Advocate Spotlight: Trudy Kulstad

North Dakota Systems of Care is why

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On Saturday, September 3, 2016, Trudy and her husband, John, were preparing produce for sale at the local farmers market. Trudy had been on the front steps of their home cleaning potatoes, and John went out to check on her progress. He found her on their landing of the steps, with her arms crossed over her chest, unable to speak. When she lost consciousness, John called the ambulance, and within moments, first responders had Trudy en route to the hospital in Tioga, ND. EMTs had alerted the hospitals in Tioga and in Minot that Trudy might be suffering from a stroke. Trudy was airlifted to Minot, where doctors determined that she had suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm, followed by a massive stroke. Trudy was airlifted to Fargo for immediate treatment, upon arrival, she was given a 10% chance of survival.

With her family gathered in the hospital waiting room, Trudy underwent surgery. Doctors were "cautiously optimistic" that Trudy would recover. After several setbacks and recoveries, after 21 days, Trudy was moved out of the intensive care unit, and eventually defied the grim odds given to her when she was flown to the hospital that September day and returned home. Today, Trudy continues to defy the odds and can now walk freely and has regained many of the skills she had before her stroke. 

John and Trudy credit the North Dakota Systems of Care for her fast treatment and for making the miracle of Trudy's recovery possible. 

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