Chicago’s Finest, Team Stroger
On Sunday my mother-n-law had a stroke…or at least she was showing signs of one as we drove near downtown Chicago. She had a headache, weakness in one arm and her left eye and part of her face was twitching. We were 10 minutes from Rush Medical and John H. Stroger Hospital. This is in the backyard/frontyard of the United Center, the home of the Chicago Bulls that Michael Jordan put on the map in the 80’s and 90’s. The area is also famous for medical care with the two aforementioned facilities as well as the VA Hospital.
As we realized these symptoms were serious my wife said “take her to Stroger.” 
Why? Many of her friends have been treated there. Most of her friends are from Bulgaria. My wife is Bulgarian. Not one of her friends would hesitate taking any of their loved ones to Stroger.
I had my suspicions…it is big and it is busy and the emergency room that day was filled with all sorts of triage. We were rushed in right away after relating her symptoms. Within minutes they had her in for a CT scan and were able to accurately access her condition.
The news was not great but she is ok for now and was released on the third day, happily so I might add! She speaks no English and had to rely on her daughter being present or a phone interpreter, none of which she likes! What she did like was the care and she commented several times about how if you are going to have a stroke, have it in the U.S.! As for me the treatment was excellent and the bedside manner of everybody who came in contact with her was really great. Of course who wouldn’t love a sweet mother-in-law…
Kevin Kirkpatrick is Director of Community Relations at Elmwood Terrace in the Western Suburbs of Chicago
