Mike’s Stroke & Hemorrhage Journey

Thursday Changed Everything Early afternoon on Thursday, May 23, Mike, became confused and lost the ability to speak. My Mom called 911, and he was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Brainerd, MN. Initially, we were told he had likely suffered a massive stroke. Thanks to the quick action and coordination of his medical team, he was transferred within a few hours to Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, in the Neuro ICU receiving specialized care. Hector and I met, Mike at Abbott last night, he was confused and frightened as he is not able to speak. At this time, we are not welcoming visitors outside of immediate family as he remains in a critical and closely monitored state. If you would like to visit with Paxie at Abbott please reach out to her directly or Nicole to arrange. What We Know So Far Mike has a large brain hemorrhage in the left frontal lobe—an area responsible for speech, movement, and decision-making. The bleed measures about 6 cm and has caused his brain to shift 8 mm to the right. This kind of pressure and displacement is serious and can have lasting effects on brain function. There is also blood in the subarachnoid space (around the brain), which adds to the pressure and irritation. An MRI today confirmed that the bleed and shift have not worsened, which is a small comfort. However, we’ve learned that both of Mike’s carotid arteries—responsible for supplying blood to the brain—are severely narrowed. The left is more than 90% blocked and the right over 70%, placing him at high risk for additional strokes or worsening brain injury. They also ruled out a mass in the brain they thought could be responsible this. There’s also a new 1 cm spot on his lung, likely related to inflammation or infection—possibly mild pneumonia. His team is monitoring it closely. He has pre-existing emphysema as well, though that’s not new. How He’s Doing Mike is breathing on his own and can squeeze with his right hand. His left side has very little response so far. He’s currently unable to speak or swallow. After thoughtful discussions with his care team, we’ve agreed to move forward with a feeding tube and central line to support his care. He will remain in the Neuro ICU through the weekend while we wait and watch. For now, there are no plans for surgery. The bleeding is substantial, and we need more time to understand the full extent of the neurological damage. What Comes Next We don’t yet know what the long-term future holds. What we do know is that Mike will not return to the level of independence he once had. This summer—and likely much more—will look very different for both Mike and Paxie. We are taking it one day at a time. We are incredibly grateful for the skill and compassion of the team at Abbott. The stroke team is closely involved and will make decisions about how to address his arteries once things stabilize. Please keep Mike in your prayers. Your love, strength, and support are deeply felt and appreciated. We will post updates here as we learn more. Once Mike is moved out of ICU we welcome all the visitors. With love, Nicole and Family