Jerry Winnicki (left) and Trent Schott both suffered strokes in the past year. Each one credits the care they received through Niagara Health’s nationally recognized acute stroke program with helping them recover.
This past Saturday, Trent Schott took the ice for his first rec hockey game of the season.
This past February, the Kitchener resident suffered a stroke that sidelined him in the Niagara Falls Hospital for nearly six weeks.
The milestones in between are plentiful for Schott, many of them underscored by gratitude for the care he received at Niagara Health.
“Trent’s stroke care is an excellent example of how the Niagara Health Stroke Centre collaborates across the Central South Stroke region,” says Leanne Kent, Niagara Health District Stroke Program Manager. “We ensured all the services he required were available in Waterloo and ensured appropriate followups were booked both in Niagara and Waterloo.”
Fenwick farmer Jerry Winnicki’s journey back to his new normal after suffering a stroke in late 2024 follows a different path, but one still guided by high-quality care from Niagara Health’s acute stroke program, which received national recognition from Accreditation Canada earlier this year.
Today, like Schott, he’s doing everything he did before, taking to farm fields instead of ice rinks, with a few small changes to his daily routine to keep him healthy.
“Jerry is a great example of stroke prevention followup where his treatment has maintained his health and supported his return to farming, and our partnership with Hotel Dieu Shaver improves patient outcomes,” Kent says.
These are their stories.
Jerry Winnicki, Fenwick
Take us back to the day of your stroke. What happened?
I had just finished planting my garlic that weekend when I sat down to watch television with my youngest granddaughter on a Sunday evening. As she fell asleep on my lap, I turned around in my La-Z-Boy chair to turn off the light behind us. Within minutes I was bouncing off the hallway walls on route to my bedroom and laid in bed. I knew something serious had occurred when I threw up all over my bed later that evening.
On Tuesday, I was admitted to the hospital and was told that I had a mild stroke. That initial stroke only affected my balance and after some care at the Niagara Stroke Centre and a few days at (Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre), I was released.
The morning of Dec.14, 2024 I had a second stroke at home which again affected my balance, my speech and the strength in my left arm. My wife took me to the Welland Emergency Department where they diagnosed a second stroke and transferred me to Niagara Falls.
What kind of care and treatment did you receive from Niagara Health?
I spent several weeks with excellent care from the nursing staff and doctors until my release. I went home and got several weeks of rehabilitation at the Shaver hospital to correct my speech, strengthen my left arm and get driver training, so I could get my driver’s licence back and return to full-time employment after four months.
How have you been since your stroke?
I am doing everything I did before my stroke, but realize my strength and endurance is not as good. Life goes on.
The great doctors determined that my stroke was because of a blood clot caused by a dissection of the artery going through my neck to my brain. I am presently on blood thinners twice a day plus vitamin supplements for the (rest of) my life. I was very impressed with the dedication of all the staff in Niagara Falls and at the Shaver hospital during my stay, and thank them all again for their care and dedication.
Oct. 29, 2025 is World Stroke Day. Learn the signs of stroke and become a stroke spotter.
Trent Schott, Waterloo region
What symptoms did you experience that resulted in you going to the hospital?
I was on a ski weekend when I woke on Feb. 23 with a splitting headache behind my right eye, then discovered I could not swallow. Then my left hand started feeling numb, my voice changed and I had a general feeling of unwellness. I felt dizzy and faint.
When the symptoms started, we were at Bristol Mountain in New York. I was with three friends when I complained of the inability to swallow. We didn't know what to make of it until I told them that I just did not feel right. They immediately packed us up and drove me back to Niagara Falls, Ont. I checked into emergency but while I was waiting, I felt more and more faint, so I flagged down a paramedic walking by. He quickly got me into the triage nurse and my care began.
What kind of treatment did you receive?
I was given medications and went through many kinds of testing. I was put on a feeding tube.
I received periodic visits from a speech pathologist, who gave me exercises to "awaken" my swallowing muscles. She was very helpful in giving me hope and goals to strive for.
I was able to see some physiotherapists, who got me practising my balance and regaining strength. These were highlights of my days as I was going stir crazy sitting around in a hospital room.
I was given regular updates from my assigned doctors, as well as regular visits from (Nurse Practitioner) Charmaine Martin-Gaspar. The nurses were very kind and helpful in keeping me at ease during a difficult period. Being on time with meds and IV bag changes doesn't sound like much, but to a person who is in that situation, it was very comforting. I felt like I was given extremely good care from the entire team. I was in Niagara for five and a half weeks and then one week at Grand River Hospital. I began eating on my own again after six weeks and was discharged three days later.
How has life been for you since?
I had a follow up CT scan with neurologist Dr. Si You Sun after six months, which showed no change in the blockage. I am now taking daily aspirin and perindopril. I gained back the 17 pounds I lost quite quickly once I was able to eat normally again.
I feel very well now with some minor but noticeable fatigue. I am experiencing some left side nerve pain that I am trying various things to improve, like mindset/distraction techniques, physiotherapy, currently, and trying acupuncture next week. I no longer drink alcohol, save a small glass of wine occasionally. I have become a connoisseur of zero-alcohol beers. Other than that, I am pretty much back to normal – even getting back to my rec hockey.
