A devoted observer of local politics and a retired journalist, Paul Krueger had an eventful day. He attended a San Diego City Council meeting, enjoyed a swim in the Coronado Bay, and then returned to city hall for an afternoon session of discussions. Later that evening, he and his wife, Meg Bouher, had salads for dinner. Afterward, Krueger settled into bed to work on a crossword puzzle. His wife, a social worker with experience in neurology rehabilitation, turned on the news before switching to the Olympics, contemplating whether Krueger might enjoy watching the games as well.
When she went to check on him, she found him lying awkwardly in bed, his chest gently rising and falling next to the crossword puzzle and pen. Bouher, noticing something was amiss, gently touched his shoulder, which caused him to wake up laughing. However, this laughter was followed by unsettling moments, as he described feeling “spaced out,” with a hazy vision reminiscent of looking through a greasy lens. When he tried to stand, he found himself unsteady, his right hand numb. He struggled to tie the drawstring of his sweatpants and couldn’t maneuver his right foot into a sandal.
Concerned, Bouher asked, “Are you all right?” Krueger’s instinct was to reassure her, intending to say, “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little groggy from that nap.” Instead, his words came out as incomprehensible sounds. Bouher’s confusion deepened as he responded with a weak smile and raised his hands. Sensing the urgency of the situation, she immediately called 911, telling the operator that she believed her husband was experiencing a stroke.
As the paramedics arrived and began their assessment, they requested Krueger’s driver’s license amidst his slurred speech that left them puzzled. Bouher confirmed that this kind of communication was not typical for her husband. A former editor and writer post-retirement from NBC 7 San Diego, Krueger usually enjoyed correcting her grammar in a lighthearted manner.
In the emergency room, Krueger tried to convey that he hadn’t had enough water and might be dehydrated, which was a significant concern for him ever since having part of his colon removed years ago due to ulcerative colitis. However, his attempts to express this were in vain, leading to feelings of frustration and fear. Questions raced through his mind: Will I regain my ability to speak? Is this a glimpse of my future? Will I miss the soccer game tomorrow? Will I benefit from speech therapy?
A CT scan revealed no blockages or brain damage, but the neurologist suspected Krueger was suffering from an ischemic stroke, where blocked blood flow resulted from a clot. Consequently, he received clot-busting medication, and the effects were nearly instant. In a matter of minutes, sensation returned to his right hand, and soon thereafter, his speech improved dramatically.
Within an hour, Krueger was able to communicate in clear, complete sentences. Reflecting on the experience, he likened himself to a droopy plant that could flourish again with a refreshing drink of water—drawing a parallel to how brain cells can survive a temporary oxygen deficiency before reviving once blood flow is restored.
Doctors credited Krueger’s generally good health—his normal blood pressure, lack of excess weight, and abstention from smoking or excessive drinking—as significant factors in his swift recovery. He spent two days in intensive care, using that time to jot down his experiences, hoping to educate others about the symptoms of stroke and the vital importance of prompt medical intervention.
Just days after returning home, Krueger resumed his favorite activities, including swimming, gardening, reading, and writing. He and Bouher then set off for a planned trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico, for a week filled with opera, art, dining, short hikes, and scenic drives. Upon their return, Krueger committed to going to the gym twice a week to maintain his strength and promote heart health. Bouher, influenced by the incident, began contemplating retirement, concerned that such health crises could happen to anyone at any time.
“I want to spend more time together,” she expressed. “Maybe it’s time to truly enjoy life.” Currently, Krueger is back to solving his daily crossword puzzles and teasing Bouher about her grammar once more. “I consider myself lucky,” he remarked, adding that had Bouher not recognized the signs and woken him, the outcome might have been far more serious.