News Articles

Transforming the Lives of Stroke Survivors: AdventHealth, Orlando Neurosurgery First in Nation to Perform 50 Vivistim Implant Cases

Breakthrough device offers new hope for stroke survivors struggling with rehabilitation following ischemic stroke

February 18, 2025 | Orlando, Fla. | April Starinsky

More patients have been helped by an innovative device for stroke survivors at AdventHealth than any other health system in the country. AdventHealth Orlando is the first hospital to use the Vivistim® Paired VNS™ System to help 50 patients. This transformative device, designed to aid stroke survivors in their rehabilitation journey, has shown remarkable success in improving hand and arm function.

Jessica Pflanz was celebrating her 30th birthday when she had a stroke. She’s the 25th patient to receive the Vivistim implant at AdventHealth Orlando and said it is helping her grow more confident and has even allowed her to return to kayaking and paddleboarding.

“I was always very athletic,” Pflanz said. “Thanks to this treatment, I’ve gotten a lot of my movement back. I celebrated the wins and every time I was able to do something I couldn’t do before (using Vivistim).”

The Vivistim System uses vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with high repetition and intense occupational therapy at AdventHealth Sports Medicine and Rehab to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment.

The device is implanted under the skin in the upper left chest area and connects to the vagus nerve, which plays a crucial role in controlling involuntary body functions. During rehabilitation therapy, a wireless transmitter signals the Vivistim device to deliver gentle pulses while the patient performs specific tasks, helping to create or strengthen neural connections.

“It gives someone who’s had a stroke a second chance at a good quality of life — something that’s very important in medicine,” said Dr. Ravi H. Gandhi, medical director of the AdventHealth Neuroscience Institute and partner at Orlando Neurosurgery, who led the team in being the first to bring this breakthrough device to stroke survivors in the Southeast. “Vivistim focuses on allowing patients to regain their functional independence.”

Once patients have graduated from the intensive program with the occupational therapists at AdventHealth, they are then able to continue their progress through a self-directed, home-based therapy program using a magnet to activate the Vivistim system daily. This leading medical technology can offer patients the chance to improve their recovery even after significant time has passed.

Transforming the Lives of Stroke Survivors: AdventHealth, Orlando Neurosurgery First in Nation to Perform 50 Vivistim Implant Cases

Three Documentary Series About “Purpose,” Additional Media Projects, Unveiled at GAiN Europe

The Adventist Church communication community, Global Adventist Internet Network (GAiN) Europe, in coordination with Hope Media Europe, has unveiled its latest film and media productions, and written content, under the theme My Greatest Purpose. This new global network project focuses on the theme of life purposes, bringing together the collaboration, efforts, and teamwork of numerous media centers and entities of the Adventist Church worldwide. During the 2024 GAiN Europe conference, held on November 15-19 in Budva, Montenegro, Hope Media Europe presented the results of more than two years of work: three documentary series, a narrative film, an upcoming book on “Purpose,” and new free-to-view streaming website J+.

Ken Norton Named Voice of Prophecy Bible School Director

Ken Norton, president of the Montana Conference, has accepted the Voice of Prophecy’s invitation to serve as the Discover Bible School director. He will begin his service at the ministry on March 2, 2025.

An Appeal for Human Dignity and Decency

There are many in the United States who are afraid for their futures, and for the lives of family members. As a Christian denomination in the U.S., the Seventh-day Adventist Church supports the rights of all persons, no matter their country of origin — the equal rights provided in the U.S. Constitution and fair treatment as immigrants and refugees in this country. As members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, we believe that “we are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality or reservation” (Fundamental Belief No. 14). The Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America encourages its churches and schools to be warm and welcoming places for all people. All are created by God and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Among Patmos Chapel’s Community Heroes

When Patmos Chapel Church in Apopka celebrated Community Guest Day on October 5, 2025, the congregation was in for a surprise. Along with the six special guests being awarded for their service to the community, a video crew from the ABC television network showed up. The film crew was taping a news report on Florida’s voting rights movement, spearheaded by one of Patmos’s honorees, Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Restoration Rights Coalition (FRRC).