Spende geschützt
What began as a family vacation, quickly turned into a life changing event. Harlan was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation Type I mid-June after suffering from weeks of severe headaches which led to vomiting, dizziness, and loss of balance. They met with the neurosurgeon July 3rd and confirmed the obstruction at the base of his neck was causing fluid to build on his brain, hence all the symptoms he was having. They scheduled a follow up appointment to complete another MRI needed before they could operate and do the decompression surgery. After arriving in Kentucky on July 7th, Harlan quickly went downhill to the point he couldn’t function, and none of the medications given to relieve the symptoms were helping. At 8:45 PM, Cheryl and the girls loaded the car and began the 3.5 hour drive back to the ER at Baptist East Hospital. Thankfully his neurosurgeon from Semmes Murphy was on call, expecting their arrival. By the time they arrive, he was vomiting profusely and could no longer converse. Another MRI scan was completed, and it was now a life or death situation. Without hesitation, Cheryl signed the consent for an emergency EVD to be place to relieve his brain of the pressure and fluid since it was essentially drowning.
Initially, the neurosurgeon called and said the surgery went well and we could expect to see him within the hour. Little did they know, he had a “firework show” of strokes before, during, or after the surgery which caused him to lose every function from head to toe. Needless to say, this is where their journey to #cheerHarlanhome began. Every specialists was called in to pinpoint what could have happened or what led to this outcome...every answer was “I have never seen anything like this before.”
The decompression surgery was successful, but Harlan was still unresponsive and couldn’t communicate with us. Cheryl was begging and pleading with God to just let him wake and talk to her…the girls needed their Daddy and Cheryl needed him by her side to raise their precious children.
Fast forward, he was medically flown to Shepherd’s Center in Atlanta and God had his hands on him and his therapists. He can now communicate, regained his swallow and now can eat an unrestricted diet. However, he still is seeing double, cannot control all 4 of his limbs, and pieces of the past are missing for him. The medical team and therapists felt he was at a point the best therapy he could receive was coming home to his friends and family and what he has always known, his dogs and home life.
With this being said, they are going to need to purchase a wheelchair accessible van to accommodate his power wheelchair, make home modifications so he can maneuver and shower in the bathroom, and purchase the medical equipment he needs insurance won’t cover. We truly believe God is not done with him yet, and ask you continue with us in prayer as he continues his journey and writes his testimony .
Thanks in advance!
Monica (Harlan's sister)
Initially, the neurosurgeon called and said the surgery went well and we could expect to see him within the hour. Little did they know, he had a “firework show” of strokes before, during, or after the surgery which caused him to lose every function from head to toe. Needless to say, this is where their journey to #cheerHarlanhome began. Every specialists was called in to pinpoint what could have happened or what led to this outcome...every answer was “I have never seen anything like this before.”
The decompression surgery was successful, but Harlan was still unresponsive and couldn’t communicate with us. Cheryl was begging and pleading with God to just let him wake and talk to her…the girls needed their Daddy and Cheryl needed him by her side to raise their precious children.
Fast forward, he was medically flown to Shepherd’s Center in Atlanta and God had his hands on him and his therapists. He can now communicate, regained his swallow and now can eat an unrestricted diet. However, he still is seeing double, cannot control all 4 of his limbs, and pieces of the past are missing for him. The medical team and therapists felt he was at a point the best therapy he could receive was coming home to his friends and family and what he has always known, his dogs and home life.
With this being said, they are going to need to purchase a wheelchair accessible van to accommodate his power wheelchair, make home modifications so he can maneuver and shower in the bathroom, and purchase the medical equipment he needs insurance won’t cover. We truly believe God is not done with him yet, and ask you continue with us in prayer as he continues his journey and writes his testimony .
Thanks in advance!
Monica (Harlan's sister)
Organisator
Cheryl N Harlan Slocum
Organisator
Winona, MS