Man survives stroke because he was visiting his brother in hospital

Last week, Doug McEvoy was admitted to Baptist Medical Center for  spine surgery.

“I was having a lot of lower back pain,” said Doug McEvoy.

McEvoy said his mom and brother, Mike McEvoy, were there for support and went down to grab food when he was taken into surgery.

“After we finished eating, my mother looked at me and asked if I was ok, and I didn't know what was going on,” said Mike McEvoy.

He said he couldn’t drink his tea properly and then fell out of his chair.

“A few seconds later, I was placed in a gurney and taken into the emergency room,” he said.

It was determined that Mike McEvoy was having a stroke. Mike’s wife says if he had the stroke at home, he may not have gone to get help and their holidays would be much different this year.

“I think if I was not there, I would've been in big trouble. It resulted in a blood clot in my brain, which could have caused death,” said Mike McEvoy.

When his brother got out of surgery, he learned what happened.

“The doctor says, 'I have bad news for you.' My first thought was my surgery didn't go well, but he said, 'Your brother had a stroke, and he's in surgery right now,” said Doug McEvoy.

Both brothers survived their surgeries and have been recovering successfully, so far.  And both say they have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.