Former Los Angeles Dodger Receives Major League Stroke Care

When legendary Los Angeles Dodger Manny Mota suffered a severe stroke, the swift actions of his daughter and a family friend in calling 9-1-1— and the paramedics’ decision to bring him to Adventist Health Glendale, one of the region’s top hospitals for comprehensive stroke care — made all the difference.

“We had to act fast with Manny. When he was brought to our Emergency Room, he was unable to speak and paralyzed on one side of his body. Time was of the essence to preserve his brain function.” Vascular and interventional neurologist Radoslav Raychev, MD, details how he quickly assessed Mr. Mota’s condition and performed a mechanical thrombectomy — a highly complex procedure to remove the blood clot and restore blood flow to the affected area of the brain.

“With a stroke as severe as the one Manny endured, the window for optimal recovery is extremely tight. An LVO type stroke carries a high mortality and disability rate, if not treated at the right stroke center. There’s no better team trained to treat an LVO stroke than the one at Adventist Health Glendale,” shared Lance Lee, MD, Medical Director at Adventist Health Glendale’s Neuroscience Institute.

Since 2015, Adventist Health Glendale’s stroke program has led the way as the first in California to be accredited as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. Equipped with the latest technology, a highly skilled team, and unmatched clinical expertise to diagnose and treat stroke patients, Adventist Health Glendale provides lifesaving stroke care – what Mr. Mota describes as “the real MVPs”.

Recognizing the Adventist Health Glendale doctors, nurses, and rehabilitation specialists for their skill, encouragement and compassion being critical to his healing journey, Mr. Mota credits his incredible recovery to his lifesaving medical team. “I want to say that Adventist Health Glendale is one of the best hospitals. If you feel sick or when something goes wrong, come to Adventist [Health Glendale]. They will do everything possible to take care of you and get you healthy.”

For more than 120 years, Adventist Health Glendale has treated every patient like a Major League player, delivering compassionate, leading-edge care to our community. With your support, we will continue to build a stronger, healthier future. Join our team of healthcare heroes and donate today!