Colleagues help prevent future strokes for Sharp employee

Simon Brice, 35, has spent over eight years as a cardiovascular technologist at Sharp Memorial Hospital. For Simon, his colleagues aren’t just coworkers, they’re family.

His wife, Alex, also works at Sharp. The two share a passion for the outdoors, often hiking and camping together. Simon even once hiked the Catalina Trail with his colleagues.

On November 8, 2024, Simon’s life changed in an instant. He suddenly felt as if he were “drunk on a fishing boat,” dizzy, nauseous and overwhelmed by a spinning sensation. He began vomiting and collapsed, prompting his wife to call 911.

Even while disoriented, Simon insisted on being taken to the Emergency Department (ED) at Sharp Memorial Hospital. He knew the staff would provide the best care.

When he arrived, Simon couldn’t open his eyes because it was too painful, and his left side was weak. Although he was young, his ED physician suspected that Simon was having a stroke and consulted a neurologist. A CT scan confirmed that Simon was experiencing an ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blood clot.

Simon was given tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) – a powerful clot-busting medication that must be administered to a person within 4.5 hours of the onset of their stroke symptoms to maximize the treatment’s effectiveness and minimize potential damage to the brain. Thanks to this treatment, Simon was stabilized and transferred to the ICU, where he spent two days.

Unfortunate discovery, fortunate timing

While recovering, Dr. Ajay Yadlapati, an interventional cardiologist with Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group affiliated with Sharp Memorial Hospital and a colleague of Simon’s, stopped by to see how he was feeling. After hearing Simon’s story, Dr. Yadlapati suggested further testing.

He ordered an echocardiogram, which revealed a large patent foramen ovale (PFO), a small hole in the heart that normally closes after birth. For about 25 to 30% of people, however, it remains open. Most people with a PFO never know they have it, until a blood clot travels through the opening to the brain, causing a stroke.

“I’d just gotten back from camping along the Colorado River,” says Simon. “Thankfully, the stroke didn’t happen when I was in the middle of nowhere without access to immediate treatment.”

Keeping it in the family

In December 2024, Dr. Yadlapati performed a minimally invasive procedure to close Simon’s PFO in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Sharp Memorial. During the procedure, a small device was placed through a vein in Simon’s groin to seal the opening, significantly reducing his risk of future strokes.

Simon could have chosen another hospital for the procedure, but staying at Sharp Memorial with trusted colleagues and friends made all the difference.

“They are high-caliber people,” says Simon. “I didn’t want to take my health care anywhere else.”

Breathing easier, living better

Since the procedure, Simon says he can breathe better and exercise more easily. Before, Simon experienced shortness of breath after working out, especially when hiking at higher elevations. He assumed it was because he was out of shape, not realizing the PFO was affecting his quality of life.

“It only takes a few minutes to save your life,” says Simon. “I’m grateful to work with such an incredible team at Sharp who took care of me.”

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