Did reporter Serene Branson have a stroke on air during the Grammys?

It didn't necessarily have to be a stroke. I know when my blood sugar is low I get my words mixed up and sometimes have a hard time remembering common words. Plus we know that tv personalities don't always eat properly to maintain their weight so she may have not seen a carb in a long time...

reply to post by canuckistanian


Exactly. It could be a litany of things. The only reason people started screaming "stroke" is because the public's knowledge of medicine is generally limited to things that are severe or common.

Also I would like to add at this juncture that I have never claimed that Ms Branson did, indeed, suffer a stroke. I simply asked a question in the title of this thread, the same question that you will see countless times online on many different sites. Talk about putting words into someones mouth...

Originally posted by VneZonyDostupa
I don't have a problem with Dr. Krakauer. I have a problem with someone who is clearly putting words in Dr. Krakauer's mouth. At no point does he say he thinks it was a stroke, a TIA, or any variation thereof. He simply says he would have admitted the patient for examination, which ANY doctor would have done, stroke or otherwise.

I will only use the quote attributed to Dr. Krakauer here:

“Stroke is the number one possibility,” Dr. John Krakauer, associate professor of neurology and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, told CBS News. Possibly a transient ischemic attack, also known as “mini-stroke” without the downside of a migraine headache or a seizure.

source

He clearly states that the number one possiblity in his opinion, which you said you have no problem with, is stroke. I have already stated in a previous post that it could be one of many neurological conditions, but I suppose that was overlooked.

The fact that you are using that quote as some sort of support for your ill-informed "mini stroke" theory makes it seem as if you are either deficient in reading comprehension, or are just another armchair clinician pretending to be a doctor.

The mini stroke theory that you attribute to me is actually Dr. Krakauer's theory, as is clearly stated above. Again this is starting to seem like a personal attack here, still unsure why. Also, at no time have I given my opinion, stated I was a doctor, stated that this was definitively a stroke or given medical advice. I stated that I happened to be certified by the American Academy for the Certification of Brain Injury Specialists. That is all.

I still do not understand why the personal attacks, or why you think that they are justified here.

Originally posted by canuckistanian
It didn't necessarily have to be a stroke. I know when my blood sugar is low I get my words mixed up and sometimes have a hard time remembering common words. Plus we know that tv personalities don't always eat properly to maintain their weight so she may have not seen a carb in a long time...

This certainly is a possibility. The member who has been jabbing at me seems to think I only believe it is a stroke, which is not the case, but that is common on this site. There are plenty of possibilities as to the condition, if it even is a condition. It could have simply been a case of the nerves, as both the other member and myself have pointed out.

Originally posted by VneZonyDostupa
Disorganized speech like this reporter displayed could be a symptom of hundreds of conditions, ranging from stroke to simple anxiety. The fact that everyone jumps to stroke (both here and in the media) is just a bit laughable.

to which my reply was

Certainly this condition could be one of many neurological conditions or simply anxiety as you astutely pointed out.

Thank you for your input here as well.

Originally posted by youdidntseeme
the same question that you will see countless times online on many different sites

So, when the media and commenters on blogs say it's a stroke, you feel that is a valid medical opinion? Wow.

“Stroke is the number one possibility,” Dr. John Krakauer, associate professor of neurology and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, told CBS News. Possibly a transient ischemic attack, also known as “mini-stroke” without the downside of a migraine headache or a seizure.

source

He clearly states that the number one possiblity in his opinion, which you said you have no problem with, is stroke. I have already stated in a previous post that it could be one of many neurological conditions, but I suppose that was overlooked.

If Dr. Krakauer says it is the "number one possibility", then he is simply wrong. The medical professionals who actually examined Ms. Branson found that is was not a stroke, as I've already shown in this thread. Even the best doctors can be wrong, especially when they are diagnosing a patient they've never seen.

The mini stroke theory that you attribute to me is actually Dr. Krakauer's theory,

A TIA ("mini stroke") isn't the same thing as a stroke, so no, "mini stroke" was NOT Dr. Krakauer's theory. But, you know, I'm sure as a "brain injury specialist" you already knew this.

Again this is starting to seem like a personal attack here, still unsure why. Also, at no time have I given my opinion, stated I was a doctor,

Exactly what kind of "brain injury specialist" ISN'T a doctor? You've claimed twice now to be a "brain injury specialist", so what exactly are your credentials? You can't get a degree in "brain injury", so now I'm truly interested in what you think qualifies you as a "brain injury specialist", a title typically reserved for neurologists or trauma neurosurgeons.

I stated that I happened to be certified by the American Academy for the Certification of Brain Injury Specialists. That is all.

I looked at the ACBIS site, and I don't see any sort of information about accreditation. I understand you've taken a little bit of extra training in brain injury, and I'm sure the training is useful in whatever career you have, but you have to understand, there are literally MOUNTAINS of knowledge not covered in that certification process, all of which are critical to diagnosing and managing a neurology patient.

I still do not understand why the personal attacks, or why you think that they are justified here.

It's "justified" because you're trying to play pariah. Out of one side of your mouth, you're pretending I'm putting words in your mouth, and then out of the other side, you're saying things like:

she can tell that something neurological is happening

Kinda scary to think that this could happen to anyone at anytime.

I think this is more than just a simple mix up.

there was definetly something neurological going on.

mini stroke jumped out immediately

You claim that you "never said it was a stroke", and you earlier you said it was "definitely neurological", "more than just a simple mix-up", "scary" and that "mini stroke" came to mind.

A stroke?

I understood everything she said quite clearrrr uuuo ginflbba very, very, very hasurdation zubbamaox makkowme.

- Lee

I ask why you are launching into personal attacks here and your response is:

Originally posted by VneZonyDostupa

It's "justified" because you're trying to play pariah. Out of one side of your mouth, you're pretending I'm putting words in your mouth, and then out of the other side,

I will just take this as an admission on the civility and decorum violation, and leave it at that.
I actually agreed with your original comment in this thread, stated that your medical opinions should be respected, but you still utilize a personal attack stance here. I still do not know why.

Your comments directed towards me do nothing for credibility, but I am sure you do have some. And i still respect your medical opinions, I just do not respect the attacks here. At the end of the day, we need to be responsible for our content here, and that includes the attacks in this thread.

It could be she had a small seizure, that would change her appearance.


I feel bad for her either way as I think it must be difficult to be live on the air and
have something happen that you would have rather kept personal. I think it
was a good thing they took the vid down.

Well we finally have an answer, Doctors have diagnosed Serene Branson with a condition called Migraine Aura, Far less serious than a stroke. So now I dont feel as bad for finding humor in it.

L.A. Times

Whatever the cause, the good news is that -- although painful -- migraines with aura are not life threatening.

WebMD