Man has "miracle" recovery after heart defect causes rare massive stroke
One year after a massive stroke nearly incapacitated him, Todd Meiklejohn is opening up about his experience.
On August 8, 2025, a teacher named Todd Meiklejohn experienced a sudden, squeezing pain while going through his morning routine. His memory became blurry, and he was left with paralysis on his right side, unable to move or speak. About 45 minutes later, his wife, a nurse, found him on the ground and called 911. Meiklejohn was rushed to Miami Neuroscience Institute at Baptist Health, where doctors discovered he was having a massive stroke.
In a rare case, a small opening in his heart called PFO allowed a clot to travel from his leg to his brain. Doctors performed a mechanical thrombectomy, removing the clot within 38 minutes of the stroke being diagnosed. Meiklejohn was discharged from the hospital less than 48 hours after the stroke and attributed his recovery to his quick medical treatment.
After the incident, Meiklejohn underwent a procedure to close the PFO, significantly reducing his chances of having another stroke. He has since focused on his recovery, participating in activities like a 100-mile bike ride. Meiklejohn emphasizes the importance of a swift response in stroke cases to minimize lasting damage.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
