When a stroke begins, the brain immediately goes into crisis. With each passing minute, millions of brain cells are at risk. That’s why specialists often say, “time is brain.”

At Richmond University Medical Center, stroke patients are met with rapid evaluation, advanced imaging, and around-the-clock neurological expertise – care that can dramatically change outcomes and preserve quality of life.

But what happens after the emergency? What does stroke treatment really look like behind the hospital doors? And what should patients and families realistically expect during recovery?

Chief of department of Neurology, medical director of RUMC stroke, and immediate past president of New York State Neurological Society, Dr. Allan Perel, joins host, Meredith Gaskins, again to walk us through what happens minute by minute during a stroke, how fast treatment can make a life-changing difference, and what recovery truly looks like – from rehabilitation to regaining independence. At RUMC, patients also have access to the only stroke support group on Staten Island, which brings survivors and caregivers together to share experiences, ask questions, and support one another through recovery.

This is an essential conversation for patients, caregivers, and anyone who wants to be prepared – because when it comes to stroke, knowing what to do can make all the difference.