A brain stem stroke happens when the brain’s blood supply is interrupted in this area. This type of stroke can result in death, since the damaged brain stem can no longer control the body’s vital functions.

The brain stem controls involuntary functions like heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure. Nerves that are used for eye movement, hearing, talking, chewing, and swallowing are also controlled by the brain stem. Normal brain stem function is vital to survival. Lucky for me, they cause little to no damage to the cognitive skills.  But, unlucky for me, they cause serious and varying degrees of damage to the motor skills. 

In my case, my brain stem stroke caused quadriplegia, Central Pain Syndrome, loss of speech, Dysarthia and various other severe disabilities associated with losing most of your motor skills. Some of my other side-effects are:

	Inability to walk
	Sleep disruption
	Hearing loss
	Inability to balance
	Loss of muscle tone
	Spasticity
	Difficulty with swallowing
	Loss of fine motor skills
	Behavioral changes Lack of concern about situations Impulsivity Depression
	Loss of short-term memory
	more...

So, here I was, quadriplegic and unable to speak but extremely confident in my abilities and very determined to succeed!  I purchased an infrared head pointer so I could make the cursor move anywhere on the computer screen.  I needed a way to type so I downloaded an on-screen keyboard.  The on-screen keyboard lets me type anything I want.  I move my head and my infrared head pointer acts like a mouse and moves the cursor to that spot on the computer.  I move the cursor to a letter on the on-screen keyboard and click.  When I click on a letter a list of words beginning with that letter pops up.  The more letters I type the list of words becomes more refined.  This is called Word Prediction.  I move the cursor to the word I want and click.  I can sometimes type out a 10 letter word by just typing the first three letters.  I click on my word from a list and then the on-screen keyboard types it out.  

After my stroke, I had dozens of questions about what happened to me.  I thought strokes only happened to older people and I was only 36.  I found a message board just for stroke survivors.  We were all thrilled to be talking to others who could empathize with each other.  We started meeting every two weeks in a chat room.  A common topic of discussion was having a website where just stroke survivors and stroke caregivers could meet. 

In 1994, using a computer was brand new to most people.  It was especially difficult for most stroke survivors, as things like logic and deductive reasoning were skills that were usually damaged by their stroke.  Fortunately, my brain stem stroke did not affect my cognitive skills.  I was one of the few who knew how to use a computer.  So, it was logical when I volunteered to create our website.  Now, I just had to figure out how to make web pages.  I turned to the Internet and found a tutorial on HTML.  Slowly, I taught myself how to make web pages. 

Eventually, I created a network of websites that now make up The Stroke Network website.  The website has an awesome message board with dozens of forums.  We post about our problems and receive responses from stroke survivors who live all over the world.  Each member is given a blog to write about personal issues with life as a stroke survivor.  Also, each member is provided space in our Gallery where they can upload personal pictures to the Internet.  The website also has a chat room for our members to discuss issues caused by stroke or just for socializing.  In addition, there is lots of practical information about stroke, plus dozens of resources for stroke survivors to browse through.  There are links to news articles, websites, books to purchase and sites for financial assistance for the disabled. 

Having a nice website can get quite expensive.  I could not keep paying all the bills out of my own pocket.  The website was becoming popular among stroke survivors and stroke caregivers. Our membership was quickly growing.  My next step was to setup a 501(c)3 non-profit organization so it could take over paying for everything from me.  In 2001, The Stroke Network officially became registered as a tax exempt non-profit organization.  It has been an on-line stroke support group for over 20 years.  Its mission is to provide on-line stroke support and information.  Read about how I started our non-profit organization in my blog.  

Melissa and I started dating in high school during the 10th grade.  I enlisted in the military at 18 and we were married the following year.  I was stationed for four years at Fort Riley, Kansas.  We have been together now for over 40 years.  

We have two beautiful daughters, Traci and Erin.  They were only 9 and 12 when I had my stroke.  They both quickly accepted my new condition and even learned to help their mother with minor caregiver chores.  Now, they both are married.  I have two great son-in-laws, plus six precious grandchildren.  My daughter, Traci is married to Pete.  They have one daughter, Livi and three boys Petey, Nick and Nate (twins).  My other daughter, Erin is married to Ryan.  They have one son, Ryder and one daughter, Saylor.   

Although my stroke caused loss of speech, Melissa, the girls and I had to learn how to communicate with each other.   I was able to retrain my lips and facial muscles to move.  Unfortunately, my diaphragm and vocalchords were  paralyzed so I could not control my breathing (my body took over my breathing and it's automatic now) or have vocalization.   This led to me having to spell out words or mouth out phrases and full sentences.  I practiced and practiced until I could say or spell whatever I wanted.    

Eventually, mouthing out words became our primary means of communication The entire time that I was relearning how to properly pronounce words, Melissa and our kids were teaching themselves how to read my lips.  We have become quite good at communicating this way.  Read about how we learned to communicate in my blog.  

None of this would have been possible without God leading the way and showing me what to do; see which scripture verses have helped me on this long journey. I love the Lord so much!  He drastically changed my life and made something positive happen.  So, in order to do something positive with myself I decided to dedicate the rest of my life to helping other stroke survivors. I am very driven about assisting them with my websites to find on-line stroke support and information. I now know that this has always been God's plan for me.