Will's son Logan, 15, with his aunt.

Will Franz 

On July 6, 2021, Will went to work like normal and within an hour and half called his wife to pick him up. He was dizzy, pale and his head hurt. He did not feel safe to drive. She came and picked him up, both thinking it was a migraine which gets from time to time. The next morning, he was not better, so he went to the doctor who also felt it was a really bad migraine. Told him to rest and if it was not better by Monday, they would do head scans. Monday July 12, 2021, came and changed their lives.

That morning Will stepped out to smoke and got so dizzy he barely made it to the door before passing out. His wife found him on the floor and asked what happened and did she need to call 911. Will was disoriented and could not be understood, so she called 911. He refused the ambulance but would go in the car. The paramedics got him in the car. Heather (his wife) drove him to the ER where they were waiting for her. During the intake will got sick when the blood pressure cuff squeezed tight on his right arm.  Several hours and many tests later, a CT scan was done, and the results shocked them both. He had a stroke, not a normal stroke from a blood clot but an Ischemic Stroke caused by no blood supply, which in turn was caused by a Vertebral Artery Dissection(VAD). The damage is in the Cerebellum, in the back of the brain.  During the next couple of days in the hospital they learned that on July 6th he had the first stroke, the 12th was a much bigger stroke. The worst part about this type of stroke there are no visible signs. He will be the only one who will know if it happens again. He is in pain still, the right side of his head has residual pain that is going away on its own. The VAD on the right side is completely blocked off and there is nothing they can do for it without killing him. The VAD on the left is minor and right now medications are keeping it open. The Neurologist will see him in October and do a new CT scan to how he is doing.

Will is unable to work at this time and nobody can give them a timeline as to when he maybe able to. He has PT and OT Monday-Thursday weekly along with doctor appts. He now walks with a cane, his right eye does not track things, he tires easily and is weak. He is a fighter and hates not knowing if he will ever be able drive again, work and support his family.

The family is very close, Heather is disabled and unable to work. She is holding everything together and keeping him positive, allowing her pain to go without medication while taking care of Will and their son. Logan is 15 and has been so good about helping his mom, he tells her to rest and he will watch his dad. There are many nights Heather does not sleep worrying about how they are going to make it without his income.  They have been through a lot in the 21 years they have been together but this is the worst, with no answers.