Rodney McDougal, a 46-year-old black man with hypertension, credits God, his family and Mayo Clinic for his survival of a deadly stroke in 2010.
McDougal was a self-described “workaholic” insurance broker, entrepreneur and volunteer football coach. He had recently neglected to refill his blood pressure medication. McDougal collapsed in 2010 while getting ready one morning for work.
His wife, Jennifer, recalls, “I was very scared. I called 9-1-1 and grabbed the blood pressure cuff and checked and it was 269/160. I was like, what is happening to my husband?”
She later learned he was having an intraventricular stroke, which is often a result of hypertension.
McDougal, of Fleming Island, Fla., was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where they discovered he had a brain bleed. He was then airlifted to Mayo Clinic’s Comprehensive Stroke Center in Jacksonville, Fla. At the time, Mayo was participating in a national clinical trial to test the first potential drug for intraventricular stroke.
Before this all happened, McDougal recalls he had expressed to his wife that he had never considered participating in research or clinical trials.
“I didn’t think too highly about medical trials. I felt like I would be a test dummy. I have a whole different outlook now,” he said.
Facing a critical decision, Jennifer saw that Rodney’s life was at stake and made the choice to enter her unconscious husband in Mayo’s clinical study and into the care of Mayo Clinic critical care neurologist, Dr. William Freeman.
Jennifer remembers, “They told me, ‘We have to act quickly,’ and I just knew it was the right thing for Rodney. I just had to trust the doctor and the research coordinator. They handed me a paper, I looked over it and it was just, ‘Yes, let’s do it.’ It couldn’t get any worse than it already was,” Jennifer said. “It was a no brainer for me.”
Deeply faithful, Rodney gave his family’s prayers much of the credit for saving his life.
“I have to emphasize my belief in the power of prayer,” McDougal said. “Not to take anything from Dr. Freeman, but God gave him those skills.” He jokes, “God decided to save my life and make it whole so I could brag about Dr. Freeman.”
Now, the entrepreneur and insurance salesman said he is taking it a lot slower these days. McDougal no longer disregards his medication and has had no side effects from the clinical trial.
“I don’t want to go through that again, but it’s interesting that I ended up there, meeting those people. I absolutely appreciate them. I found out that Mayo is not just for the rich and famous,” McDougal said.
Jennifer and their two children, Ashley, 23, and Rodney Jr., 18, keep Dad in check about his medication, now. They also keep an eye on how much work he takes on.
“The kids watch me and check on me. I feel good.” McDougal smiles.
