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| Frank |
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My Dad, Frank contracted West Nile Encephalitis September 2003 at the age of 78. He became
ill with a high fever and disorientation. Within hours he could no longer
walk and had difficulty answering questions. His fever stayed high for
several days and most doctors believed that he had the Herpes Simplex Virus.
By the 5th day, we were told that he may not make it. It was then that he
began to turn around. His fever dropped that evening and he seemed to be
making a recovery. By day 10 the health department called to confirm West
Nile not Herpes Simplex. The diagnosis really didn't matter at the time
since the treatment was the same for both. I understand now that a new drug
is being used in hardship cases.
His 2 week hospital stay was followed up with 2 weeks of rehab. When we got
to rehab, he needed to learn how to walk properly. He could not tell time,
do math, read or even understand the TV. My mom and I worked hard
stimulating his mind and forcing him to move. He never let him rest unless
he was really too tired. We knew that stimulation would allow his brain to
reroute the things that he used to know how to do. We were at his side 14
hours a day; not to visit, but to work for his recovery. It was a group
effort that both friends and family greatly contributed to.
It is now 4 months since he came down with this dreaded virus and he is
doing very well. For the most part, he has made a full recovery. He reads
his newspaper diligently once again, pays strict attention to the time so
that he does not miss the hourly weather forecast, he walks very steadily
sometimes for long periods of time. The only thing that he has not felt
comfortable with is writing so my mom now takes care of paying the bills.
That does not mean he cannot do the math! He sits right next to her as she
writes out the checks, recalculates her addition and subtraction and then
gives his approval.
The doctors are amazed at his recovery considering his age, but my mom know
that prayers, luck and perseverance got him through this. Even the doctors
in rehab told us that he would have relapses, but so far, he has not taken
any steps backward. I hope this entry provides hope and inspiration to
others, just as I looked at this site for the information that doctors were
so unwilling to give.
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Frank
NY, U.S.A.
Posted: September 2003 |
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