After enjoying a few signature drinks, he pushed his wife (who was recovering from knee surgery) across the room in a wheelchair. In that instant, his life changed. Suddenly, a strange feeling arose in his body. It felt as if his right leg had gone to sleep. Not sure what to do, he told his wife that he wanted to go back to the hotel room because he didn’t feel quite right.
Upon reaching the room, the tingly sensation spread throughout the right side of his body. First, his right arm stopped moving. Seconds later, the right side of his mouth felt as if it was numb. And finally, the entire right side of his body stopped moving altogether.
Cooper immediately knew that the situation could be life-threatening. “I’m having a stroke,” he attempted to utter. “Call 911.”
Because his words were mumbled, his wife didn’t understand what he was saying. Thinking he was having a heart attack, she went downstairs to find a doctor.
Trapped in the room, Cooper tried to walk. However, his efforts were fruitless. He tripped and fell down on the floor, nearly paralyzed. Helpless.
Minutes later, it was as if nothing had ever happened. Not only did the symptoms subside, but he also felt just fine.
By the time paramedics reached him, the symptoms were gone. After being given an aspirin, he was transported to Northwestern Hospital to undergo tests. Doctors soon told him that he had suffered a transient ischemic attack, or TIA, otherwise known as a mini-stroke. And later, the missing piece in the puzzle would be solved. The Mayo Clinic would tell him he may have suffered the TIA due to an undetected hole in his heart.