BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – In a heartfelt public address delivered during a National Thanksgiving Service held at National Heroes Park on Sunday, 49-year-old St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, a licensed medical practitioner, revealed the rare circumstances behind the August stroke that prompted urgent emergency medical evacuation to the United States. Drew, who touched down back on the twin-island federation’s soil the day prior and is scheduled to resume his full official duties the following Monday, clarified that his cerebrovascular event was not tied to high-stress work demands, pre-existing chronic conditions, or poor lifestyle choices, as widespread public speculation had previously suggested. The prime minister outlined that he maintains a rigorously health-conscious routine: he exercises consistently, follows a balanced diet, and has no documented history of hypertension, diabetes, or elevated cholesterol levels, adding that his blood pressure measured a perfectly healthy 110 over 70 at the time of his initial medical assessment. The root cause of his stroke, he explained, was a vertebral artery dissection – a small, unexpected tear in the left vertebral artery, the vessel responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood to the rear portion of the brain. Drew traced the injury directly to a series of deep tissue neck massages he received during a vacation the week before his symptoms emerged, noting that the massage therapist applied excessive pressure and manipulated his neck beyond safe, gentle ranges of motion, nicking the already naturally narrower left vertebral artery. He shared that his body’s natural anatomical quirk – his right vertebral artery had over his lifetime adapted to supply blood to both sides of his brain, compensating for the narrower left vessel – significantly reduced the severity of his stroke and prevented far more debilitating outcomes. After completing his full course of specialized care at a top-tier U.S. medical facility, Drew received an official full clearance from his care team to return to work. He closed his public remarks with a deeply emotional note of gratitude to the citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis, and well-wishers across the Caribbean, for the tidal wave of prayers, handwritten notes, supportive calls, and public shows of solidarity that he said sustained him through every step of his recovery process.