GROSSE POINTE FARMS, Mich. – A Grosse Pointe Farms man’s stroke could have turned tragic if not for a fortunate accident location and quick-acting emergency medical technicians who helped turn his medical emergency into what his family now calls their “Christmas miracle.”
Frank Kozik was just minutes from his home on December 14 when he experienced stroke symptoms around 2 p.m. while driving on Detroit’s East Side.
“I heard a boom, a noise,” Kozik said. “The whole car shook. Then I heard another one.”
Kozik had crashed his car into the median on Moross Road — fortuitously near Henry Ford St. John Hospital’s emergency room. Another driver stopped to check on him, tapping on his window after the crash.
Detroit Fire Department EMTs Michael Sweeney, Ian Cobbs and Capt. James Gatteno had just dropped off another patient at the hospital when they heard the crash and immediately responded.
“The entire left side of his body is immobile, was confused, wasn’t able to answer questions correctly,” Gatteno said.
The EMTs quickly recognized the signs of stroke and alerted the hospital’s stroke team. Their rapid response proved crucial in Kozik’s treatment.
“From the onset of his symptoms while driving down Moross into the CT scan to recognize the type of stroke it was within about eight minutes,” Gatteno said.
Kozik underwent surgery shortly after arrival and has since returned home with no lingering symptoms.
On Monday afternoon, he and his wife Susan thanked the EMTs for their swift action, presenting them with holiday gifts.
“For him to have this accident right in front of the hospital, a major trauma center — I mean if he had gotten home who knows when he would have been found. If it had happened on the highway he could have hit other cars,” Susan Kozik said.
Medical experts emphasize that recognizing stroke symptoms can be critical for survival and recovery.
As demonstrated in Kozik’s case, immediate medical attention can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients.
“Everybody was moving at lightning speed and everyone knew what to do and was doing it,” Frank Kozik said.
The Detroit Fire Department also presented the responding EMTs with honors for their handling of Kozik’s medical emergency.
Thanks, Will!