Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to Tim Curry, an immensely talented actor, and creator of some of the most memorable characters of recent memory.
Curry, 67, suffered a stroke on Thursday at his home in L.A. Although the press is describing the stroke as major, few details have been released and his publicist is saying he’s recovering well. Mr. Curry is said to be a very private person, and will likely want to keep as a personal matter the course of his treatment and recuperation. That is, of course, his right, and here’s hoping it’s fully respected. Fans would simply have him know we’re pulling for him.
And maybe his experience can serve as a wake-up for us all. As the popular education campaign told us, Stroke Is No Joke. A stroke is the blockage or rupture of blood vessels in the brain, leading to oxygen starvation and eventual death of brain cells. It’s one of the leading causes of both death and adult disability.
The good news is that with fast recognition of the symptoms of stroke, and with immediate medical intervention, strokes are not only survivable, but full recovery is very much possible. The American Stroke Association urges us all to remember the acronym FAST: if there’s Facial drooping, Arm weakness, and/or Speech difficulty, then it’s Time to call 911.
Quick note: the medical knowitalls from the ‘net sometimes suggest an aspirin for suspected stroke, as is (properly) recommended for heart attack. Do not give aspirin to anyone you think might be having a stroke! It’s true that aspirin could—possibly—be beneficial if the stroke’s caused by a bloodclot. Problem is, it’s impossible, as far as you and I are concerned, to discern whether a stroke’s been triggered by a blockage or a bleed. And if it’s a bleed, aspirin can make it worse.
All you can do, all you must do, is to call for help as soon as humanly possible. It can make all the difference in the world. That very thing might have saved Tim Curry’s life, and for that we should all be extremely grateful.
Get well soon, Mr. Curry, and let’s do the time warp again.
