Tom Streit’s Continued Healing Process
Donation protected
Tom and his family need your help.
In 2018, Tom had a brain hemorrhage, which lead to a stroke. More recently between July - Aug. 2020 he required two brain surgeries. He has returned home and is working hard on his recovery once again. Tom, Lisa and Nik continue to deal with the consequences of all these medical episodes to the best of their ability. The family needs your help and support to ease the financial burden moving forward with his continued healing process.
It is hard to ask for help and especially during our current times of the COVID 19 pandemic. The Streits want to express their deep, heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for all the support, love, well wishes and prayers that have been coming in since 11/2018 and from those who are just learning about his health challenges.
8-2019 Kennebunkport
I think of Tom as someone brilliant, talented, insightful, funny, kind, caring, and giving. He is a super nice guy, has an great dry sense of humor, loves music, all things audio and photography. He is proud to be married to Lisa and father to Nik, their recent college grad. Tom is a very private person and we are sorry to inform you of his health updates in this manner on his page. As you can imagine life has been very busy navigating his medical needs and day-to-day life.
Chapter One: Brain Hemorrhage & Stroke, November 2018
Tom unknowingly experienced a significant brain hemorrhage on his right side, which lead to a stroke impacting his left side. His neurologist told him that most people who have had a bleed the size of his are no longer with us. Silver lining/blessing number one! One month after Tom’s hemorrhage/stroke Lisa was laid off of her full time position. She has been at home assisting Tom in day-to-day life since his stroke. Lisa is planning on returning to work at some point down their road. Tom was hospitalized for four months working very hard with his wonderful therapists in Speech Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy regaining his ability to walk again. Silver lining/blessing number two!! The medical staff was not anticipating he would walk again. The stroke impacted his proprioception (spatial sense and navigation), he has a condition referred to as left neglect or left dis-attention where his left field of vision does not process information in his brain so he has had to train his right eye to process the information, his left arm and hand are not fully functional and he experiences neuropathy on his left side of his body. Tom's spirits are good and he perseveres on!
Chapter Two: Seizure, AVM – First Brain Surgery Mid-June 2020
Tom had an 8 min. seizure and was rushed off to Mass General Brigham Hospital emergency room. He was at MGBH for 10 days and released when his status for surgery was changed to non-emergency. MGBH is an excellent medical facility with such hard working and devoted doctors, specialist and all the amazing support staff. They found an AVM (arteriovenous malformation) in Tom’s right side of his brain. AVMs are usually congenital and a disorder of arteries and veins being tangled and communication signals being misdirected which weakens both the arteries and veins. This weakening leads to ruptures/bleeding. On July 10th Tom had his first successful brain surgery removing the AVM. Tom’s neurosurgeon team indicated that the AVM was the cause of his 2018 hemorrhage and the recent seizure. Silver lining/blessing number three!!! He stayed another five days after surgery.
Chapter Three: Sodium Level Dropped
Tom was home for three days and then admitted back into the MGBH ER on July 18th. It is common for sodium levels to take a drop after surgery and even though Tom was taking the prescribed sodium tablets and staying well within liquid restrictions his sodium plummeted. Low sodium levels can cause seizures, lead to comas or death. Silver lining/blessing number four!!!! Another five day visit at MGBH and then a direct transfer to Spaulding Charlestown Rehabilitation Hospital. Tom received more excellent care, SLP, OT and PT there for two weeks. What an amazing staff and rehabilitation hospital they have there. They gave Tom a “Gold Star Patient” title for his outstanding efforts and good behavior! He did well gaining some strength back.
Tom's view at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Chapter Four: Subdural Hematoma – Second Brain Surgery – August 11th
Tom was home four days. Day five he went back to MGBH ER. They were ready to release him and at the last minute his neurosurgeon ordered a CT scan. Silver lining/blessing number five!!!!! The CT scan indicated a subdural hematoma on the left side of his brain. Subdural hematomas occur when the dura mater (membrane between the brain and the skull) disconnects from the skull causing blood to pool in the head. Tom did not hit his head, which is the common cause of subdural hematomas, and his neurosurgeon and associates felt it was “a consequence of his first surgery”. Tom’s second brain surgery went well and once again received therapies at Spaulding Charleston. On day four at Spaulding Tom was sent back to MGBH ER with symptoms of a mini stroke. A CT scan reveled that small veins have grown in the subdural hematoma space (a common occurrence). His neurosurgeon and Tom’s team are hoping that the veins will dissipate not causing any further issues for him moving forward.
Chapter Five: Home at last – August 27th!!!
It has been a long strange trip indeed (after 39 days at MGBH and 26 days at Spaulding Hospital!) Tom left home June 17th and surely hopes to stay clear of any health issues . His spirits are good and will continue to receive therapies moving forward. Please stay tuned for updates.
***
PLEASE BE INFORMED: for donors who use Go Fund Me, the site asks for a “TIP”. If you DO NOT WISH to leave a tip, simply select OTHER in the drop down and ENTER 0 as a dollar amount. A Venmo option is available by emailing us (here)and we will provide the information.
In 2018, Tom had a brain hemorrhage, which lead to a stroke. More recently between July - Aug. 2020 he required two brain surgeries. He has returned home and is working hard on his recovery once again. Tom, Lisa and Nik continue to deal with the consequences of all these medical episodes to the best of their ability. The family needs your help and support to ease the financial burden moving forward with his continued healing process.
It is hard to ask for help and especially during our current times of the COVID 19 pandemic. The Streits want to express their deep, heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for all the support, love, well wishes and prayers that have been coming in since 11/2018 and from those who are just learning about his health challenges.
8-2019 Kennebunkport I think of Tom as someone brilliant, talented, insightful, funny, kind, caring, and giving. He is a super nice guy, has an great dry sense of humor, loves music, all things audio and photography. He is proud to be married to Lisa and father to Nik, their recent college grad. Tom is a very private person and we are sorry to inform you of his health updates in this manner on his page. As you can imagine life has been very busy navigating his medical needs and day-to-day life.
Chapter One: Brain Hemorrhage & Stroke, November 2018
Tom unknowingly experienced a significant brain hemorrhage on his right side, which lead to a stroke impacting his left side. His neurologist told him that most people who have had a bleed the size of his are no longer with us. Silver lining/blessing number one! One month after Tom’s hemorrhage/stroke Lisa was laid off of her full time position. She has been at home assisting Tom in day-to-day life since his stroke. Lisa is planning on returning to work at some point down their road. Tom was hospitalized for four months working very hard with his wonderful therapists in Speech Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy regaining his ability to walk again. Silver lining/blessing number two!! The medical staff was not anticipating he would walk again. The stroke impacted his proprioception (spatial sense and navigation), he has a condition referred to as left neglect or left dis-attention where his left field of vision does not process information in his brain so he has had to train his right eye to process the information, his left arm and hand are not fully functional and he experiences neuropathy on his left side of his body. Tom's spirits are good and he perseveres on!
Chapter Two: Seizure, AVM – First Brain Surgery Mid-June 2020
Tom had an 8 min. seizure and was rushed off to Mass General Brigham Hospital emergency room. He was at MGBH for 10 days and released when his status for surgery was changed to non-emergency. MGBH is an excellent medical facility with such hard working and devoted doctors, specialist and all the amazing support staff. They found an AVM (arteriovenous malformation) in Tom’s right side of his brain. AVMs are usually congenital and a disorder of arteries and veins being tangled and communication signals being misdirected which weakens both the arteries and veins. This weakening leads to ruptures/bleeding. On July 10th Tom had his first successful brain surgery removing the AVM. Tom’s neurosurgeon team indicated that the AVM was the cause of his 2018 hemorrhage and the recent seizure. Silver lining/blessing number three!!! He stayed another five days after surgery.
Chapter Three: Sodium Level Dropped
Tom was home for three days and then admitted back into the MGBH ER on July 18th. It is common for sodium levels to take a drop after surgery and even though Tom was taking the prescribed sodium tablets and staying well within liquid restrictions his sodium plummeted. Low sodium levels can cause seizures, lead to comas or death. Silver lining/blessing number four!!!! Another five day visit at MGBH and then a direct transfer to Spaulding Charlestown Rehabilitation Hospital. Tom received more excellent care, SLP, OT and PT there for two weeks. What an amazing staff and rehabilitation hospital they have there. They gave Tom a “Gold Star Patient” title for his outstanding efforts and good behavior! He did well gaining some strength back.
Tom's view at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Chapter Four: Subdural Hematoma – Second Brain Surgery – August 11th
Tom was home four days. Day five he went back to MGBH ER. They were ready to release him and at the last minute his neurosurgeon ordered a CT scan. Silver lining/blessing number five!!!!! The CT scan indicated a subdural hematoma on the left side of his brain. Subdural hematomas occur when the dura mater (membrane between the brain and the skull) disconnects from the skull causing blood to pool in the head. Tom did not hit his head, which is the common cause of subdural hematomas, and his neurosurgeon and associates felt it was “a consequence of his first surgery”. Tom’s second brain surgery went well and once again received therapies at Spaulding Charleston. On day four at Spaulding Tom was sent back to MGBH ER with symptoms of a mini stroke. A CT scan reveled that small veins have grown in the subdural hematoma space (a common occurrence). His neurosurgeon and Tom’s team are hoping that the veins will dissipate not causing any further issues for him moving forward.
Chapter Five: Home at last – August 27th!!!
It has been a long strange trip indeed (after 39 days at MGBH and 26 days at Spaulding Hospital!) Tom left home June 17th and surely hopes to stay clear of any health issues . His spirits are good and will continue to receive therapies moving forward. Please stay tuned for updates.
***
PLEASE BE INFORMED: for donors who use Go Fund Me, the site asks for a “TIP”. If you DO NOT WISH to leave a tip, simply select OTHER in the drop down and ENTER 0 as a dollar amount. A Venmo option is available by emailing us (here)and we will provide the information.
Organizer and beneficiary
Arlene Lieberman
Organizer
Arlington, MA
Tom Streit
Beneficiary