Stroke Survivor of the Month - December 2003

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Catherine Roegge
Whately, Massachusetts

A new test was completed that determined I had a type of congenital heart defect called an Atrial Septal Defect, or ASD. This is a small whole between the two upper chambers of the heart that allows blood to flow from one chamber to another, disrupting the normal rhythm of the heart. These two chambers should not be at all connected as the hole allows for blood that has not been cleaned by the lungs to be pumped into the brain. It is likely that a blood clot traveled through this hole and went into my brain, causing a stroke.

Even though my physical symptoms were not severe, relearning such rote skills as driving and grocery shopping took a long time. I worked on my reading comprehension by going to school to get my MBA. I struggled with severe depression, and a considerable amount of anger, directed primarily at God. How could he have let this happen to me? It was nearly two years after the stroke that I finally saw a mental health professional and went on medication.

Eight years later my frustration with "the system" continues. The most overwhelming part of this whole process has been the amount of work I have had to put in just to keep updated on the changes in the medical field related to my condition. I am the only person looking out for me.

Today most doctors agree that my ASD should be closed surgically to prevent another stroke. I have spent many years researching various methods from traditional open-heart surgery called sternotomy to a minimally invasive procedure using robotic technology. I have been fortunate to have lived these last eight years without any major complications, but my risks increase with age, and I have decided to get the hole corrected within the next year.

Education of doctors, emergency room doctors in particular, is very important to me. I don't want any other young women to suffer an "undiagnosed stroke" as I did. I also want to raise awareness of the risks of stroke associated with the birth control pill, and to encourage women planning on using the pill or becoming pregnant to seek genetic counseling to determine if there is a risk of congenital heart defect.