Jeremy Wansor and Family - Stroke Rehab Support

I wanted to share an update about Jeremy's recent health situation. On November 12, 2023, Jeremy experienced a stroke. The night before, he sensed a slight discomfort in his neck at the base of his skull. Upon waking the next morning, he felt a bit off-balance. Then, while playing a video game with his son, Carson, he suddenly noticed a loss of vision. Initially attributing it to a potential migraine due to family history, Jeremy decided to seek urgent medical attention, only to discover that he had indeed experienced a stroke.

What makes this situation even more surprising is that Jeremy is no stranger to the intricacies of strokes, as he manages the stroke floor at a hospital in San Diego. Despite his wealth of experience, he didn't immediately recognize the symptoms, underscoring the unpredictable nature of such events.

The stroke was caused by a vertebral artery dissection, likely triggered by a cough or deep tissue massage. The injury to the blood vessel led to clot formation, affecting both the occipital lobe and cerebellum. Consequently, he has incurred vision loss on the right side of both eyes. Jeremy, along with Gisenyi and his medical team, remains optimistic that this visual impairment will improve with time. Currently, he is taking a medical leave of absence from work to actively engage in brain rehabilitation.

Please join us in raising money to help cover the costs of Jeremy's unexpected medical expenses, occupational therapy, and participation in a clinical trial based in New York.

Occupational therapy is critical for Jeremy to get the tools and techniques to rehab his vision. He is not yet able to drive, and therapy also includes a driving simulator to prepare him for the road.

The clinical trial is conducted by Huxlin Lab at University of Rochester Medical Center, and research aims to evaluate how well visual restoration training works for people who have had a stroke affecting the primary visual cortex (the main part of the brain responsible for vision). This lab has been at the forefront of research into cortically-induced blindness for the past few decades, and the trial will advance scientific knowledge and enhance the tools and methods used to restore vision and improve the quality of life for people experiencing cortical blindness. Jeremy is eager to participate as a volunteer, but he'll need to travel to New York three times in the next year and cover his own travel and accommodation expenses. If you'd like to learn more about the trial, click here: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04798924?term=NCT04798924&rank=1

Jeremy, Gisenyi, and their two sons, Carson (8) and Fletcher (5), are grateful for your prayers and support as they navigate this challenging time. I want to emphasize that there's absolutely no obligation to contribute. Your support, whether it's financial or simply sharing the campaign, is genuinely appreciated.

With love,

--Maureen Marsic (longtime friend of Jeremy and Gisenyi's)