A Stroke Of Bad Luck

On June 6, 2017, Dan was traveling in the Ozarks for his YMCA work.  After driving alone, he stopped at Dierbergs (the local grocery store) to pick up some provisions.  Carrying water, carrots, and clementines to the cashier, his face began drooping and he lost his balance.  The cashier called 911.   He was rushed to the nearest hospital.  Dan was given stroke medicine to break up the clot, but it didn't completely work.  The doctors at the local hospital diagnosed Dan with a large stroke on the right side of his brain.  But the stroke was too large for the regional hospital. The doctors stabilized him enough to put him on a helicopter.  He was flown to the nearest stroke center, the  University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. At the University Hospital, he had surgery to remove the clot.  After surgery, Dan was able to recognize his family. He was talking a bit, and showed decent cognitive and language skills. In other words, he still had his jokes.

However, the brain continued to swell.  By Thursday, Dan became more lethargic and was barely able to talk, but his wit prevailed. He insisted that we tell his friends and colleagues that "he fell into a stroke of bad luck."  His jokes couldn't stop the swelling though.  By Thursday night,  a rapid and difficult decision was made to remove a large piece of his skull to relieve pressure on his brain. As his children ran back across town to see him before the surgery,  Dan tossed out yet another joke, this one to the surgeon- "Can you add some extra brains in while you're in there?" The surgery was a success. Around 1:30 am, they brought Dan back to his room, intubated and hooked up to tubes.  On June 10, Dan was removed from the breathing tube and started the hard road to full recovery - barely able to speak with his left-side neglect.  Dan and his family are immensely  grateful for all the love, the support, the hope, and the prayers. This has been an indescribable necessity and encouragement for Dan and his family.
As this long and difficult road to recovery begins, we are humbly open for all the love, support, hope, and prayers you can share. This has been a stressful time for Dan and his family, including his wife Helen. In addition to focusing on Dan's healing and recovery, the family has been faced with many questions and uncertainties as far as insurance, medical expenses and if she will able to work right away in August.

Additionally, financial expenses have been increased, because Dan was at a hospital located far away from home.Your huge outpouring of love and support mean more than anything at this time. You can continue to follow Dan at:https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dankappelWith love and gratitude, Becky, Josh, Ben and Cody