Theda Care: Former Packer Bob Long to explain how Lombardi helped him recover from a stroke
The Theda Clark Stroke Center is offering a half-day morning community conference on stroke prevention and follow-up care on Sat., April 28, at the Best Western Premier Bridgewood Hotel and Conference Center in Neenah. Former Packers player Bob Long is the featured speaker, who will present “Tackling Stroke: How Coach Lombardi’s Message on Perseverance and Mental Toughness Helped Me Recover from a Stroke.”
Long played for the Green Bay Packers from 1964-1967, playing on the great teams that won the NFL Championship in 1965 and won the first two Super Bowls in 1966 and 1967. After a brief stint in Atlanta, Long rejoined Coach Vince Lombardi in 1969 with the Washington Redskins, making him the only active player ever to play for both teams under Lombardi. Nicknamed “The Packer Story Teller” for his unique perspectives on his Lombardi and Green Bay Packers experiences, Long has spent recent decades actively involved in fundraising for charities across Wisconsin. At the “Tackling Stroke” Conference in Neenah, he will speak about his own stroke in 1991 and how Coach Lombardi’s early instruction on mental strength and determination helped him recover.
“Bob Long will speak about how your life changes drastically after a stroke. You have to rearrange your roles, work around your physical challenges, and not be afraid to ask for help. It’s a message of hope, that you are not alone, and there are so many good people who are here to support you along the way,” explained Kristin Randall BSN, RN, and Theda Clark Stroke Center coordinator.
Breakout sessions will follow the 8:30 a.m. keynote speech, including:
- Stroke Basics – Signs, Symptoms, Risk and Treatment Factors, by Thomas Mattio, MD, PhD
- Neuropsychology – Understanding How Your Brain Works with Your Body, by Theresa L. Chinnery, PhD
- “My Carotids Are Plugged … What Do I Do?” by Todd R. Peebles, MD
- Diet & Exercise, by Kathy Brown-Miner, RN, MS.
As the only certified Primary Stroke Center in the Fox Cities, Theda Clark Stroke Center in Neenah is one of Wisconsin’s longest-running stroke facilities. Certified by The Joint Commission (TJC), Theda Clark Primary Stroke Center specializes in all stages of stroke care and recovery, from emergency stroke care, through tests, treatment and rehabilitation. Community outreach and engagement is an important part of their mission, Randall explained. “Education is key. The quicker you can get to the hospital if you or someone you love is showing signs of a stroke, the more we can do to help you. This conference will focus on recognizing those early signs. It’s an especially worthwhile event for individuals and families who have stroke risk factors.”
The Best Western Premier Bridgewood Hotel and Conference Center is located at 1000 Cameron Way in Neenah. Conference check-in and a complimentary continental breakfast begin at 7:30 a.m. and the program is from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Free and open to the public, pre-registration is required by calling ThedaCare at (920) 830-5990.
ThedaCare™ is a community health system consisting of five hospitals: Appleton Medical Center, Theda Clark Medical Center, New London Family Medical Center, Shawano Medical Center, and Riverside Medical Center in Waupaca. ThedaCare also includes ThedaCare Physicians, ThedaCare Behavioral Health, ThedaCare at Work, and ThedaCare at Home. ThedaCare is the largest employer in Northeast Wisconsin with more than 6,175 employees. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
For more information, media may contact Megan Wilcox, APR, (megan.wilcox@thedacare.org), public relations and corporate specialist for ThedaCare, at (920) 830-5847, or call the Theda Clark Medical Center switchboard at (920) 729-3100 and ask for the marketing person on call.
