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Scroll down to read George and Margie's incredible story.
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Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability.
On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds.
Someone dies of a stroke every 3 minutes.
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~Brain injury from stroke sometimes causes muscles to involuntarily contract.
~About 40 percent of stroke survivors have serious falls within a year of their stroke.
~Claw toe, and a similar condition called “hammertoe,” are caused by an imbalance of muscles in the feet and toes.
~Brain injury during a stroke leaves survivors prone to neuromuscular imbalances.
~It’s impossible for someone else to truly comprehend the experience of someone with central pain syndrome (also known as thalamic pain). Most of us simply don’t have a context from which to imagine central pain.
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George and Margie~
Starting Over after the Stroke
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Just months before the stroke George and Margie celebrate with family at their grandson’s wedding.
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George and Margie |
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December 1, 2006 |
While shoveling snow, George suffered a massive stroke.
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Although he assured his wife she didn’t need to call 911, an ambulance transported him to the local hospital. A short time later he was incoherent and needed more specialized care.
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Unconscious, George was flown on life-flight to the University of Iowa Hospital for special care in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
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The day after his arrival in the S.I.C.U., George and Margie’s family began to arrive from Idaho, New York, Colorado, and Utah.
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With a massive bleed saturating the right hemisphere of his brain, George was unable to regain consciousness, eat or breathe on his own. The aneurysm was inoperable.
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After two weeks in a coma, the miracles started. Slowly, and with many temporary setbacks, we watched George come back. He stayed in S.I.C.U. for a month.
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After an additional month in physical therapy he was ready to go home. The nurses and staff cried, saying they would miss his cheerful attitude and sweet sense of humor.
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He requested a celebration with pizza and ice cream on his first night home. With his left side paralyzed, eating became a challenge.
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A special message awaited him on his bedroom mirror.
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Being able to sleep in the same bed after two months… priceless!
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The couple soon found that many needs for the disabled were not covered by insurance. They were given a wheelchair, but no assistance in making their home wheelchair accessible and no way to transport the powered wheelchair.
Unlike many in their situation, the Rices were blessed with incredible friends and neighbors that stepped in to help with construction of wheelchair ramps and reconstruction of doorways.
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With their daughters and extended family living in far-away states, Margie was left to care for George on her own. She carried his weight anytime he needed to move in or out of his chair and lugged the heavy chair in and out of the car when he needed to go out for any reason.
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Margie with daughters Kathleen, Carol, and Jill. |
The family gathered for Thanksgiving eights months after George's homecoming. He took the opportunity to express his concerns to his daughters.
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He told them of how worried he was about the strain this new life was on their mother. He cried as he recalled one day, in particular, when unloading the heavy wheelchair out of the trunk during a storm, the wind slammed the trunk down on their mother’s head.
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He heard her cry out, but could not even go to her and see if she was alright. He expressed his desire to relieve some of the load that had been placed on his sweetheart. He didn’t want to burden her.
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George with grandson, Hunter. |
The visit was bittersweet. The grandkids were so happy to see grandpa once again, but no one lived close enough to give continued help.
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Almost two years after the stroke, George and Margie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary- a day made even more special by what they had overcome together.
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Celebrating 50 wonderful years. |
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After the party, the granddaughters made a trip to the nearby hospital to share centerpiece flowers, and George and Margie’s story of hope, with I.C.U. patients. A stroke patient there was especially touched by their story.
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Centerpieces made by daughter, Jill. |
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George with daughter, Beverly. |
Although the challenges are great, the family is thankful for another day to love their family patriarch in person. They know his courage will be a light to many and will help inspire others to love and assist those struggling in similar conditions.
Our goal is to provide needed help for those who suffer the disabling effects of stroke and to bring a greater awareness to the public of their needs.
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