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May 27, 2025

Stroke survivor finds healing in helping others

IU Health North Hospital

Stroke survivor finds healing in helping others

At just 37 years old, Jordan Hill suffered a rarer type of stroke. After having initial treatment at IU Health North and completing rehabilitation, he's hoping to empower other stroke survivors to ask questions and share their stories.

Written by Charlotte Stefanski, cstefanski@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health's Metro Region

It wasn’t unusual for Jordan Hill to get headaches, but this one seemed different.

After two weeks with no relief, Hill called his primary care physician, who suggested he come in to rule out anything serious, like a stroke.

“They did a grip test and examined me for any facial drooping or slurred speech,” Hill explains. “Everything seemed okay.”

Back at home, the 37-year-old spent the rest of the afternoon watching a movie with his daughter. That’s when he felt a strange pop in his neck.

“I got to my knees, and I immediately just fell over to the left,” Hill recalls.

Hill told his daughter he was going downstairs to get a drink, so not to scare her. He was able to make it over to a wall for support but knew something was wrong.

“It just got worse. My balance was starting to affect me. I had moments of vision loss, and I was seeing double. I just felt really sick,” he says

A neighbor came over to watch their daughters and Hill and his wife drove to the hospital. The last thing he remembers is his wife getting out of the car as they pulled up to IU Health North’s Emergency department.

A close call

Hill had a left vertebral artery dissection and left medullary infarct, a rarer type of stroke.

Susanne Crotty, a registered nurse and Stroke Program and Quality Coordinator for IU Health North, explains that a vertebral dissection occurs when there is a tear in the inner lining of the vertebral artery. This can lead to a reduction or complete interruption of blood flow to the brain, potentially causing a stroke.

“Jordan’s dissection led to the medullary stroke. Vertebral artery dissection is more common in people 45 years of age and younger, and risk factors for this issue include smoking, high blood pressure or an injury. An injury can occur with sudden neck movements or trauma,” she says.

After his initial treatment in the Emergency department, Hill woke up that evening. He couldn’t walk and was leaning significantly to the left. He couldn’t feel any sensation on the entire right side of his body and lacked temperature sensation on his left.

Jordan Hill
Jordan Hill recovering from his stroke at IU Health North

Hill was moved to the hospital’s Medical-Surgical unit and was cared for by neurologists Dr. Paul Bustion, MD, and Dr. Jared Brosch, MD.

“All these thoughts are going through your head, like, ‘Will I ever walk again? How am I going to provide for my family? How can this be happening—I'm only 37.’” Hill says.

Those thoughts lit a flame as Hill was discharged from the hospital a few days later and as he began his rehabilitation.

Healing with a hope to help others

Now more than a year after his stroke, Hill has relearned how to walk and find balance. He still experiences numbness on the entire right side of his body and has significant blurred vision with his left eye, combined with overwhelming dryness.

“The physicians have done everything they can at this time but are looking for further treatments for my left eye.” Hill says.

About six months after his stroke, Hill’s brain began to heal and “rewire,” but it caused interpreting information to become difficult and it was sometimes hard to find words.

“It became a really depressive state. I think it's something that a lot of people that have strokes go through, but maybe just don't talk about as much,” Hill says. “I know myself and knew it wasn’t healthy, but there was nowhere else to turn to. I already completed rehabilitation. You look for answers, but they're hard to find.”

Hill began searching for support resources and came across a Hamilton County stroke support group, which is a joint effort with Crotty at IU Health and the Indianapolis Rehab Hospital at Carmel.

When Hill attended his first meeting, Crotty recognized Hill. She had met him at the hospital as she made her rounds in the Medical-Surgical unit.

Susanne Crotty
Susanne Crotty

“Stroke support groups can be a great way to reach those who have experienced a stroke or are a caregiver or family member of a person who has had a stroke. It’s a safe place to talk with others who are going through a similar situation, as well as to learn helpful tips on ways to deal with post-stroke difficulties,” Crotty says.

The group meets the first Wednesday of each month from 5:45 – 6:45 pm at the Indianapolis Rehab Hospital. Those who are interested can reach out to Crotty at scrotty@iuhealth.org or 317.688.2218, and Cody Knecht at cknecht@indianapolis-rehab.com or 463.333.8429.

Now, Hill is helping to further build the program with Crotty, with the hope that patients aren’t afraid to ask for help.

“Trying to build something that is not currently out there helps me. It gives me motivation,” he says. “If I can help one person recover, that helps me in my recovery too.”

To his fellow stroke survivors, Hill notes healing takes time, but things will get better. He recommends setting goals and spending as much time with family as possible.

“Unfortunate things do happen, but doesn't mean that life can't be great,” he says.

Knowing the signs of stroke

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and when it comes to identifying the signs and symptoms of a stroke, Crotty says remember B.E.F.A.S.T.:

Balance: Dizziness or sudden loss of balance.
Eyes: Double vision or sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes.
Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech difficulty: Is their speech slurred, are they unable to speak or are they hard to understand?
Time to call 911: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 to get them to the hospital immediately. Time is of the essence in stroke treatment. 

In addition to B.E.F.A.S.T., other symptoms could include confusion or trouble understanding and sudden, severe headaches.

Hill would like to thank his team at IU Health North for their quick actions that saved his life when he came into the Emergency department.

“Their knowledge, teamwork and camaraderie were great,” Hill says. “Given the circumstances, I’m grateful I received such wonderful care at IU Health North Hospital.”

IU Health offers a variety of stroke treatment options, depending on the type of stroke and individual needs of patients. To learn more about these options and stroke symptoms, visit iuhealth.org/find-medical-services/stroke.

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NeurologyStroke

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Stroke

A condition where a blood clot or broken blood vessel interrupts the blood flow to the brain, resulting in brain cell loss, and loss of cognitive (thinking) and physical function.