Research-inspired care

Patient-turned-donor Carolyn Kearns has firsthand experience of Team Sunnybrook’s acceleration of ideas into action.

Carolyn is an active member of her community, with a wide circle of family and friends. She seeks out new ways to spark joy for others, and often finds composing a thoughtful email or handwritten letter does just that.

So it seemed a little odd when, after sitting down to write a card to her son and daughter-in-law celebrating their dog’s birthday, she couldn’t spell the pup Arthur’s name.

Her sudden difficulty writing and reading was enough to prompt a call to the family doctor to ask why this might be, which led to a referral to Sunnybrook Regional Stroke Prevention Clinic. She had an urgent consultation with neurologist Dr. David Gladstone.

A few days later, Carolyn had the answer.

“It was a TIA,” says the 73-year-old retired management consultant, who practiced for 40 years while raising three children. A transient ischemic attack or mini-stroke is typically caused by a small blood clot that briefly blocks an artery in the brain. Although the symptoms are brief, a TIA can be an important warning sign of a more serious stroke ahead.

The connection between the heart and the brain

In order to help Carolyn avoid a massive stroke, Dr. Gladstone needed to know more. Inspired by his research into the connection between the heart and brain, he asked Carolyn to wear a portable heart monitor.

Two weeks later, Dr. Gladstone had his answer: Carolyn had atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heart rhythm that is a risk factor for blood clots and stroke.

Like many patients – Dr. David Gladstone estimates one in 20 – Carolyn’s atrial fibrillation was silent. This meant she she had no symptoms and no reason to seek treatment, putting her at increased risk of a stroke.

An earlier screening study led by Dr. Gladstone showed that prolonged heart monitoring like the one Carolyn received can increase the atrial fibrillation detection rate by as much as 10 times.

“Ms. Kearns is an example of someone who benefitted directly from our research that helped establish the value of wearable heart monitors for early detection of this treatable risk factor for stroke,” Dr. Gladstone explains.

Carolyn and her husband Bob Hutchison are proud supporters of Sunnybrook.

Carolyn and her husband, Bob Hutchison, were so grateful for their research-inspired care that they recently made a gift to support future stroke prevention research at Sunnybrook. Carolyn is now participating as a research subject in a clinical trial that is testing a promising new anticoagulant medication for stroke prevention among people with atrial fibrillation.

As Canadians, it is easy to take for granted the institutions that care for us, and educate us and stimulate our minds. I feel strongly that we should embrace a spirit of philanthropy and give back in any way we can, volunteering and whatever else we can do,” says Carolyn. “So it was important for my family to thank Sunnybrook and the other donors who had invested in the research that helped me.”

“By absolute good fortune, I landed in Dr. Gladstone’s care,” Carolyn insists. “I want to make sure others are just as fortunate as me.”

These days, Carolyn enjoys taking great walks, golfing, exploring the city, spending time with family – and of course, making time for her dog and cats. It was, after all, the joy of celebrating animals that helped Carolyn ultimately find the care she needed.