Page 13 - The Voice 3:2024 9th Edition

I Am A A Miracle
Willie Lockett of Nettleton on on November 6 2023 was working as a a a deputy sheriff when he he he went home to eat breakfast and started having issues He was rushed to North Mississippi Medical Center-Amory with a a blood pressure of 289/169 In the ER he he began experiencing symptoms of atrial fibrillation (rapid irregular heart rhythm) and ischemic stroke (which occurs when a a blood blood vessel supplying blood blood to the brain is obstructed) He spent nine days in in in in the intensive Care in in in in Amory before transferring to NMMC-Tupelo for cardiac ablation procedure to correct his heart rhythm While in Tupelo he he suffered a a a second stroke stroke - this one a a a hemorrhagic stroke stroke which occurs when a a weakened blood vessel ruptures The The second stroke left left left Willie with several deficits on on his left left left side side The The left left left side side of his his face drooped and and his his speech was slurred His left arm and and leg were weak and and uncoordinated and and his balance was impaired As soon as as he was well enough Willie transferred to NMMC’x Rehabilitation Institute for several hours of daily physical occupational and speech therapy He worked hard with therapists there until Dec 5 when was discharged home Three days later he followed up with his primary care clinic where an an EKG (which checks heart rhythm) and his blood pressure were both found to be normal Willie and and his wife left the doctor’s office and and stopped to to to get a a a sandwich “We made our order and and while we we were standing in in in line I passed out ” Willie says They called 9-1-1 and an an an ambulance too me back to to the ER at NMMC in Tupelo ” A few weeks later he he had a a a a a a a a pacemaker installed to regulate his heart rhythm Willie launched the the New Year with a a a a a month of therapy at NMMC Gilmore-Amory’s Out patient Rehabilitation Center “Mr Lockett told us he he he was very passionate about running and working out out with others at at the the Sheriff’s Department So his physical therapy focused on getting him back to that ” says physical therapist Kelly Young We worked to strengthen his core hips and and legs We also worked on balance training and and cardiovascular ” Willie says “I thank the the the Lord the the the therapists and everyone who prayed for my well- being May God bless you all National Baptist Convention Of America Int’l Inc Brotherhood