
Sponsored - The following content is created on behalf of Ochsner Baton Rouge and does not reflect the opinions of Gray Media or its editorial staff. To learn more about Ochsner Baton Rouge, visit ochsner.org.
Theresa S. was 28-years-old, healthy and excited to start hairdressing at a new salon in Rayne, Louisiana. Just a week into her new job, Theresa noticed pain in her foot and began to wake up with the left side of her mouth drooping, vision blurred and speech slurred. Her family recognized these were signs of a stroke. Theresa visited Ochsner Lafayette General Neuroscience Center where neurologist Shail Thanki, MD, discovered Theresa had suffered two strokes caused by bacteria eating away at her aortic valve. While awaiting open-heart surgery to remove the infection, Theresa suffered two more strokes. Two days after her fourth stroke she underwent successful aortic valve replacement surgery at Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans, performed by Saket Singh, MD. Thanks to the timely response of Ochsner Health’s stroke care team, Theresa is now infection-free and grateful to be back on her feet doing what she loves.