Baseball Legend’s Recovery After LVO Stroke Highlights Coordinated Expertise
When Manny Mota presented with a large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke, the outcome hinged on what stroke teams know best: time, precision, and a tightly coordinated pathway from ED activation to definitive reperfusion therapy.
According to members of Adventist Health Glendale’s stroke leadership, the decisive first step occurred before arrival. A family friend documented the exact “last known well” time and called 911—critical information that enabled immediate eligibility assessment and accelerated imaging and treatment decisions upon arrival.
Rapid triage and Stroke Team activation
“Mr. Mota came to us unable to speak and paralyzed on one side—an alarming presentation consistent with a high-risk LVO phenotype,” said Dr. Lance J. Lee, Stroke Medical Director. “Because the onset time was clearly identified, we could move quickly through evaluation and treatment without losing precious minutes.”
In the Emergency Department, Dr. Anthony Cardillo initiated parallel workflows: neurologic assessment, emergent neuroimaging to confirm vessel status, and expedited coordination between vascular neurology, neurointerventional services, nursing, and anesthesia support to preserve brain function and maximize salvageable tissue.
Definitive reperfusion with mechanical thrombectomy
Neurointerventionalist Dr. Radoslav Ivov Raychev performed a mechanical thrombectomy—an advanced endovascular procedure to remove the clot and restore cerebral blood flow. For LVO strokes, thrombectomy remains the cornerstone intervention when patients meet imaging and timing criteria, and outcomes are strongly influenced by door-to-reperfusion speed and procedural expertise.
“We had to act fast,” Dr. Raychev said. “He was unable to speak and paralyzed on one side. Time was of the essence.”
Within 24 hours, Mota’s family and care team observed meaningful improvement, and he progressed through inpatient rehabilitation in the days that followed. In early May, he returned for a live social media session alongside his daughter, family friend and broadcaster Carlos Alvarez, and key clinical members of his care team, including Dr. Lee, Dr. Raychev, and Stroke Program Manager Michelle Jocson.
Recovery trajectory and risk factors that matter
Clinicians involved in the case emphasized two themes physicians regularly reinforce with patients and communities: early recognition/activation of EMS and the role of baseline health in recovery capacity.
“Mr. Mota exhibited a near 100% recovery in just a few short weeks,” Dr. Raychev shared during the follow-up. “It’s hard to believe he’s over 80 because he’s in such great shape. His active, healthy lifestyle contributed significantly to his recovery.”
Dr. Lee noted that while the public often associates stroke survival with “getting to the hospital,” physicians understand the more specific point: getting to the right stroke center with the capabilities and staffing to deliver the full spectrum of acute stroke interventions—including complex endovascular therapy for LVO.
“With a stroke as severe as the one Mr. Mota endured, the window for optimal recovery is extremely tight,” Dr. Lee said. “In LVO stroke, outcomes change dramatically when patients are triaged quickly to a comprehensive team prepared to deliver advanced therapy.”
Program capability and quality infrastructure
Adventist Health Glendale’s stroke program has been recognized for comprehensive stroke care and has emphasized exceeding national benchmarks through structured protocols, multidisciplinary training, and ongoing performance review. Leadership noted the program’s certification history and alignment with established stroke care standards focused on patient safety, timeliness, and outcomes.
For referring physicians and care teams, Mr. Mota’s case underscores familiar but essential operational truths:
- Documented last-known-well time materially changes speed and options.
- Pre-hospital triage and destination choice are critical in suspected LVO.
- Parallel processing (assessment + imaging + interventional coordination) reduces delays.
- Thrombectomy capability and readiness can be outcome-defining.
- Rehab and family support meaningfully affect functional recovery and adherence.
During his livestream to fans and followers, Mr. Mota — speaking in Spanish — thanked clinicians and staff and urged others to seek care urgently when something feels wrong: “Adventist Health Glendale is one of the best hospitals… If you feel sick or like something is wrong, come… They will do everything possible to take care of you and get you healthy.”