Dave ESPI Posted November 23, 2007 Report Share Posted November 23, 2007 I had a very minor stroke at 27. I was lucky and had no damages. Best wishes to you and him and I hope for a full recovery for your son.The human body can be so frail and fragile. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carvedog Posted November 23, 2007 Report Share Posted November 23, 2007 The good news is that he is alive, his speach and personality largly unaffected. I'm posting this as I sit at Joe's bedside. Brad That his speech and personality are intact is huge. I am so very sorry to hear this about your son. Please know that love and prayers are flowing from Idaho. What hospital is he in? I would love to be able to focus some healing energy on that location. Sounds silly but I believe in it. May God speed the healing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjvircks Posted November 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2007 :ices_ange Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers! It does mean a lot to us to have folks pulling for Joe. When I came into his room today Joe's face was bright and cheerful. I glanced over at his girlfriend and Jamie was grinning ear to ear. The simultaineous words out of their mouths were "watch Joe's new trick!!!" Joe called me over to his bed and had me place my hand on his left Quad. There was a strong and controlled contraction! It turns out that when he is in a chair or at bedside with his leg hanging freely he can get it extending a bit! We are all just tickled pink and slightly giddy. It seems he is getting stronger, more adept, and confident with each passing moment. I got some video of Joe and his Physical Therapist (PT) working at the parallel bars. He was being taught how to lift himself (with aid) to standing and begin "walking" ( again with aid ) . His stroke hit him 10:00am the 10th and here we are 13 days later... Joe wheeling himself around in his wheelchair to and from therapy and showing great signs of his brain's healing. Boy did I ever give him a huge hug! I give a great deal of thanks and respect to the doctors and staff at the University of Iowa Hospital (Iowa City). They've got a very good med school. When they knew the scope of Joe's problem they brought in the head of the neurosurgery department to handle Joe. Now Joe is at St Luke's Hospital in our home town of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The inpatient Rehab Department has just been totally upgraded and is a cheerful, comfortable place. well... time to go ! Joe has just wheeled himself off to the kitchen to find some Thanksgiving leftovers! Again, Thanks to all Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buell Posted November 23, 2007 Report Share Posted November 23, 2007 That is wonderful news! The greatest joys in this life can come from the strangest places. Keep it up Joe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeW Posted November 24, 2007 Report Share Posted November 24, 2007 Word! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carvin29 Posted November 24, 2007 Report Share Posted November 24, 2007 Hey Brad, hang in there man. You guys are in my prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Pushee Posted November 24, 2007 Report Share Posted November 24, 2007 Brad, Excellent news - worthy of Thanksgiving indeed Tedy Bruschi came back strong from his stroke, we all hope Joe can do as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gleb Posted November 24, 2007 Report Share Posted November 24, 2007 nice to hear about the speedy start of recovery. You guys are extremely lucky, and he is very fortunate to have a dad like you. Keep it up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartron Posted November 24, 2007 Report Share Posted November 24, 2007 Hey Brad, I'm really sorry to hear what happened. I would have never thought that it could happen to a 21-year-old. Glad to hear of the quick recovery. Hang in there, sounds like he'll be up and about in no time ! 'later... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronG Posted November 25, 2007 Report Share Posted November 25, 2007 Brad, just returned from the Tgiving holidays and read this. I am truly sorry that this happened, it was such a pleasure to meet you and your son when you were here during the summer for your hang gliding trip. He is a fine son and it seems you share a great relationship. I hope the recovery goes quickly, hang in there!! Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjvircks Posted January 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 Joe is recovering very well. The most important thing is that all of who Joe is is still in his head. His personality, intellect, emotions, reason, etc are the same as before, as near as I can tell. He just had the skull section replaced a couple of weeks ago and is having the staples from that removed tomorrow. In mid Feb he is going in for further testing to see if any other AVMs (ArterioVeinousMalformation) are present that need attention. Joe is walking well and recovering use of his left arm & hand. He does not move his fingers fast enough yet, so he plays a lot of bar chords. In order to stay on my insurance he is taking 12 credits thru the local community college (Kirkwood!). Since he is not allowed to drive 'til May the courses are all on-line offerings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.T. Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 Glad to hear he is doing so well!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willywhit Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 wow,Brad, I totally missed this thread back in November. Awesome that he's doing well. Looking forward to more fishing stories. didn't you have a giant trout as an avatar way back ? maybe post that pic, I thought it was YOU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.oldsnowboards.com Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 AWESOME!!! Best news!! Thank you for the update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy T. Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 That's really great new Brad! Thanks for the update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinecure Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 Great to hear. Plus you are about to get a vacation in the amazing powder of Tahoe. I hope you can take the opportunity to relax and enjoy. You probably need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronG Posted February 1, 2008 Report Share Posted February 1, 2008 Brad, thanks for posting this I was just thinking about your boy the other day and wondering his condition. I am elated to hear this news. I hope the recovery continues like it has been going. On another note, you're going to Tahoe?? no fair!! Did you ever replace the V70? If so, with what?? AAron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjvircks Posted February 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2008 Yep OVR... TAHOE !!! To stay around to help with Joe's rehab, etc... I cancelled what would have been 2 weeks of Idaho riding/skiing (basically whole trip free but for food/drink). Now that he's on his feet, figurativly as well as literally, my gf and I can take some vacation without feeling guilty. I replaced my XC-70 with another one. Here is a bit of humor! I took a different position recently with the "Commercial" division of Collins. When I moved into my new office I noticed a cubicle with the name that was the same as the listed owner of the car that totaled my new XC. Sure enough... she is the one! I've got no ill will towards her. Her insurance took care of me well enough and it was her daughter's boyfriend who was driving, not her or her daughter. Go Figure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
two_ravens Posted February 2, 2008 Report Share Posted February 2, 2008 New here, so I am seeing this thread for the first time. That's super he is doing so well!!! Aren't humans amazing? I feel for what you all have experienced, as my 19 year old baby sister had a stroke last summer that was caused by her chemotherapy. Pretty rough deal. But she is doing well also, and back in school. I'm always awed by what can be accomplished with love and determination! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjvircks Posted February 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 Well, here we all are... almost 16 months after Joe's stroke. Three weeks ago Joe was my best man. What a great young man he has grown into! Here are some photos. The girl is Jamie, Joe's girlfriend. She was with him when the stroke hit, and has been such a blessing to us all, then and now. Life is good ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronG Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 Brad, congratulations on your recent nuptials. I am ecstatic to see pics of Joe, looks a bit bigger than the last time I saw him out here in SoCal. Glad to hear that he is doing so well. On another note, it appears that you are heading to the festivities in Loveland on the 8th of March, so am I. Make sure you seek me out, I would love to take a run or two with you. Aaron Also, I heard a while back that your hangliding/parasailing landing zone may be on the way out due to development. This was before the housing slump so things may have changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanZ Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 wow, I don't know you or him, but I just read the thread for the first time, that is great he is doing so well. Not only did you not lose him, he's still got everything upstairs! Nobody should ever see their kid pass, I'm glad you didn't have to. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjvircks Posted March 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Nobody should ever see their kid pass This is so very true... I know from very close second-hand knowledge. My new wife had three boys. The eldest fell into depression and drug use. The father was neanderthal about counseling and therapy (and still is... to everyone's detriment). The boy committed suicide-by-cop just days before his 17th birthday. Following this the marriage self destructed. Here and now, coming up on 11 years later, there is still a lot of crap to deal with. The moral of the story? Some parents need to pull their immature, self serving heads out of their arses and get their kids (and themselves!!) into therapy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave ESPI Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Congrats ! no pic of u & the bride? Good to hear about recovery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Prokopiw Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Very happy for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.