Alameda resident Denny Goodman was out on a fishing boat with his neighbors on July 4, 2022, hoping to catch a perfect view of fireworks over the San Francisco Bay.
It was the happiest time of his life, he told his friends. He’d decided to live aboard a boat in Alameda after eight years of caretaking for his mother, who passed away at 103 years old. A new chapter of his life had just begun.
The fog was thick and the fireworks were hidden behind its veil. But no matter, Denny and his friends joked around beneath the invisible booms and crackles before heading back to the marina.
At some point in the night, Denny had a stroke. Two days went by. Friends and neighbors began to worry that they hadn’t seen him. On the third day, a local marine captain decided it was time to break into Denny’s boat to check on him. He discovered Denny collapsed in a nook just beyond view from the sliding glass doors of the aft deck. Denny was rushed to Alameda Hospital — the only certified stroke center and emergency room in Alameda — but despite the best efforts of medical staff, it was too late.
“The doctors were showing me scans of the damage every day. If we had found him sooner, he may have had a chance. But the damage was too widespread,” said Lynn Chronis, Denny’s sister.
On July 14, Denny died. His story is not uncommon. Stroke is a leading cause of death nationwide and a leading cause of serious long-term disability. Yet, with early recognition and fast treatment, outcomes can often be significantly improved.
Read the full story, including how Alameda Hospital is a critical resource for stroke patients, in this month’s Healthy Alameda column in the Alameda Post.