Hometown Stories - Bridging The Great Health Divide Strokes by Hometown Stories WDBJ7

This is a portion of a podcast episode that was part of our series Bridging the Great Health Divide for the Hometown Stories podcast. This episode expanded upon a story that was previously featured during an evening newscast on WDBJ7. Bridging the Great Health Divide is a series focused on the obstacles Appalachia faces in achieving greater health outcomes, and how, very often, those portions of our coverage area suffer because of this gap. We learned that some of these communities have among the highest rates of strokes not just in the state, but the nation. This episode uses the emotional story of the Rudder family to paint the picture. Jeff Rudder suffered three strokes in just a few years. The family feels that with more resources nearby, his second and third strokes might have been prevented. In this episode, we take time to listen to their story and use it to frame a conversation around the achievements and deficits of stroke care and prevention in rural communities in southwest Virginia. The Rudders' experience is arresting and compelling. They are raw and unfiltered in their expression of their experience and the struggles they face daily. The facts show a region with spread out, and largely inconsistent resources and financial strain in areas largely considered economically depressed. The episode ends with a hope for expanded resources, prevention education and awareness thanks to the frankness and bravery of the Rudder family.

In this episode of Hometown Stories in our series Bridging the Great Health Divide, we’re taking a look at the facts.
And the faith that’s kept one Virginia family going, despite it all.