Imagine Uncle Joe, a 70‑year‑old widower living alone. If he has a stroke tonight, his life can go in two very different directions. In the status quo, he might not notice mild weakness or slurred speech until hours later; by the time he reaches the emergency room, the critical window for clot‑busting therapy has passed. This scenario plays out for hundreds of thousands of Americans each year: economists estimate that the average lifetime cost of an ischemic stroke is about $140,000 per person, and U.S. studies put the mean per‑patient cost during the first year as high as $59,900. These figures reflect more than hospital bills; the CDC notes that stroke reduces mobility in over half of survivors aged 65 and older, meaning many people never regain full independence.