Laredo Medical Center to Host Fiesta for Stroke Awareness May 1
4/24/2026
Culture meets wellness as Laredo Medical Center celebrates Stroke Awareness Month at its fifth annual Fiesta de LMC—a vibrant, health-focused event on Friday, May 1 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the hospital’s Community Center, located at Tower B, first floor.
Inspired by the spirit of Cinco de Mayo, the fiesta will feature a health fair, festive decorations, live dance performances, aguas frescas and more—all with a serious purpose: raising awareness about stroke, its risks and how to prevent it. Admission is free and open to the public.
Laredo Mayor Pro Tempore/District 1 Council Member, the Hon. Gilbert Gonzalez, will issue an official proclamation at 11:30 a.m., recognizing May as Stroke Awareness Month in Laredo. The initiative is aimed at spotlighting stroke as the fifth leading cause of death and the leading cause of serious long-term disability in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“A stroke occurs every 40 seconds in this country,” said Jorge Leal, FACHE, chief executive officer of Laredo Medical Center. “At LMC, we’re not only a Primary Stroke Center and Level III Trauma Facility—we’re also a hub for community education and prevention. This event is about empowering people with the knowledge and resources to fight stroke before it happens.”
A health fair from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. will feature hospital teams from the Primary Stroke Program, Chest Pain Program, and Open Heart/Cardiac Rehabilitation—providing free health screenings, assessments, educational materials and information about available stroke services. Other featured areas include Primary Care Associates of Laredo, Sleep Center, Bariatric Weight Loss, Physical Medicine and Inpatient Rehabilitation.
Chantel E. Molina, DNP, MSN, RN, stroke coordinator at LMC, emphasized the importance of recognizing stroke symptoms quickly.
“Time is brain, and every minute matters. Even a 15-minute delay in stroke care can add up to a month to a patient’s recovery time. That’s why it’s absolutely critical to BE FAST in recognizing symptoms–Balance loss, Eyesight changes, Facial droop, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty and Time to call 911. Also, stroke doesn’t discriminate by age; we’re seeing it in younger patients as well. The faster we act, the better the chance we have to preserve quality of life,” said Molina.
Adding to the celebration, the Laredo Stroke Support Group, a local non-profit, will be present to share their services. Stroke survivors and their families will be honored guests at the event. Guests will also be treated to an exciting performance by a local dance group, Ballet Folklorico Renacimiento Cultural, which offers free classes, for ages 50 or better, on the second Friday of the month at LMC’s Community Center.
Laredo Medical Center was first accredited as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission in 2018 and earned reaccreditation in 2023, underscoring its commitment to delivering quality stroke care.
For more information, call (956) 796-3223.
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