Exclusive: Long Island stroke survivor regains independence with FDA-approved implant
His recovery has been aided in part by a newly FDA-approved implantable device called Vivistim, which doctors at South Shore University Hospital say is helping stroke patients regain lost function.
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One year after a devastating stroke left him paralyzed on his left side, Deer Park resident Robert Burstein is celebrating milestones he once feared would never be possible again: climbing stairs, writing his name and returning to many of the routines of daily life.
His recovery has been aided in part by a newly FDA-approved implantable device called Vivistim, which doctors at South Shore University Hospital say is helping stroke patients regain lost function.
“I woke up one morning, and had a bright light in my eye. I couldn’t see,” Burstein recalled. “My wife called the ambulance, and I had a stroke. It was too late. My whole left side was paralyzed. I couldn’t get up off the ground.”
Now, months into his rehabilitation, Burstein is among the first patients at South Shore University Hospital to receive the implant.
“It stimulates the patient’s brainstem to relearn the function that was lost because of the stroke,” said Dr. Boris Chulpayev, a neurologist at South Shore University Hospital.
Doctors said Vivistim was approved by the FDA last year. Burstein received the implant about six months ago and credits the device, along with extensive therapy, for helping accelerate his recovery.
“I can hold stuff in my hand and walk at the same time,” Burstein said.
Just weeks after the implantation procedure, he said he was able to write his own name again, a milestone that underscored how far he had come.
“I’ve got the strength to open the door,” he said. “I could not do that before.”
According to Dr. Mohsen Nouri, a neurosurgeon at South Shore, the hospital has seen encouraging results among stroke survivors using the technology.
“So far, we have seen excellent outcomes, great recoveries, even for people who have not shown any improvement for years,” Nouri said.
As Burstein continues his recovery, he and his medical team hope his progress will inspire other stroke survivors facing long and challenging rehabilitation journeys.
“Everybody’s been very supportive,” Burstein said. “All the doctors, all the nurses, all the therapists. I couldn’t have done it without my family. I’m here, thank God.”
