Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, the owner of Top 100 Gallery Furniture in Houston, took to Facebook Tuesday night to tell his friends and followers he is recovering from a “mini-stroke.”
McIngvale, a 68-year-old Houston entrepreneur and philanthropist, told followers via a Facebook Live stream from an exam room at CHI St. Luke’s Hospital at Texas Medical Center that doctors believe he suffered a transient ischemic attack, also known as a mini-stroke.
A transient ischemic attack produces similar symptoms to a stroke but only lasts a few minutes and causes no permanent damage. It happens when there is not enough oxygen reaching the brain. This is often due to a blood clot that remains for a brief period.
“I’m having tingling in my arm, leg and face, which indicates, perhaps, a mini-stroke,” McIngvale said in the video. “I’m here getting checked out and will be here (Wednesday).”
The Facebook post is captioned, in part, “Please watch with the sound, please pray for Mack and anyone else in need of healing.”
McIngvale, who is wearing an Alex Bregman Houston Astros baseball jersey in the video, said he felt fine but wants to make sure he doesn’t have any stroke or heart attack symptoms.
Better safe than sorry
“I am not deathly ill. This is more of a precautionary thing,” he said. “I’ve learned in my life that it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
McIngvale spent 23 minutes on the live stream, answering questions from viewers and encouraging others experiencing similar symptoms to get checked by a physician.
True to form, McIngval, who is known nationally for his promotions tied to major sporting events, even managed to squeeze in a plug for Gallery’s upcoming store promotion.
“The best way you can cheer me up is to go to Gallery Furniture and buy some of our furniture as we get ready for our Fourth of July super sale,” McIngvale said just before giving out his personal cell phone number.
McIngvale was recently named to the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Class of 2019.
Keep up with the latest on the Home Furnishings Association’s Current News blog.
