Dallas man receives urgent, lifesaving treatment by Barrow Neurological Institute’s mobile stroke unit from Sky Harbor’s tarmac

Stroke survivor and physician urge stroke awareness this holiday travel season

(PHOENIX - Dec. 14, 2023) - A Dallas man has had an incredible recovery after suffering a stroke while on a commercial flight home from a family vacation in Las Angeles. Quick action from his family and flight crew allowed Richard Flores, 63, to receive urgent, lifesaving care on the ground at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport by Barrow Neurological Institute’s mobile stroke unit.

On Aug. 5, Flores’ family members recognized he had common signs of a stroke and immediately notified the flight crew of his condition. Thanks to fast coordination among a number of individuals, the flight was diverted back to Phoenix. The Barrow Emergency Stroke Treatment Unit and Phoenix Fire Department were deployed to Sky Harbor and prepared to treat Flores immediately upon the plane’s arrival.

Upon examining Flores and administering a CT scan from the mobile unit on the tarmac, the Barrow team was able to confirm the stroke, and provided immediate treatment to break up the clot within only an hour of symptom onset and before Flores was transported to the hospital.

“The reaction time and Richard’s outcome are both amazing and humbling,” explains Daniel Gonzalez, MD, the stroke neurologist at Barrow who received the call and provided care to Flores. “His family members and that flight crew saved his life. Our team wouldn’t have been able to provide lifesaving care if they hadn’t taken the signs of stroke as seriously as they did. Minutes matter.”

Prior to the stroke, Flores considered himself healthy, with no known health conditions. However, during his stay at Barrow – which is part of Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center – Dr. Gonzalez and his colleagues identified a small hole in Flores’ heart. Arizona Cardiology’s interventional cardiologist, Haidar Yassin, MD, was able to perform surgery closing the hole.

“I am still here to spend time with my wife, children and grandchildren,” says Flores, whose father also suffered a stroke while flying many years prior. “I can thank all of the individuals who got me to Barrow. When all was said and done, I only spent five days in the hospital and haven’t had to do any rehab therapy.”

By Aug. 11, Flores and his wife, Rose, had returned home to Dallas. He has since returned to work and looks forward to spending the holiday season with his family. 

“Richard has made a complete recovery,” says Dr. Gonzalez. “The coordinated efforts of Phoenix Fire, the airline flight crew, and our mobile stroke unit granted us the opportunity to save Richard from a devastating quality of life.”

Millions of Americans are planning to travel this holiday season, and studies suggest more are returning to airplanes as a preferred mode of transit. While strokes are relatively rare on commercial flights, accounting for only about 2 percent of all medical emergencies, the higher altitude as well as sitting in a confined space for a long period of time may increase the risk for blood clots that can cause a stroke.

 “You don’t need to be afraid to fly,” says Dr. Gonzalez. “But, you should know the signs of stroke so that you can act fast to help get care for anyone around you who might be in need. Stroke symptoms include facial drooping or sudden numbness, arm weakness or numbness, and slurred or other difficulty with speech. When someone experiences a stroke, time is of the essence, which is why we created the mobile stroke unit at Barrow.”

The mobile stroke unit at Barrow is one of just a handful in the United States and is revolutionizing the way stroke treatment is delivered to many individuals who live in Phoenix. Currently, less than 6 percent of individuals suffering a stroke receive treatment within the recommended four-to five-hour timeframe after the onset of symptoms; and the probability of a good outcome is reduced 10 percent every 30 minutes until blood flow in the brain is reestablished. The mobile stroke unit dramatically speeds the process in which a stroke is diagnosed and treated in Phoenix, reducing death and long-term disability of stroke patients.

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