Nationwide, 6 stroke advocates selected to receive 2024 Stroke Hero Awards

The American Stroke Association spotlights the resiliency of local individuals and groups in the fight against stroke

2024-05-01

(Press-News.org) DALLAS, May 1, 2024 — Each year, approximately 800,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke.[1] Six local stroke heroes from across the country are being recognized by the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, for their resiliency and dedication in the fight against stroke.

The American Stroke Association’s annual Stroke Hero Awards honors stroke survivors, health care professionals, advocates and caregivers. During May, American Stroke Month, the Association, devoted to a world of healthier lives for all and celebrating 100 years of lifesaving service, honors these Stroke Heroes and proudly advocates for stroke survivors year-round. Those who have had a stroke often must work against physical, emotional and cognitive changes to move forward. The following Stroke Heroes are being recognized for outstanding efforts in educating, inspiring and raising awareness about stroke.

Winners include:

Caregiver Hero: Loretta Sharp Gray, Oakwood Village, Ohio Loretta Sharp Gray went from teaching students with disabilities to personal caregiver for her life partner, who survived a serious stroke and wasn’t expected to live. Never complaining or seeking recognition, she takes care of him at home with periodic home visits from his primary care doctor and nurse practitioner. At the same time, this grandmother is an advocate, volunteer and trusted messenger in the community. She also volunteers with the Association’s STEM Goes Red program. Students from local schools learn about heart health, stroke and CPR, as well as careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Equity Hero: Dr. Kimon Bekelis, Babylon, New York Kimon Bekelis, MD has worked tirelessly to ensure equal access to lifesaving stroke care on Long Island, N.Y. regardless of demographics or ability to pay. He led the development of the Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center at Good Samaritan, the first Comprehensive Stroke Center on the south shore of Long Island, expanding access to high-quality stroke care for an underserved population. He believes everyone deserves an equal chance at the best possible outcome. Throughout his career, Dr. Bekelis has embodied this commitment to health equity and worked to enact meaningful improvements in equitable access to lifesaving stroke care. Group Heroes: Centre for Neuro Skills, various locations in California and Texas For more than 40 years, the Centre for Neuro Skills has provided community-based treatment for people recovering from brain injuries. As a recognized leader in the stroke and brain injury rehabilitation field, the Centre’s specially trained staff offer outcome-driven medical treatment, therapeutic rehabilitation and disease management services. The Centre lends its clinical expertise for educational interviews and shares inspiring stroke patient stories to local and national media for national recognition days, such as World Stroke Day and American Stroke Month, to educate the public about stroke prevention, causes and rehabilitation. Pediatric Hero: Reegan Lueken, Ely, Iowa After a stroke at age 12, Reegan Lueken's perseverance is an inspiration. Returning home from the hospital wasn’t the end of her journey. She participated in intensive therapies to help get her life back on track. Now a 10th grader, her stroke has taught her that every day is a gift. Reegan has worked hard to be on the honor roll and complete her first community college course. She uses the Association’s platform to share her story so others can learn from her experience. She and her mom, a heart disease survivor, want others to know that a stroke can happen to anyone at any age. Survivor Hero: Craig Northcutt, Durant, Oklahoma Craig Northcutt nearly lost his life in an ATV accident, leaving him with a brain bleed that caused a stroke. After months of intensive neurorehabilitation, he relearned how to walk, talk and return to work. Now he raises awareness about stroke through professional mentorship and by sharing his story with high school students and stroke survivors. Craig is celebrating his 12-year stroke anniversary and his 30-year work anniversary with the Choctaw Nation. As part of the organization’s Tribal Advocacy program, he helps tribal nation members develop their professional skills and find jobs. Voters’ Choice Hero: Rick Hoeg, Northville, Michigan After having a stroke on Dec. 30, 2022, Rick Hoeg tackled the hardest challenge of his life: recovery. While still in aggressive outpatient rehab, Rick created a nine-part YouTube series on stroke education and prevention, often featuring his rehabilitation therapists. In his series, he taught stroke warning signs and shared his recovery journey, reaching over 100,000 viewers. Rick’s video series culminated in a $30,000 fundraiser benefiting the hospitals that saved his life. Today, he continues to educate about stroke and supports hospital staff in their vital work. Winners were selected by a nationwide panel of volunteer judges from the American Stroke Association, with the exception of the Voters’ Choice Award, which was selected via online popular vote.

For more information, visit Stroke.org/HeroAwards.

Additional Resources:

Spanish News Release ###

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 - our Centennial year - we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.   

About the American Stroke Association

The American Stroke Association is a relentless force for a world with fewer strokes and longer, healthier lives. We team with millions of volunteers and donors to ensure equitable health and stroke care in all communities. We work to prevent, treat and beat stroke by funding innovative research, fighting for the public’s health, and providing lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based association was created in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit stroke.org. Follow us on Facebook and X.

[1] S S Martin; et al Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2024 Update: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association Circulation. 2024; 149:e347–e913. DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001209

END

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Sleep resets brain connections – but only for first few hours

2024-05-01

During sleep, the brain weakens the new connections between neurons that had been forged while awake – but only during the first half of a night’s sleep, according to a new study in fish by UCL scientists. The researchers say their findings, published in Nature, provide insight into the role of sleep, but still leave an open question around what function the latter half of a night’s sleep serves. The researchers say the study supports the Synaptic Homeostasis Hypothesis, a key theory on the purpose of sleep which proposes that sleeping acts as a reset for the brain. Lead author Professor Jason Rihel (UCL Cell & Developmental Biology) said: “When we are awake, ...

Rock solid evidence: Angola geology reveals prehistoric split between South America and Africa

2024-05-01

DALLAS (SMU) – An SMU-led research team has found that ancient rocks and fossils from long-extinct marine reptiles in Angola clearly show a key part of Earth’s past – the splitting of South America and Africa and the subsequent formation of the South Atlantic Ocean. With their easily visualized “jigsaw-puzzle fit,” it has long been known that the western coast of Africa and the eastern coast of South America once nestled together in the supercontinent Gondwana — which broke off from the larger landmass of Pangea. The research team says the southern coast of Angola, where they dug up the samples, arguably provides the most complete ...

Life expectancy in two disadvantaged areas higher than expected

2024-05-01

Better than expected life expectancy in two disadvantaged areas in England is probably due to population change according to local residents and professionals. In the UK, people from the most disadvantaged areas can expect to die nine years earlier compared with people from the least disadvantaged areas while people in the north of England have lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and worse health and wellbeing compared with national averages. The study, funded by the NIHR School for Public Health Research, was a collaboration between Lancaster University, ...

Dynamic DNA structures and the formation of memory

2024-05-01

An international collaborative research team, including scientists from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), has discovered a novel mechanism underlying memory involving rapid changes in a specific DNA structure. The team found that G-quadraplex DNA (G4-DNA) accumulates in neurons and dynamically controls the activation and repression of genes underlying long-term memory formation. In addition, using advanced CRISPR-based gene editing technology, the team revealed the causal mechanism underlying the regulation ...

STEMM Opportunity Alliance releases national strategy at White House summit to diversify and expand STEMM workforce by 2050

2024-05-01

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the STEMM Opportunity Alliance (SOA) announced STEMM Equity and Excellence 2050: A National Strategy for Progress and Prosperity at the 2024 White House Summit on STEMM Equity and Excellence, co-hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The overarching goal of the national strategy is to help 20 million people from historically excluded and marginalized communities enter, contribute to, and thrive in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical (STEMM) fields. SOA ...

Calcium can protect potato plants from bacterial wilt

2024-05-01

Washington, D.C.—Scientists have discovered that calcium plays a significant role in enhancing the resistance of potato plants to bacterial wilt. This disease causes worldwide losses of potatoes costing $19 billion per year. The findings open up new avenues for integrated disease management strategies, including the potential for calcium amendments to soil as a part of a comprehensive approach to controlling bacterial wilt in potatoes. The study is published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology. Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC) is a phytopathogenic bacterial group that causes bacterial wilt in ...

Virtual reality environment for teens may offer an accessible, affordable way to reduce stress

2024-05-01

Social media. The climate crisis. Political polarization. The tumult of a pandemic and online learning. Teens today are dealing with unprecedented stressors, and over the past decade their mental health has been in sustained decline. Levels of anxiety and depression rose after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Compounding the problem is a shortage of mental health providers — for every 100,000 children in the U.S., there are only 14 child and adolescent psychiatrists. In response to this crisis, University of Washington researchers studied whether virtual reality might help reduce stress ...

Join us in honoring the 2024 American Gastroenterological Association Recognition Awards recipients

2024-05-01

Bethesda, MD (May 1, 2024) — The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has announced the 2024 recipients of its annual recognition prizes, given in honor of outstanding contributions and achievements in gastroenterology. "AGA is delighted to present the recipients chosen for the 2024 AGA Recognition Prizes. We extend our gratitude to all the nominators for their submission of nomination letters, and to the diligent selection committee members for their work in identifying these exceptional individuals from ...

Resource-appropriate cancer care, including coexisting health issues of HIV and cancer, to be addressed during meeting in Nairobi

2024-05-01

NAIROBI, KENYA [May 1, 2024] — Local and global experts are meeting in Nairobi, Kenya to update clinical practice guidelines as part of ongoing work with Allied Against Cancer—a collaboration between the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®), African Cancer Coalition (ACC), American Cancer Society (ACS), and Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). The meeting brings together subject matter experts to update NCCN Harmonized Guidelines™ for Sub-Saharan Africa, featuring updates for treating cancer in people with HIV and other important ...

Marriage of synthetic biology and 3D printing produces programmable living materials

2024-05-01

Scientists are harnessing cells to make new types of materials that can grow, repair themselves and even respond to their environment. These solid “engineered living materials” are made by embedding cells in an inanimate matrix that’s formed in a desired shape. Now, researchers report in ACS Central Science that they have 3D printed a bioink containing plant cells that were then genetically modified, producing programmable materials. Applications could someday include biomanufacturing and sustainable construction. Recently, researchers have been developing engineered living materials, primarily relying on bacterial ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

AI finds undiagnosed liver disease in early stages

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announce new research fellowship in malaria genomics in honor of professor Dominic Kwiatkowski