In stroke response, minutes count

Strokes usually occur in people over 65, but recent headlines about Luke Perry and John Singleton show they can occur much earlier. That's something one Western Washington man knows. About halfway through a yoga class on the Kitsap Peninsula, Aaron Barnett started losing his balance. He was 52 at the time. Luckily his instructor immediately recognized the signs of stroke and called 911. Within three hours, Barnett was receiving treatment at Harborview Medical Center.

Dr. Danial Hallam removed the clot that blocked bloodflow to Barnett's brain. “Within minutes of the clot being removed, I had everything back," he said. "Time is everything, a stroke is all about time. That’s why I’m here."