Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Tourney promotes stroke awareness

By NANCY MORGAN
Published March 29, 2007

Having a stroke was the farthest thing from Mary Gordon's mind when she had her first in 2003 and second in 2005.

Gordon, who has played tennis since 1987 after closing out a field hockey career that included college and national team play, kept herself in good shape with exercise and healthy eating habits.

"I had no signs other than my face was a little twisted," said Gordon, 51, a 24-year nurse. "I called 911 and was in the hospital for three days. I lost my speech for about 24 hours and had some numbness on my right side.

"The key was being given a clot buster medication within a critical three-hour window to reverse the effects of the stroke."

When Gordon left the hospital, she played - and won - a singles match.

Though Gordon was well aware of the symptoms that precede the onset of a stroke as a result of her first experience, she went to work after bouts of some clumsiness, numbness and blurred vision seemed to go away. When the symptoms returned, she immediately sought help.

"My speech was slurred, my unilateral vision was blurry and I had numbness," Gordon said. "Within minutes, I was paralyzed. This time I stayed in the hospital longer, and it took a little longer to recover because I waited to seek help. It was two weeks before I played tennis again, but I'm going full force now."

When Gordon heard about the plans for next month's inaugural Stroke for Stroke Charity Tournament, Gordon immediately told Linda Thomson, who is co-directing the event with her husband Don, she would be playing in it.

"Our mission with the tournament is to raise awareness of the symptoms and risk factors for a stroke," Linda Thomson said. "We do things in the hospital to help our patients get better after they have had a stroke, but I realized there was too much time lapsing between symptoms occurring and then arriving at the hospital.

"...We do a good job of helping in the hospital, but we need to get into the community to educate and raise awareness before someone suffers a stroke. Since I play charity tournaments, I felt a good way to accomplish this was to hold a tennis tournament."

Morton Plant Mease Health Care presents the tournament April 20-22 at the McMullen Tennis Complex in Clearwater. In addition to the usual men's and women's skill level doubles divisions, a unique mixed doubles team competition will be staged April 21 at 5 p.m. Teams include three mixed partnerships with one team each at the 8.0, 7.0 and 6.0 levels.

According to Thomson, a 23-year nurse, risk factors for stroke include hypertension, irregular heartbeat, obesity, smoking, high cholesterol and diabetes.

According to the National Stroke Association, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the No. 1 cause of adult disability. With greater awareness, up to 80 percent of strokes can be prevented.

During the tournament, free stroke screening will be available to players and nonplayers.

Proceeds will be used toward the purchase of digital blood pressure machines, which will be given to stroke survivors to monitor themselves at home.

Player registration concludes April 13. The tournament draw party is 7-10 p.m. April 18 at Bricktown 54 with food provided by Lee Roy Selmon's All-American Grill. A free Mighty Munchkins Kids Fun Night for 4- to 8-year-olds is from 5-7 p.m. April 20 at McMullen.

NET SHOTS: Among the winners in this month's Royal St. Patrick's Day Rookie Classic were Jessica Stephens in the girls 12, Shannon Cruz the 10 round robin, Stephanie Cruz 14 and Robert Costa the boys 16.

Playing to the final were Demiree Durkin in the girls 14 and Katie Roeder the 12.

- No. 1 seed Parker Hayslett was a finalist in the boys 10-and-under singles competition in this month's Temple Terrace Junior Championships.

- Debbie Hobbs women's 35-and-over, Page Buck (men's 35) and Andres Molina (45) collected singles titles in East Lake Woodlands' Senior Championships last weekend. Jimmy Gatza in the 35 and Chip Gamble in the 65 were finalists.

Judy and Pat Siracusa won the mixed 45 division.

- Top seed Alexandra Kitchen (girls 12-and-under) and Ganesh Rajaram (boys 12) won singles titles in last weekend's Clearwater Junior Spring Classic.

- Kelly Wilhite and Kirsten Willis won the women's 3.5 doubles and Ken Emery and Mark Marconi the men's 4.0 in last weekend's Chalmers Wealth Advisors Spring Classic in Tampa. Rachel Mayhew was a finalist in the women's 3.5 singles and teamed with Kim Rega to reach the 3.5 doubles final.

News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 445-4119; e-mailed to namorgan@tampabay.rr.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.

[Last modified March 28, 2007, 23:41:17]