Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 12, 1 December 2013 — Machado: 'I feel great' [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Machado: 'I feel great'

By Garett Kamemoto Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chair Colette Machado is expected to make a full recovery after suffering what she calls a "mini stroke" on Nov. 1. Machado was at the state Capitol at the time of the stroke. She credits Rep. Marcus Oshiro (D, Wahiawā-Whitmore-Poamoho) for recognizing the symptoms and insisting she get immediate treatment. Machado was taken to the Stroke Center at the Queen's Medical Center. Dr. Cherylee Chang, director of the Stroke Center and Neuroscience Institute at Queen's said immediate treatment ean minimize the long-term effects of a stroke. Doctors say treatment within three hours of the onset of a stroke is crucial. Chang said Machado is expected to make a full

recovery. "Mahalo to everyone for their thoughts andprayers," Machado said. "It is crucial for people having a stroke to get to the hospital immediately so they ean get the right medication. If you think a member

of your 'ohana is suffering from a stroke, eall 911 right away." She said that within 40 minutes of receiving medication, she was already laughing and joking and most of the symptoms had gone away. Machado also thanked members of her church family for their prayers. Two days after suffering the stroke, Machado was walking through the halls of Queen's. "I feel great," she said. Machado presided over her first board meeting since the stroke on Nov. 21, less than three weeks after suffering the stroke. She has been cleared by her doctors to resume her activities, though they advised her to paee herself for the first five weeks. She said that means working out of the Moloka'i office rather than flying to O'ahu, if possible. But she said she will resume her normal schedule. Machado heeame emotional as she addressed the board for the first time since her stroke. She thanked her eolleagues for their support, and she said she learned she needs to take better care of her heahh. "I have a second ehanee to do better," she said. ■

<EA v www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org GOVERNANCE / NATIVE HAWAIIAN » NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS

» > OHA Chairperson Colefte Machado led the Nov. 21 Board of Trustees meeting. - Photo: John Matsuzaki