Figure. No caption available. Gertrude Pepp can't remember the
stroke she suffered in 2005 at the age of 93, only that the
delicate procedure she underwent left her with no discernable
disability. Now 95, she describes the experience as a miracle.
She was treated by David S. Liebeskind, M.D. and his colleagues
at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Stroke
Center. Dr Liebeskind is associate professor of neurology as
well as neurology director of stroke imaging and associate
neurology director of the UCLA Stroke Center. Pepp suffered a
middle artery cerebral occlusion-a clot-and was paralyzed on her
right side, with no language capabilities. But she dramatically
improved on the table, recalls Dr. Liebeskind, who performed a
procedure on her called a mechanical thrombectomy, using a
device designed to retrieve and break up clots. Now, Pepp says,
I keep busy with reading, playing cards, going to lunch, and
visiting my family. No treatment can cure a stroke, but
treatment advances can write fairytal