Navigating Life After Stroke: Carlos' Journey to Recovery

What began as a fun night of New Year's Eve celebrations quickly turned into a medical emergency that changed a local family's life forever.

Reading, PA resident Carlos Encisco said he had no symptoms or warning signs before experiencing a stroke in the early hours of New Year's Day, just a few hours before he and his wife, Brenda, were supposed to travel to California. Carlos and Brenda spent the night celebrating with family and friends, which included karaoke next door to their home. Around 1 a.m., they returned home to prepare for their trip.

"There was nothing abnormal," said Carlos. "I went upstairs, changed my clothes, put on a T-shirt and shorts, and went to sleep."

A short while later, Brenda heard noises near the bed. At first, she thought it was the family dog. "When I turned the light on, he was on the floor," she said. "His hands were like he was looking for help. He was trying to talk to me but couldn't."

Carlos said the left side of his body had suddenly become immobile and felt dead. Brenda called 9-1-1 and paramedics quickly recognized signs of stroke and transported him to Reading Hospital for treatment. As a certified Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center, Reading Hospital is equipped to treat even the most complex stroke cases, as well as aneurysms and other serious neurological conditions.

Vaibhav Goswami, MD, one of Carlos' treating physicians, said Brenda's quick actions allowed them to treat Carlos in the critical time window when they could administer Tenecteplase (TNK), a clot-busting medication.

"We gave him that medication and took him in with Dr. Sacks for neurointerventional surgery, and he had a very good recovery," Dr. Goswami said.

Carlos is still in recovery with regular check-ups at the hospital, but his daily life has changed dramatically. Before his stroke, Carlos worked long hours in a steel factory. However, while he recovers, he cannot lift more than five pounds and needs to adjust to his new limitations. "There's also a lot of stuff that I'm not able to do at home," he said. Brenda said that the stroke brought other changes like weight loss and confusion. "Everything changed," she said.

Carlos now takes daily walks as part of his recovery routine and hopes others can learn from his experience. He and Brenda echoed the same message: to take preventative health advice seriously.

"You've got to listen to your doctor," Carlos said. "Don't wait until something happens to take care of yourself."

Carlos said throughout this recovery, support from family, friends, coworkers, and hospital staff made a major difference. Relatives traveled from out of state to visit him while he was in the hospital. "When I was in the hospital, my room looked like a party," Carlos said with a laugh. "That's a lot of support."

Now, the family hopes that sharing their story will encourage others to prioritize their health and recognize the seriousness of stroke prevention and recovery. A stroke can happen to anyone. It is a serious medical emergency and when seconds count, count on life-saving stroke care at Reading Hospital. Learn more about Reading Hospital's neuroscience program and Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center designation.