Spinal Stroke at 18; Colt's Journey

On September 19th my brother, Colt Bowers, had a Spinal Stroke (Spinal Infarction.) 
Colt worked full time, and had just graduated high school five months ago.  That morning, he was slightly sore between his shoulders when getting ready for work; then just after he started his truck at 6am, he felt an incredibly sharp and deep pain between his shoulders and throughout his arms.
He had taken no more than fifteen steps to the door and had lost all control and feeling of both hands. He opened the door with his wrists, asked our mom to take him to the hospital as he layed on the ground, trying to get relief from the agonizing pain. 
By the time our mom got Colt into the car, both of his arms were complety numb and had gone entirely weak. 
Within the 25 minute drive to the hospital, Colt lost all feeling and mobility from his shoulders down. He collapsed when getting out of the car at the ER, which made them, and him, realize he had lost all mobility.







After 10 days the brilliant and dependable Doctors, Neurologists and Nursing Staff,  had administered every test and scan Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare could provide.
They had come up with two preliminary diagnoses.


The first was Transverse Myelitis:(https://myelitis.org/living-with-myelitis/disease-information/) 

Or a Spinal Cord Infarction:
(https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Spinal-Cord-Infarction-Information-Page)

It was then decided that he be transported by air  ambulance to the University of San Francisco (UCSF) where a team of 6 Neurologists were waiting for him. 


As you can surely see, he's been very upbeat about this whole thing. His words exactly: "I'm just in a little bit of a pickle." 

They began testing him immediately upon his arrival at UCSF, and within 4 days came to the close conclusion that it was a Spinal Stroke. 

He was then taken by ambulance to Northern Nevada Medical Center and placed in their Acute Rehab Facility.

By this time, Colt was still unable to walk due to very volatile blood pressure (Orthostatic Hypotension), he could not use his hands or fingers, and had little range in the movement of his arms. However, he could move his legs and was gaining strength in them each day. He still has no feeling below shoulders to this day.  Mainly affected were his gauge to temperature and pain, which are nonexistant to him now.





It has been a pretty crazy ride, but he is home now, and receives in-home-therapy each day as he is trying to recover from this totally random, unexplainable act of nature that has betrothed itself upon Colt. 

We are all very hopful that his sensation and mobility will soon go back to what it once was.  
He is now walking thanks to the great care and quick action of all Medical Staff involved.

There is still a long road ahead, his next goal is to be able to move well enough to be independent and able to go back to his hobbies like camping, hiking and fishing.

We have recieved the first wave of bills, and as ironically expected, they are jaw dropping.  
The insurance coverage is not paying for nearly as much as anyone would have hoped. Hardly at all for that matter, so I, we, are asking for help. 


Just above $125,000.

There are still bills from his next three hospital stays on the way. First including his Flight to San Franciso, 4 days at UCSF, 12 days during the second stay at Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare,  finally 14 days in Northern Nevada Medical Center's Acute Rehab; as well as the in-home-therapy currently necessary and ongoing until further notice.

Thankfully, this road to recovery is going very well. There is still no reason as to why this happened to Colt. Neurologists will be monitoring him periodically to try and figure out an etiology. This case happens to be so rare, neurologists at USCF will be holding a conference this Wednsday, October 25th, in which they are going to have a case study and try and figure out just why this happened; because after all the extensive tests done to him throughout his time in the hospitals, he is a healthy, regular 18 year old kid. There is no reason this should have happened.

This is tragic and has changed his life forever. I truly am so sorry to Colt in having to go through this at his age. 

Help is needed urgently, and is very, very much appreciated.