Sudden vision loss at work leads to life-saving stroke care at Piedmont Cartersville

Cartersville, Ga. (October 15, 2026) - Chris Storey was in the middle of a normal workday at the Anheuser-Busch plant in Cartersville when something suddenly went wrong with his vision.

There was no pain and none of the stroke symptoms he would have immediately recognized. His left eye began "jumping," his vision became blurry and, before long, he could no longer see. Employees at the plant followed their stroke protocol and encouraged him to seek medical attention.

Storey's wife picked him up from work and drove him to Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center. By the time they arrived, Storey said he had completely lost his vision in both eyes. His wife had to get a wheelchair to bring him into the hospital.

"When I got to the hospital emergency room, I told them, 'I can see nothing," Storey recalled. "It was just black."

The Piedmont Cartersville Emergency Department quickly evaluated Storey, and he said he learned he was experiencing two strokes affecting both eyes. A neurologist was consulted, and the care team discussed the use of clot-busting medication, including the potential risks of the treatment. Storey agreed to move forward.

For Storey, the results were dramatic.

"It worked wonders for me," he said.

Storey spent 24 hours in intensive care for monitoring and remained in the hospital for approximately six days. Looking back, he said he was grateful for the care he received throughout an experience that began without the stroke warning signs he might have expected.

"Everybody was on top of everything," Storey said. "For a bad situation, it was a joyful experience for me."

Stroke doesn't always look the way you expect

Storey's experience is an important reminder that a stroke can happen suddenly, even in the middle of an ordinary workday.

"I had no pain whatsoever," Storey recalls. "Really no warning signs."

Stroke is a medical emergency, and rapid evaluation is critical. At Piedmont Cartersville, the Stroke Program focuses on quickly identifying patients with possible stroke symptoms and helping ensure they receive appropriate evaluation and treatment.

"Stroke is an emergency, and every minute matters," said Christy Serpa, Director of Quality and Safety Integration at Piedmont Cartersville. "Chris' experience is a powerful reminder that stroke symptoms may not always be what people expect. When you experience a sudden change in vision, speech, balance, strength or another neurological symptom, don't wait to see if it gets better. Call 911 so evaluation and treatment can begin as quickly as possible."

Providing access to high-quality care close to home is an important part of Piedmont's commitment to the communities it serves. Piedmont Cartersville's stroke care combines rapid emergency evaluation with specialized clinical care to help patients when time matters most.

For Storey, being close to the hospital and receiving timely treatment made his experience one he won't soon forget.

A lesson Storey won't forget

Storey acknowledges there is one thing he would do differently.

He would call 911.

His wife drove him to Piedmont Cartersville because, at the time, he did not realize what he was experiencing could be a stroke. He now encourages others not to make the same decision.

"That was my mistake," Storey said of not calling 911. "I didn't call 911 because I didn't understand truthfully what was going on."

Today, his advice to others is simple.

"Don't question it," Storey said. "Listen to your mind and your body and do the right thing."

Storey considers himself fortunate that he was close to Piedmont Cartersville and was able to receive care quickly.

"Be mindful and call 911," he said.

His experience underscores an important message for the community: Stroke symptoms can be sudden and may not always look the way someone expects. Recognizing that something is wrong and seeking emergency medical care can make a critical difference.

For Storey, what started as an ordinary workday at the Anheuser-Busch plant quickly became a medical emergency he never anticipated.

Now, he has a message he hopes others will remember: Don't wait. Don't second-guess the symptoms. Call 911.