Mike’s Story

Site created on September 14, 2018


Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


On Sunday, September 9, Mike woke up with numbness and tingling in the right side of his face.  Testing did not reveal a stroke.  He was treated for Bell's palsy.  By Monday the numbness had spread to his right hand and he was experiencing dizziness and double vision.  When it spread to his right leg and he was having trouble walking, Dianna brought him into Bismarck for further testing.  Blood tests on Tuesday were negative for West Nile and an MRI was scheduled for the next morning to further check for a stroke.



Following the MRI, he was admitted to Sanford Hospital because they had found swelling in the brain pons (top of the brain stem).  Consultation began with doctors at Mayo as they tried to determine whether there was an infection or a tumor.  Overnight Mike began having trouble breathing and was moved early Thursday to ICU and intubated.  His lumbar puncture was clear so as they leaned toward it being a tumor or a virus, and plans were made to transfer him to Rochester.


Mike and Dianna were flown to Mayo, arriving Thursday afternoon.  More blood work and another MRI were performed.  Because the area had increased in size by Friday morning, he underwent a high-risk procedure where they inserted a needle into the area to remove some of the fluid to determine whether or not they were dealing with a virus or a tumor.  Prayers were answered when it was revealed that it was "pus" and they were able to remove as much as possible.  The fluid has been sent to the lab to determine the type of infection.  This could take a few days, but they are continuing antibiotics in the meantime.


Mike and Dianna will be in Rochester for a while, so continued prayers are appreciated.


Newest Update

Going home!

Journal entry by Dianna Anderson —

It's been a long journey and Mike and I are ready to start 2019 with new plans and more determination.

The occupational and physical therapists have determined that Mike is able to continue his therapy from home. We had a home visit last Friday with a social worker and an occupational therapist. There were no surprises on what we had to do to get our house ready for the challenges we will face.  The ramp has been completed(see below), we have ordered all the bathroom accessories and we will need a gate to close off the steps going downstairs. The discharge date for Mike is this coming Friday and he is more than ready to be back home.

This past week Mike spent more time outside the care center - eye appointment, caroling at Edgewood Vista with a group from Surprise Church, hockey game, and celebrating Christmas with our family.

We want to take this time to thank all those who have sent well wishes, gifts, made phone calls and came to visit. They got us through some tough times, comforted us and gave us patience and determination. We are truly blessed to have such great friends and family who were so willing to help out with whatever needed to be done.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a new year filled with good health and new memories!

God's Blessings to you all!
Read More of the journal titled "Going home!"
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