One Stroke Prevents Another

Valerie Wolf

Valerie Wolf’s mornings were usually pretty routine. But, one morning was anything but routine. As she got ready for work, she sensed that something was wrong, but couldn’t quite grasp what it was. After picking up her neighbor, something changed. Valerie suddenly realized that she couldn’t speak and she didn’t know why. She was having a stroke – and she was only 39.

“I didn’t know what was happening,” she remembers. “When I tried to talk, no words came out.”

 Valerie was rushed to a local hospital. The hospital diagnosed that she had just had a stroke and was able to intervene with clot-busting drugs.

It is unusual for a healthy young woman like Valerie to have a stroke. During her stay at her local hospital, Valerie’s physician diagnosed her with Factor V Leiden deficiency, which is a hereditary blood disorder that indicates a high risk for clotting complications. Some questions still remained. With no answers of their own, Valerie’s physicians turned to noted neurologist and stroke specialist, Dr. Jose Biller at Loyola University Health System. 

Dr. Biller found that in addition to the blood disorder, Valerie also had another clotting disorder, and the two together most likely caused her stroke. Because genetics played a role, Dr. Biller recommended that Valerie’s entire family be tested. Her father also was diagnosed with Factor V Leiden deficiency. Her father was so impressed with the quality of care Valerie received from Loyola, that he scheduled treatment there as well.

 After six months, Valerie was able to resume her long walks and visits to the gym. By this time her dad’s condition was under control, too, and he was able to join her at the gym. “Everybody at Loyola was great. They helped me maintain a very positive attitude.”

 Valerie feels doubly blessed. “If I hadn’t had my stroke, we might never have found out about my dad’s condition until he had one.”

 Most people don’t believe that a life-threatening event could happen to them. Valerie has some advice for those people: “Pay very close attention to your body. If something doesn’t seem right, get it checked out.”

 To make an appointment with a neuroscience specialist at Loyola, call (888) LUHS-888.