TAMPA, Fla. — Thanks to a pacemaker-like device called Vivistim, there is new hope to help stroke patients regain arm and hand function.

When paired with rehabilitation therapy, the device, which is implanted under the skin, stimulates and helps strengthen brain function.

Tampa General Hospital leaders say their facility is the first on Florida's west coast to use the procedure.

“The idea being that stimulating this nerve with electricity will then send that electricity up to the brain, where it can then activate different parts of the brain to help people to normalize circuits that aren’t working the way they should be,” said Dr. Yarema Bezchlibnyk with Tampa General Hospital and USF Health.

Doctors say Vivistim works by increasing neuroplasticity and enhancing repetitive-motion therapy, and because the patient wears the device, it’s also portable.

Randy Jackson suffered a stroke in February 2023 and says he plateaued with traditional therapy. As Tampa General's first local Vivistim patient, Jackson had the device implanted in November.

He attended guided rehabilitation therapy sessions for six weeks while supplementing it with four hours of therapy at home.

"The more I can do and the more I can lift the arm. I like it,” said Jackson, who continues at-home therapy after completing the six-week protocol.

"I can now open this door with my left hand,” he said enthusiastically.

With each accomplishment, the combat veteran sets additional goals.

"Right now, I can lift this high, so I’m going for all the way here," he said. "It’s a work in progress and I’m working on it."

Doctors call the dual therapy an exciting new breakthrough, saying it helps patients return to activities and tasks they used to perform, while improving their quality of life.