Stroke survivor running miles a day

The countless smiles and warm embraces of Greg and Lakesha Burton during their 17th wedding anniversary vacation tell a story of not only love but strength, perseverance, resilience and hope.

That’s because two years earlier, Greg was fighting to live following a stroke that left him initially unable to walk or communicate.

Fighting his way back following stroke

Greg Burton, former Duval County Public Schools police chief, was at their home in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville on Sept. 29, 2023, when one of his sons noticed he was about to pass out and dialed 911.

Burton was transported to Baptist Medical Center South where he was immediately evaluated by staff there and via telemedicine with neurocritical care neurologist Mohamad Chmayssani, MD, who correctly diagnosed the stroke. Burton was given clot-busting medication and then airlifted to Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville’s Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center.

Nima Amin Aghaebrahim, MD, neurointerventionalist with Baptist Lyerly Neurosurgery and system medical director for stroke for Baptist Health, performed a thrombectomy, a minimally invasive procedure to remove the blockage from the brain blood vessels.

“I tell people he’s the doctor who saved my husband’s life,” said Lakesha Burton. “He is masterful and skillful, and what I love about him is he’s very compassionate about what he does.”

Dr. Nima removed a sizable blood clot that was blocking the left main artery in Burton’s brain. The damage from the stroke was significant; Burton wasn’t able to talk, understand speech, walk or move his right arm.

Stroke is the leading cause of serious long-term disability in the United States, with someone experiencing a stroke every 40 seconds or more than 795,000 people each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This was Burton’s fourth stroke after having three from 2012 to 2015. He’s also had colon cancer, seizures and open-heart surgery.

Deep community connection

A 25-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office before coming out of retirement to work for Duval County Public Schools, Burton and his health journey have captured a community as he fought to walk and get his strength back with his wife and family by his side.

Over time, through coordinated care from Baptist Health and Brooks Rehabilitation, and with a strong family support system, he has made tremendous strides. He’s now dancing, playing golf, working out seven days a week, running more than four miles at least three days a week, and enjoying life.

“He really has surprised everybody,” Dr. Nima said. “This should be motivation for other stroke patients who think they will never get better. It shows that if you have the appropriate care, including fast and effective initial treatment and adequate rehabilitation, despite significant brain damage or disability, there is a possibility of a good outcome.”

Burton and his wife recently returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., and an anniversary cruise to Bermuda. The two met while at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, both starting as patrol officers and becoming assistant chiefs. They have a blended family of five children and six grandchildren, with a seventh on the way.

While Burton has recovered physically, writing is his main form of communication. He was initially diagnosed with global aphasia, a severe communication impairment that can affect a person’s ability to read, write, speak and understand language. He has since learned to write and read, however, he still has difficulty saying certain words and speaking fluently.

“We do a lot of writing and drawing of pictures. That’s our new normal,” Lakesha said.

When he’s not playing golf with friends, Burton and his wife do everything together, from going on walks at parks and visiting museums to spending time at the beach.

“Though the stroke changed his brain, he’s able to develop new connections in the brain, which is possible through rehab, motivation and support of family,” Dr. Nima said.

Maintaining hope

Lakesha said her husband, who also served in the U.S. Army for six years, is very focused and disciplined.

“He’s a man of faith,” she said. “We have strong faith in God. We are just grateful for his life. He had strong faith before his illness and it’s what we’ve leaned on. Family and a support system.”

Lakesha has become a strong advocate for stroke education, including speaking on education panels alongside Dr. Nima.

“My message to others is not to lose hope and to keep searching for answers,” she said.

Lakesha is constantly researching advancements in aphasia and is not giving up hope that her husband will one day talk the way he used to. Greg continues going each week to speech and physical therapy and to Brooks Rehab’s dedicated Aphasia Center.

“More than anything, my husband wants to talk so badly, and I want that for him, too,” Lakesha said. “My husband has exceeded everything. I feel like if there’s going to be a breakthrough, it’s going to be with Greg Burton.”

A stroke is a life-threatening emergency. If you or someone else is having symptoms of a stroke, call 911 immediately. Learn more about the Baptist Health Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center.