Who (is Lou)
Lou is a brilliant man, who always had a thirst for knowledge. He would lie awake at night on his iPad, researching anything that came to mind. If he was having a root canal, he researched the procedure and watched videos; politics, various cultures; topic didn’t matter. Lou could walk into a room of 100 people and have a conversation with every single person in that room, because he would have knowledge to speak about something in common with each individual.
He grew up in New England and had an interest in the world. After joining the Air Force at a young age, he graduated language school in Monterey CA ahead of the rest of his class and became a Korean linguist for the NSA. Needless to say, keeping secrets from or surprising Lou was a mission impossible.
After being discharged from the Air Force, Lou was a serial entrepreneur. Having created businesses from restaurants and custom cabinet making to award-winning floral studios and award-winning pet businesses, Lou loved challenges.
Lou has been fortunate to have traveled the world, literally. Learning everything about each culture visited. He embraced every culture as if it were his own.
Maui 2018
Dubai 2017
60th Birthday – Bangkok 2018
What (happened)
Lou was diagnosed with a basilar artery stroke. A basilar artery stroke occurs in the base of the brainstem caused by a clot or hemorrhage. Lou had a clot that was removed within minutes by the amazing surgeons. Unfortunately, the damage was done and Lou’s prognosis is “locked-in-syndrome.”
Click on the link below for symptoms of stroke and what to do.
Where (can I get information)
While we will focus on stroke on every level, we will be blogging about caregivers, recovering from a devastating injury, socializing afterwards, recreational activities to participate in, patient advocacy and so much more. We will include links to sites for more additional information for reference.
When (did this occur)
Lou’s stroke occurred January 12, 2019. As of the date of this post, we are just over two years into our journey. We have learned that this journey is a marathon, not a sprint. We have learned a lot along the way and are happy to share this information with everyone.
Why (our blog is important)
You are not alone! Since our lives have been upended, we have realized that doctors, social workers and medical workers don’t always have the answers or solutions to every situation. This blog is to be a resource, to be helpful, and a source of comfort to know that there IS a solution, but you need to be persistent and adaptable. And always remember, you are NOT alone!
& How (can we help others)
We quickly learned that acute rehab was not necessarily about getting the patient well, but to train the family on how to care for their loved one at home. Learning daily routines and tasks; administering of foods and medications through a PEG, etc. Being released with what they thought was a good knowledge to care for Lou, we found ourselves with so many questions unanswered and had to fend for ourselves. Please understand, we have met a handful of people in the hospital network, whom we still remain close with and consider family. Reason being, they had made such a positive impact in our lives.
In addition, you can visit our Affiliates page. On that page you can click on each logo and will be redirected to their websites for additional information. It is important to know that these companies are NOT paid advertisers. These are companies we have used or currently use and have had great experiences with each. Use this page as a reference to services out there, or use it to contact them directly. Some are local, others are national.