On May 12, 2021 my father suffered a massive stroke while on a late afternoon hike and was carried off the trail. He was transported to Overlake Hospital and promptly moved to the ICU. Things happened very quickly, and the damage was swift. I remember a conversation with a doctor where I was told how aggressively they were going to need to intervene to save his life. I was preparing for the heartbreaking possibility of continuing life without him. But Dad had other plans. The next day he was alert, talking, bossing nurses around, and ready to jump right back into the world. Doctors worried that his brain swelling would get so great they would have to remove part of his skull to allow the swelling to continue. Dad fought back. Of course, the stroke caused damage. Dad currently is very weak on the left side of his body and sometimes goes off on interesting tangents while speaking to others. But he's alert, sharp, is able to focus quickly and cooperative in his recovery efforts. He is currently preparing to move on to acute therapy at Evergreen Health in Kirkland, WA to maximize his recovery during this crucial post stroke window. There's a lot of uncertainty ahead and changes and adjustments we will have to make but if there's one thing I know about my Dad it's that he's a fighter. He climbing a different kind of mountain this time, and with the love and support of friends and family. I know we can see him to the summit.
