This is Jeff - New Update and Thank You!

Although I wasn’t able to follow this website earlier during my illness, I’ve since been amazed to read everyone’s comments and encouragements!

Before I start the update, I would like to tell everyone THANK YOU SO MUCH for your prayers, cards, comments, visits and calls!!!  It was overwhelming to see how much my family, friends and neighbors have been following my ordeal!!!  Reading comments from some of my former coworkers and classmates have brought back many good memories of our times together.  I’m glad to still be alive so we can make more memories in the future.  I knew we had some good neighbors in our 55+ park we have here in Arizona, but it never felt so much like a big family until I saw how helpful and supportive everyone has been since our return.  It just goes on and on.  Yes, we have a fantastic “family” here at Sierra Del Saguaro.

There were so many answered prayers throughout this process; I thank everyone for your prayers - they really worked great!  Thank you for your ongoing prayers as well.

I also want to thank Jenny (our oldest daughter) and Julann for creating and maintaining this CaringBridge website.  Thank you also to those people that supported my CaringBridge Website.  I have to say I am so impressed with the way that Julann stepped up when I got sick and took over making so many decisions.  I know the stress was incredible during the last couple of months and she has weathered it well.  She is still doing a great job of taking care of me!  

The Update:  We’ve actually had some very good news during these last few weeks.  On Friday, Nov. 1, we went to the Rehabilitation facility here in Mesa that I was referred to from our Rehabilitation facility at the University of Washington.  I was evaluated by 3 Therapists (Physical, Occupational & Speech) and they all said that my progress has been good and it wasn’t necessary for me to do any more rehabilitation - as long as i get back on my daily walking schedule and do some at-home exercises.  On Oct. 25th, we met with an Infectious Disease Doctor at the Mayo Clinic and she had reviewed the reports from my Washington doctors, etc. and said we didn’t need her since I had fully completed the typical antibiotic drug regiment and it appeared I was doing well in my recovery process.  On Tuesday, Nov. 5th, we met my AZ Neurologist (also from Mayo Clinic) for the first time and were pleased with her comments.  After talking with us and basically evaluating my progress, she said that of all the patients she had that have been through my illness, I looked to be in the best shape of any of them; we thought that comment was wonderful.  She is a Neurologist that specializes in infectious diseases, so she is perfect for my situation!  Another example of God taking care of us; we felt lucky just to get an appointment with a Neurologist (they seem to be quite busy down here) and then to have her specializing in my area of illness it seemed unreal.  She is planning some tests for me, my impression is that it’s more for building a new baseline of where I’m at in my recovery.  One thing to note, the seizures and the strokes I experienced were related to the brain fluid and spinal column fluid infections.  The strokes were not related to my heart.  

I have been very fortunate in that I never lost any physical functions and my speech was not affected by either the strokes or the seizure.  The function of the brain affected most by my illness was in the Temporal Lobe, which houses my short term memory.