A Post-stroke Return

Wednesday afternoon Will’s speech therapist, Lisa, came with a wonderful article about Tedy Bruschi, a football player for the New England Patriots who had suffered a stroke and gone through extensive rehabilitation, mostly with physical therapy. The article really hit home. Bruschi is the first foot-ball player ever to return to the pros following a stroke. His success was attributed mainly to hard work and a good medical team working in his behalf. The therapists didn’t cut him any slack, but put him through exercises capable of restoring muscles to peak condition. The doctors closed up the PFO in his heart the same way they did Will’s and monitored his progress very carefully to determine the advisability of his resuming his career. After all was said and done the neurologists could find no reason why Bruschi shouldn’t be able to do anything he wanted to do. He and his wife decided he should continue to fulfill his life’s dream.
It was a very encouraging article, for while the part of the body that was affected by the stroke in Bruschi, was very different from Will’s, the age and general well being of both stoke victims was very comparable. Will’s bi-lateral stroke will likely require more time for healing, but his alertness and stamina continue to increase. His memory and speaking skills also show marked improvement. At times he sounds like his old self. He is currently taking cooking and institute classes, has become a very avid reader, and is participating in companionship study of the gospel with his returned missionary little sister. They currently have an investigator they are very eager to see enter the waters of baptism. Things are looking up!