Lacing up his running shoes and going for a run is something Dr. Alex Duvall, a physician at Tidelands Health Family Medicine at Georgetown, is thankful to still be able to do.

He doesn’t run to win races or chase marathons, but instead, to simply appreciate his health and all his body can do for him – something he knows not to take for granted.

In February 2019, while Dr. Duvall was on a routine run, things took a sudden and terrifying turn when he started having a stroke. After recovering, he found a new peace.

“The stroke gave me more gratitude,” Dr. Duvall says. “It gave me a sense of peace, knowing that I’m not in control. That’s a humble place to be. It made me appreciate every day, every moment and the fact I can still walk out the door and go for a run.”

While running that day in 2019, Dr. Duvall knew something wasn’t right. He started experiencing numbness and weakness in his arms and legs, difficulty speaking, trouble walking and a loss of balance. 

Strokes can happen to anyone. They occur when a blockage in the brain’s blood vessels reduces blood flow to the brain or blood vessels rupture, leading to brain cell damage.

With all strokes, quick care is crucial for chances of survival and lessening brain damage.

Dr. Duvall was fortunate to get quick care at Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital before being transferred to the Medical University of South Carolina for further treatment and recovery.

“When I had my stroke, I couldn’t lift my left arm, I couldn’t talk correctly and I couldn’t walk, so you’re lying there helpless when before you were physically fit,” Dr. Duvall says. “In a few minutes, everything changed.”

Fast forward to now, Dr. Duvall is taking his appreciation for running a step further by participating in the 5K leg of the annual Historic Georgetown Bridge2Bridge Run for the third year.

He’s not only running in the event but is also a sponsor, helping support the community where he grew up.

“This is just a good civic event to have in your town,” Dr. Duvall says.

The Historic Georgetown Bridge2Bridge Run is Saturday, March 29, and benefits Friendship Place, which offers meals to those in need, provides job readiness training and supports the needs of the Georgetown County community. The deadline to sign up for the race is March 28.

Dr. Duvall’s recovery after his stroke wasn’t just physical, it was also emotional and spiritual. He is thankful to be able to continue doing what he loves – being a father and husband, caring for patients and running.

“You have an appreciation of your own mortality and God’s sovereignty over all of that. It shows the unpredictability and the fragility of life,” Dr. Duvall says. “I was a healthy 39-year-old, and I had a stroke. It just confirms that you aren’t in control. Now, I’m in a place of peace and rest and just thankful I can still exercise.”

While Dr. Duvall has always treated his patients with compassion, his health scare gave him an added perspective.

“It gave me a lot more empathy in my relationship with patients, not just with stroke survivors, but all health problems, because illness happens to all of us,” Dr. Duvall says. “Eventually, we’ll all need help.”