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Zach and I were just enjoying our day back from Ohio on June 7th after we visited family and celebrated a brother's graduation from high school. We just wanted to relax after the trip before returning to work and normal, everyday life when Zach suddenly had a stroke. After quickly calling 911, a first responder a block away from our house arrived in minutes to assist him. Soon afterward, the ambulance finally arrived to take him to the ThedaCare hospital in Waupaca.
From there, the nurses kept him stabilized while several tests were taken to find anything out of the ordinary. Oddly enough, everything came back perfectly normal which stunned everyone. No one was able to find a reason for his stroke to happen. Unfortunately, he still remained unconscious several hours after the stroke, so it was decided for him to be flown by helicopter to ThedaCare in Neenah.
Once he arrived at the hospital, Zach was moved to the ICU where he was sedated to help keep him calm and prevent injuries to himself. The following morning I was able to look at an MRI with a neurologist who showed new development in his brain and a constricted artery near his brain stem. After performing an angiogram, the diagnosis is a tear in the artery (arterial dissection) where blood began to clot and prevent blood flow. Because of this, they are giving him blood thinners and anticoagulants.
After keeping him sedated for a day, they weened him off the sedative to allow him to wake up. He was able to answer questions about himself and his family which was great progress. However, he suffered a seizure and vomited so he was placed on the respirator and sedative again while giving him anti-seizure medication.
Several days later, once the doctors believed he was rested enough, they took him off the sedative. Zach was able to wake up and appeared much better. However, his short-term memory was not quite there, his vision was blurry, and the left side of his body was weaker than the right.
After being in the ICU for 5 days, he was transferred to the IMU (Neuro Unit) where he was able to get basic therapy. From there, he was able to do basic tasks with the help of nurses. After a few days, he was finally transferred to rehabilitation on June 20th where he will get the therapy he needs to be his old self again after a few weeks. From what the doctors suggest, he will not be able to return to work for a while after he leaves the hospital.
In general, this is a very stressful situation for both of us in every way possible. Considering Zach is only 21 and the healthiest person I can think of, this stroke came as a shock to everyone we're affiliated with. We will be struggling financially because he paid for the vast majority of the expenses, and his medical bills will be difficult to pay for without help.
We would appreciate any funds people can donate to our cause. Other ways we would like help include prayers, sharing through social media, and any other help we may be able to receive. Thank you so much for your help!
From there, the nurses kept him stabilized while several tests were taken to find anything out of the ordinary. Oddly enough, everything came back perfectly normal which stunned everyone. No one was able to find a reason for his stroke to happen. Unfortunately, he still remained unconscious several hours after the stroke, so it was decided for him to be flown by helicopter to ThedaCare in Neenah.
Once he arrived at the hospital, Zach was moved to the ICU where he was sedated to help keep him calm and prevent injuries to himself. The following morning I was able to look at an MRI with a neurologist who showed new development in his brain and a constricted artery near his brain stem. After performing an angiogram, the diagnosis is a tear in the artery (arterial dissection) where blood began to clot and prevent blood flow. Because of this, they are giving him blood thinners and anticoagulants.
After keeping him sedated for a day, they weened him off the sedative to allow him to wake up. He was able to answer questions about himself and his family which was great progress. However, he suffered a seizure and vomited so he was placed on the respirator and sedative again while giving him anti-seizure medication.
Several days later, once the doctors believed he was rested enough, they took him off the sedative. Zach was able to wake up and appeared much better. However, his short-term memory was not quite there, his vision was blurry, and the left side of his body was weaker than the right.
After being in the ICU for 5 days, he was transferred to the IMU (Neuro Unit) where he was able to get basic therapy. From there, he was able to do basic tasks with the help of nurses. After a few days, he was finally transferred to rehabilitation on June 20th where he will get the therapy he needs to be his old self again after a few weeks. From what the doctors suggest, he will not be able to return to work for a while after he leaves the hospital.
In general, this is a very stressful situation for both of us in every way possible. Considering Zach is only 21 and the healthiest person I can think of, this stroke came as a shock to everyone we're affiliated with. We will be struggling financially because he paid for the vast majority of the expenses, and his medical bills will be difficult to pay for without help.
We would appreciate any funds people can donate to our cause. Other ways we would like help include prayers, sharing through social media, and any other help we may be able to receive. Thank you so much for your help!
Organizer
Synthia Lambert
Organizer
Ogdensburg, WI