BonnerSprings.com

Some call it stubbornness, but to the people who recently gave Bonner Springs resident Megan Bond an award, it’s known as persistence.

In May, Bond, 20, who was working at the Sonic Drive-in, 11555 Kaw Drive, was part of a group of people who helped save the life of fellow Bonner Springs resident Phil Roberts when he suffered a stroke while at the restaurant. It was Bond’s quick thinking, courage, and most of all, persistence that the American Stroke Association decided to present Bond with the Brain Saver Award during the 11th annual Stroke Symposium in Overland Park.

“I feel excited,” Bond said right before officially being presented with the award. “I feel very happy.”

On May 31, Phil Roberts was picking up food for his family at Sonic when he began experiencing symptoms of a stroke. Neither Roberts nor Bond recognized the signs of the stroke, but Bond said she “just knew something was majorly wrong.”

In the beginning, Roberts kept telling Bond that nothing was wrong and refused the ambulance Bond had called. Eventually, with more persuading from Bond and Roberts’ wife, Judy, he agreed to go with the second ambulance and not a moment too soon.

“I'm just glad that he's still alive," Bond said in an earlier interview following the event. "It makes me feel good because he said he didn't want me to call for help, but we just saved his life.”

Bond has since quit her job at Sonic and wants to pursue a position where she can use the medical assistant degree she received from High Tech Institute in January 2007.

Tony Nunn, a registered nurse at Saint Luke's Brain and Stroke Institute of Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, was the person who nominated Bond for the award. Nunn said what he found interesting about Bond and Roberts’ story was that care was initially refused.

“She was persistent,” Nunn said. “She obviously knew something was wrong. What she did made a difference. If she hadn’t helped, (Roberts) may not have been here today.”

Nunn said he hoped Bond’s story would encourage others to not be afraid to help others and to learn the simple symptoms to look for in a stroke victim. Symptoms such as droopiness on one side of someone’s face, confusion, dizziness and a loss of balance can easily be spotted or described by the victim.

“I think it’s really special someone young decided to help,” he said. “She may not have known what was causing it but she knew something was wrong and she did something about it.”

Also attending the award ceremony on Tuesday at the Sheraton Hotel in Overland Park was Roberts. Life for him hasn’t been easy since his stroke. Health issues persist, such as constantly cold fingers from poor circulation, a left arm that lacks almost all sensation and taste buds that are nearly useless. Roberts was also laid off from his job and he is in the process of trying to get Social Security disability payments.

Besides those problems, however, Roberts said he’s getting along and is thankful for that opportunity.

“I’m glad (Bond) is getting recognized for her part in my recovery,” Roberts said, adding that he also owes thanks to his wife, who ultimately convinced him to take the second ambulance ride to the hospital.

In the end, Roberts hopes his experience and Bond’s efforts help show people what knowledge and awareness can do and encourages people to learn more about the signs of a stroke.

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