Bluerauder
09-26-2005, 03:10 PM
So far, so good :up:
First, I would like to thank the entire membership here for the prayers and the overwhelming support offered to my son, Chuck, and the family during this difficult time. :) I read all the notes and found it to be a quite moving and emotional experience. :cry: Needed some time to gather my composure before attempting to do an update on the situation. :rolleyes: I am certain that all of your prayers and wishes made a difference in this case.
Thanks also to Mike Poore who tracked me down by cell phone and was able to provide an update here on the MM.Net to keep everyone in the loop while I was off the net.
Now for the Update. It seems that my son had a stroke at age 27. He is a Captain in the US Army and is very physically fit, runs every day, works out alot, plays sports, eats right, and doesn't smoke. All signs point to a "fluke" episode. Every test came back clean including the CAT scan, MRI, MRA, Blood work, and Echocardiogram. The neurologist team at University Hospital in Missouri could find no root cause of this incident. Apparently, a loose piece of plaque found its way into the brain and it got lodged in a narrow passageway among all the blood vessels. The doctors found a lesion in the brain on the left side about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long where loss of blood flow had killed the neurons/cells that resulted in the stroke.
Whether this is considered a minor stroke, I don't know. Fortunately, the area of the brain where this occurred does not affect memory, speech, motor coordination, or major body functions. The problem was centered in the sensory area (touch and feel sense). Basically, the right half of his body is in a constant state of numbness that he describes as the "pins and needles" feeling when your foot or hand falls asleep. However, it has not gone away. The problem seems to focus more on his right arm and hand; but is also noticeable in his right leg, chest and the right side of his face.
As for the prognosis, the doctors feel that he should recover "in time". This may be a matter of days or weeks or months. No one knows at this point. They do feel that his excellent condition is what helped to minimize the effects and should aid in his recovery.
He was released from University Hospital on Friday and transported by ambulance back to Fort Leonard Wood. The Army decided to retain him for the weekend and set him up with physical therapy and such beginning today. He was released from the FLW Hospital this afternnoon and he is now home in familiar surroundings. Now begins the Road to Recovery.
Again, thanks to all for your words of support and your prayers and good wishes. :D They really mean alot. This place is great !!! :2thumbs:
First, I would like to thank the entire membership here for the prayers and the overwhelming support offered to my son, Chuck, and the family during this difficult time. :) I read all the notes and found it to be a quite moving and emotional experience. :cry: Needed some time to gather my composure before attempting to do an update on the situation. :rolleyes: I am certain that all of your prayers and wishes made a difference in this case.
Thanks also to Mike Poore who tracked me down by cell phone and was able to provide an update here on the MM.Net to keep everyone in the loop while I was off the net.
Now for the Update. It seems that my son had a stroke at age 27. He is a Captain in the US Army and is very physically fit, runs every day, works out alot, plays sports, eats right, and doesn't smoke. All signs point to a "fluke" episode. Every test came back clean including the CAT scan, MRI, MRA, Blood work, and Echocardiogram. The neurologist team at University Hospital in Missouri could find no root cause of this incident. Apparently, a loose piece of plaque found its way into the brain and it got lodged in a narrow passageway among all the blood vessels. The doctors found a lesion in the brain on the left side about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long where loss of blood flow had killed the neurons/cells that resulted in the stroke.
Whether this is considered a minor stroke, I don't know. Fortunately, the area of the brain where this occurred does not affect memory, speech, motor coordination, or major body functions. The problem was centered in the sensory area (touch and feel sense). Basically, the right half of his body is in a constant state of numbness that he describes as the "pins and needles" feeling when your foot or hand falls asleep. However, it has not gone away. The problem seems to focus more on his right arm and hand; but is also noticeable in his right leg, chest and the right side of his face.
As for the prognosis, the doctors feel that he should recover "in time". This may be a matter of days or weeks or months. No one knows at this point. They do feel that his excellent condition is what helped to minimize the effects and should aid in his recovery.
He was released from University Hospital on Friday and transported by ambulance back to Fort Leonard Wood. The Army decided to retain him for the weekend and set him up with physical therapy and such beginning today. He was released from the FLW Hospital this afternnoon and he is now home in familiar surroundings. Now begins the Road to Recovery.
Again, thanks to all for your words of support and your prayers and good wishes. :D They really mean alot. This place is great !!! :2thumbs: