Stroke survivor reunites with medical team that saved his life at Pomona hospital

POMONA, Calif. (KABC) -- More than six months after suffering what could have been a debilitating stroke, retired CalFire firefighter George Rojas has reunited with the team of doctors and nurses at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center who helped save his life.

The stroke happened last November, when Rojas woke up one morning feeling unwell.

"I knew something was wrong. I had a foggy sensation; my vision was there but not quite," Rojas said.

At first, he believed he might be having an allergic reaction. But when he went to wash his face, he quickly realized something was seriously wrong, prompting his wife to act.

"He was bent over on the toilet when I found him. I knew I couldn't help him, so right away I called 911," said Leticia Rojas of Chino Hills.

Paramedics arrived within six minutes. After being transported to the hospital, Rojas received a tissue plasminogen activator, a treatment used to break down blood clots and restore blood flow to the brain.

"They took great care of me. On the third day I was released to go home and started my recovery," Rojas said.

Doctors say timing is critical when treating stroke patients, but updated guidance from the American Stroke Association has expanded the window for administering certain treatments in specific cases.

"Normally it would have been four and a half hours with the onset of symptoms, but now we've extended that window to include patients who wake up with strokes, and sometimes you don't know when the last time they were normal was," said Dr. Adeel Popalzai of Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

As Rojas prepares to celebrate Father's Day for the first time since his stroke, the occasion carries added meaning this year.

"My wife and daughters acted immediately, dialed 911 and took care of me, and I'll be forever grateful to them; to the staff here at Pomona Valley; to the firefighters at chino valley for coming out and taking care of me," he said.

Rojas' recovery and reunion with his care team underscore the importance of recognizing stroke symptoms and seeking immediate medical attention.