Sioux Falls, South Dakota – A medical issue thousands of feet in the air led an aircraft to make an abrupt landing in Sioux Falls.
Steve Bombart and his wife were flying home to North Carolina on Monday when Steve mentioned that he noticed something was wrong.
“I just stopped feeling well,” Steve Bombart explained.
His wife, Fran, sat next to him on the trip. She said his face was blank and he couldn’t speak.
“A friend we were traveling with was a physician, and he took one look at him and jumped up and said this plane needs to land,” Fran Bombart told me.
The pilot then opted to make an emergency landing in Sioux Falls. Emergency personnel transported Steve to Sanford Health Hospital. Steve stated he had a foggy memory of the travel there.
“I think I was too afraid to be scared,” Steve said. “I was concerned like, why are they taking me in an ambulance to the hospital?”
Doctors found that Steve was having a stroke and required rapid medical attention. Doctors gave him medicine to dissolve a blood clot.
“The clot buster medication aims to dissolve blood clots in the brain and restore the blood flow back to the area that was deprived from blood flow, aiming to reverse the stroke symptoms,” a neurologist from Sanford explained.
Just a day later, Steve reported feeling considerably better. He credited the air and Sanford medical workers for his survival.
“I was surprised and amazed how many people were in there waiting for me, which was very positive,” Steve told me. “It made me think of how good of a hospital this is.”
The Bombarts have tried to make the most of their time in Sioux Falls, but they are looking forward to returning home soon.
But, for the time being, they are relieved to know they are in capable hands.
“He returned as if nothing had ever occurred. Fran responded, “I have to tell you, it was amazing.” “You guys are great.”
Doctors suggested that if Steve continues to improve, he could be home this week.
