days that she did!

At first, we were informed that she would not survive the night, then we were told the same for the next 48 hours. We were told not to expect any kind of response from her and that she was in a "coma like state."

I am pleased to say that we refused the hospitals "liverpool care pathway" which most definitely involves the administration of morphine. In case you are not aware, morphine is the killer in these unfortunate patients and not the stroke in itself. Morphine slows the senses and eventually stops the heart!

Having refused this "dignified death," my family were able to have the most blessed, wonderful 23 extra days with our Mother. We laughed, cried told jokes, had our mum singing and laughing with us and sharing our lives. No one knows for sure if a stroke in itself actually causes a patient any pain, as medicine is not an exact science, therefore our mum did not seem to suffer any pain, hence the reason we refused morphine.

We had to argue with the doctors to get food and fluids for my mum and general nursing care (the NHS is a disgrace) but that's another story.

The moral of my story is don't always trust the doctors, seek independent advice, as we did, and let God be the judge of when your loved one should pass away, and not the doctors.

I was with my best friend yesterday afternoon when he had a mini stroke. I called the ambulance immediately. I got the call from his son this morning to say he died of a massive stroke at 5.30 this morning. Rest in peace, my gentle Joe

I just flew to the UK from the US after receiving a call that my Mum had a stroke. She is unconscious, and in an apparent coma. I have spoken to the specialist just twice. The first time he stated there was bleeding causing intracranial pressure. When I asked if they would be draining it, he stated it was too deep in the brain. Just before flying out he told me she had made some response to pain and consequently they installed a feeding tube.

My mother and I have a tortured relationship. She is mentally ill and in the past 20 years became progressively mean spirited and hurtful. Sadly I think I just spent several thousand dollars to come here not for her, but because I was afraid how it would look to people if I didn't come. In addition, her financial affairs are a complete mess and the law in the UK is so silly - it would be easier to take care of things if she died than if she survives.

I wish there was a protocol book on how long somebody should visit for when the person they are visiting is clearly unaware of anything. I sat there today for five hours before feeling it was OK to leave. So many people here posting about how their beloved parent suffered a stroke. Am I the only one who has love and concern for my mother while at the same time really discussing her?

My mom had a stroke last night. A massive stroke. She can't talk and her left side is active but the right is not. I feel so very bad that we didn't find her sooner. We thought she was sleeping. I feel sick.

I wonder if she is scared and if, if, if. We will go to be with her tomorrow. They flew her to a hospital five hours away.

I'm in shock and can't think very well right now. I just want her to be OK, like inside. I am scared she will live like this. I either want her well or God to take her where she can be at peace.

Does anyone have a story of a stroke victim who recovered who could tell you what they were going through when they couldn't speak, etc.

My healthy 61 year old sister in-law had a massive stroke while making dinner this September that caused a brain bleed. Sadly, she lost her battle with the injury dour days later.

my wife's grandmother just had a stroke yesterday. she's in her 80's and she was found by my wife's sister. no one knows when the stroke happened -- she was alone at the time.

she was taken to the hospital and is breathing on her own but has no movement at all. as far as we know, she can only hear. her eyes won't open. they're afraid she won't live through surgery because of her age.

my wife doesn't cope too well with these things. she lived a great life. her husband passed away two years ago. I just hope that maybe we can take her home for either recovery or final days like her husband. love in god that what happens is the choice of the good and i believe that. just hope my wife can.

My father had a massive stroke and is in a coma. it's been four days and they say he's still the same as when he came in.

They're scared to do surgery because there's a large swelling of blood in his brain. I have faith that God would show them the right direction. I believe that my dad will survive this. He is truly a strong, caring and loving person who goes out his way for anyone. I pray along with others for his recovery.

A deacon at my church had a massive stroke five days ago. He was a very energetic and the sweetest person but unfortunately they took him off life support yesterday. he will greatly missed by everyone. Much love to Deacon Rodney B.

I just had a massive stroke in July in Florida but am now in NY recuperating. I have full movement and only a little numbness and pain in my right arm from the muscles tearing during the seizures I had. Is this normal?

To Emily: No doctor has the right to decide if a person should live or die. That is only God's job. That being said, according to Romans chapter 8, verse 28, all things work to the good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose..." so you need to know that God is greater, and He loves you, and you need to let go of your dad and give Him back to God. Because God is your heavenly father, and loves you, and Yeshua is His son. God bless you. Scott

I just found out that my close friend had a massive stroke last weekend and is still in the hospital. He is paralyzed on one side of his body and cannot speak. He is very outgoing, humorous personality and full of life, I hope he has a speedy recovery. Please pray for his full recovery.

Why do we call them "massive"?

"Severe" sounds like a much more appropriate and useful word. There's no mass in a stroke, if anything, there's less of it, and that's the problem.

My dad had a massive stroke June 1. He was at work when the stroke hit. Thank god he was just sitting in his truck before he was driving, and his co-workers noticed he was just sitting there. they rescued him in minutes, and got him to the hospital in time.

They gave us no hope, and said the damage was too extreme, but they would do what all they could to help him. Roughest hours in our life. They had him in ICU that evening, and they kept telling us he would not make it but we believed that god would heal him and he did. It's July and dad is moving his legs and arms. He is perfectly normal -- just a little weakness in his arm, and his speech is going to need work but he is on the road to full recovery.

So everybody who is going through this please pray that god will heal your loved one. prayer works better then any medicine.

Mom had a massive stoke a week ago, and she is still in coma. Is there any cure? What are the chances of her living? Thank you for the article. It is informative.

during an exercise class with seniors, one of the residents suffered a massive stroke and is still in a coma. Could the exercise class help hurry the stroke along?

my nan had a massive stroke yesterday-she's 84. the consultant says they will do their best- i bloody hope so! i love her so much!

My father suffered a massive hemorrhagic stroke. After going in the ER he began having seizures so they placed him in an induced coma.

The bleed in the brain was about the size of an apple. The doctor said people like him go on to die and basically said to let him go. They stopped his water intake and less than 48 hours later he passed. Sometimes I feel guilty, thinking we should not have listened to the doctor and just waited longer before stopping his water. They never gave us any options and made it seem like that it was just best to let him go.

After reading that some people had suffered these types of strokes and still led pretty normal lives, it makes me feel very bothered that maybe we allowed them to let him go that easy. I miss him so much.

I was Daddy's little girl. I know there is nothing that can be done now but I can seem to let guilt leave my mind. How long till I just accept it without feeling the guilt? I can't stop questioning myself with all the what ifs. --Emily

My mom had a massive stroke last wednesday. she was alone at the time and no one knows when she had it. she won't wake up, moves her left side only, and has brain swelling. Long road ahead!

My brother just had a massive stroke and died a few hours later. I just came back from Newfoundland a couple of days ago. I am going to miss him dearly.

My aunt had a sudden massive stroke several days ago, which left her in a coma, and after 24 hours, she passed away peacefully. She would've been 64 this month.

My brother had a massive stroke one week ago. He was able to move his right side but four days after he had a fever he stopped that movement and two days ago, he started to open his eyes spontaneously but cannot move his limbs and he can hear me and his eyes are full of tears.

We are waiting to know what are the coming days are hiding for us. We praying and asking God for help.

My uncle is now in a coma due to a massive stroke. will he be OK?

my brother just had a massive stroke a couple of days ago. His head is real big, and they went into his brains, but he only has movements and doesn't open his eyes. they taped his eyes because they look like it was going to pop out his head! please tell me what's going on.

Thanks for the info. My cousin is in a coma due to massive stroke and is still not awake since Feb. 1.

Thank you for the information. I had just received a call that my english teacher suffered a massive stroke and that I would have to find a replacement teacher.

What is a cerebral vascular accident? (My mother's death certificate says that). Thanks

Thank you for all of this detailed information.