Through their hard work and dedication nurses save lives every day, but it’s not often that their patients come back to fulfill the promise of a dance with his nurse.

After suffering an acute stroke, Richard Hopkins, 88 of West Simsbury, underwent a mechanical thrombectomy procedure to remove blood clot from his brain at UConn John Dempsey Hospital.

He subsequently recuperated in state-of-the-art neuro-intensive care unit at UConn John Dempsey Hospital; while recovering he promised his intensive care nurse, Kellie Macpherson, that he would be back to dance with her when he was well.

Six months later on World Stroke Day, Oct. 29, he fulfilled that promise and joined by his daughters, danced with Kellie to the Tennessee Waltz.

He had been practicing this dance with his physical therapist and couldn’t wait for this day.

According to Dr. Sanjay Mittal, director of the Stroke Program at UConn Health, clot removal is a therapeutic option at all ages in select patients with acute ischemic stroke, this procedure is routinely offered to stroke patients at UConn Health.

Richard and his family are so grateful to the doctors, nurses and staff at UConn Health for saving his life and giving him the opportunity to dance again.

In Richard’s words “thank you for taking a chance on an 88 year old.”