Bronxville man returns from hospital after suffering simultaneous heart attack, stroke
The semi-retired web designer spent three months at multiple hospitals after suffering from a heart attack and a stroke at the same time.
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A Westchester man, who simultaneously suffered from a heart attack and a stroke, is finally back home after spending three months in the hospital.
Michael Platoni, 57, got emotional thinking about his return to Bronxville.
"It's hard to go through," Platoni said.
The semi-retired web designer spent three months at multiple hospitals after suffering from a heart attack and a stroke at the same time.
His wife, Mary Ryan-Platoni, said the episode occurred on Christmas Eve while they were out to eat with family.
"At the end of dinner, he said, 'I have to get up and stretch my legs.' We were having coffee, he went outside the restaurant and within 10 minutes there was an ambulance flashing outside." Ryan-Platoni said.
Ryan-Platoni said her husband was first brought to New York Presbyterian for treatment. Then, weeks later, he was transferred to Gaylord Hosptial in Connecticut, thanks to a recommendation from a friend.
"A co-worker that lives in Connecticut had researched them for her mother's stroke. Years later, she said, 'Start visioning this place. Anything's possible,'" Ryan-Platoni said.
Employees at Gaylord said Platoni was still on a ventilator and unable to lift his limbs when he arrived at their rehab hospital in January.
Now that's he been discharged for a week, and is able to breathe, walk and talk on his own, his medical professionals, like Amy Thomas, said they're so proud of his progress.
"I am. I think that speaks to Michael himself. He was very much hardworking, he was very motivated," Thomas said.
Platoni's strength, endurance and resilience are a few of the reasons why Ryan-Platoni calls her husband her "miracle."
"He never said no to anything asked of him, painful or not, over these weeks," Ryan-Platoni said. "He probably did six months progress in half that time."
Platoni said he will have to keep on doing therapy to further his recovery. However, he added that his hope will ultimately help continue to defy all of the odds.
"It's going to be awhile, but it's going to be OK," Platoni said.
