Testimonials for Dr. Justin Whisenant MD
Where to begin? I had a normal day, went to work came home. Around 7 PM the night of 0331/2020 I experienced the most intense, extreme headache ever. So bad that I couldn’t walk without help and my vision was distorted through the pain. That’s when I asked my husband to take me to the hospital. 1 knew something was not right.
Understandably so because of COVID-19 I was the only one allowed inside. I got to my ED room rather quick. After a brain scan and tests, I was told something that I never thought I would hear.
Thave a brain aneurysm. Not 1 but 2, and my brain is bleeding. I had no medical history prior to this, but admittedly had been a smoker most of my adult life. I recall thinking that’s it I'm done for. I will never see my kids again and the last time my family will see me, would be me going into the hospital during a pandemic and never coming out.
My hope was dwindling. No one can ever scare you more than your own thoughts, all I could think was I am going to die alone. Then like light at the end of the tunnel, the doctors and nurses had a plan and moved fast. They had such confidence, and gave me hope. Stay positive they kept saying, we will get you through this.
Thad to have my ruptured aneurysm repaired urgently and was put to sleep. I was scared. I cried, but I was never alone. The treating stroke team talked to me until I fell asleep tellmg me what they were doing and when. I felt so cared for, like they Were invested in my survival.
After surgery, my body was tired. The nurses in the ICU were great and the best thing was they stayed upbeat. They never made me feel like a burden and helped me with everything. I spent 14 days in Brandon Regional Hospital, most of which were in Neuro ICU. My family couldn’t visit but the staff and doctors at Brandon Hospital kept us all informed and most importantly I never felt alone and I felt so special.
To all the doctors, nurses, janitors, all who cared for me and spent countless hours talking with me and my family, you made a dark situation bright. I want to deeply thank each and every one of you for giving me and my family more time together.
My headaches were becoming very hard to cope with so I decided to take a step further to investigate if I had a life threatening condition as strokes run in my family, I am very pleased with the pro-active steps taking by Dr. Whisenant and his team and the excellent followup I received to insure I was going to be okay. Leah Davis
Dr. Whisenant was so professional and compassionate. During the scariest event of my life, he took the time to explain everything to me about my condition and the procedures and answered all of my questions. I hope that no one has to go through a scary medical experience, but if they do, I hope they have care as thorough and informed as mine. Can't say enough good about Dr. Whisenant.
I am 28 years old, and I was in a minor car accident last year. I had some neck pain afterwards that radiated to my jaw, but I thought it would resolve. 2 days later, I suddenly noticed something felt different in my right arm and hand. I looked in the mirror and the right side of my face was drooping. My husband asked me what was wrong. I tried to answer him, but the words wouldn’t come out. He knew something was terribly wrong, and he called for an ambulance.
The next thing I knew I was being rushed to the hospital and taken to emergency surgery. I was having a stroke. I had something called a “dissection” of the internal carotid artery related to the neck strain during the car accident. A large blood clot formed within the dissection, and this clot occluded my carotid artery and impaired blood flow to the left side of my brain.
Fortunately for me, Dr. Whisenant and his staff at Northside Hospital identified the blood clot quickly. Then Dr. Whisenant used a long thin suction tube to remove the clot. He accessed the clot by simply making a small puncture of the femoral artery near my groin. He then used X-ray guidance to navigate the suction tube up to the clot in my neck and brain.
After the procedure, I was groggy from the anesthesia for a few hours, but the feeling and movement returned quickly to my right face and arm, and my speech returned to normal.
I am so grateful to the people at Northside Hospital and to Dr. Whisenant and his team for saving my life in this time of emergency. Because of them, I am able to return to my normal life with my husband and family. Thank you Dr. Whisenant for your care!
#FAST