GINA WAGNER

20TH APRIL 2002

Dear Ram, 

I am interested in joining your club. I am a caregiver for my husband, Al, who suffered a "massive" brain stem stroke on 2/28/02. I am not sure if it was VAD or CAD. 

They said it was brought on by the migraines he had a history of having. He is "locked-in", but is overcoming that condition. 

On the day we learned of the diagnosis, his entire body (except his eyes) was "paralyzed". I put that in quotation marks because he had movement as a reaction to stimulation. The neurologist informed us that he would never recover any movement. He was never in a coma, in fact, as I called 911 and paced the room, his eyes followed me.

He can now move his neck/head all around and is able to lift his head from the pillow. He had a gasterostomy and a tracheostomy and is currently being tube fed, but has been removed from the ventilator. 

On 3/26, he was released from the hospital to a "long term care" facility. He is to remain there until he gets strong enough to go to a rehab facility. I am preparing to wage a campaign to call the case manager at my insurance company to convince her that he is ready to be moved. He has the determination to get better and exercised the areas he can move (the neck and jaw) between therapy sessions.

He currently communicates using a communication board which my brother-in-law made after researching it on the internet. He is able to nod for "yes" and closes his eyes for "no" (left/right head movement is still quite labored).

He is a wonderful person and has a lot of friends who come to visit him, which he really likes. He was a good provider and hopes he will be again. He is a good father to our three sons and an adoring husband.

I hope that you find relief for the problems that you are still having.

Sincerely,
Gina Wagner