Op-Ed: By Judy Marlow-Ratway,
March 7th, 2015, Garrett Mendez was interviewed at Madhouse TV Studios in Deer Park, Long Island, (Stroke of Luck Show) regarding his massive brain stem stroke as a result of a head injury playing ice hockey and his miraculous recovery showing there is life after stroke.
At the time of the accident, November 26th, 2005, his parents Eileen and Gary had no idea that he had torn the artery in the back of his neck which bled slowly and after six days, the clot formed that caused the stroke. Garrett dove on the ice to block a puck and slammed head first into the side walls of the rink. He got up, was checked by the trainer who found no sign of concussion and he finished the game. Several days later he played another game of ice hockey and returned home suffering a headache, his legs felt weak, he was vomiting and his face was a little numb. His parents thought he had the flu, and that the numbness in his face was from the face cage on his hockey helmet. Unfortunately the next morning his parents could not wake him for he was unresponsive and they rushed him to the nearest emergency room.
After 36 hours he was treated for encephalitis because the neurologist refused to believe the radiologist’s report of a stroke. An MRA done once he could be sedated confirmed stroke. Garrett was “locked in”, on a respirator, unable to see, speak, swallow and was fully paralyzed. For the first two weeks in was unknown… if he would survive. Throughout it all Garrett was fully cognizant, fully aware. It was not known at the time that Garrett’s strength, his determination, his refusal to settle for anything less than the fullest recovery would be possible.
Nine years have passed since Garrett’s stroke. His entire family has spent the past nine years focused on his recovery and rehabilitation. They sought out all new therapies and technologies. Garrett’s recovery has been nothing short of miraculous. He drives a car with a modified left side accelerator. He is taking college courses with a goal of becoming a physical therapy assistant. Garrett is currently working at Sacred Heart University physical therapy office as a physical therapy aid. He ice skates, and plays a good game of golf. This is the same young man who was never expected to live, walk or talk.
Stories like this are being brought to light on Stroke of Luck Shows on Madhousetv.com
ReneMarie Testa Adams, the shows host, suffered a Aphasia Stroke on the softball field at age 26. After her long recovery, she is giving back through her book “Stroke of Luck” and her Internet TV Show…in addition to her upcoming Language of Love Telethon benefiting the NATIONAL STROKE ASSOCIATION, THE AMERICAN STROKE ASSOCIATION, AND RENEMARIE LANGUAGE OF LOVE FOUNDATION, all 501(c)(3)organizations….
Donations to this great cause are being made out and sent to: ReneMarie Language of Love Foundation, Inc
Post Office Box 451, Hawthorne, New Jersey 07506, or through PayPal at: www.renemarielanguageoflove.
For additional information about the mission, executive board members, survivors and telethon entertainers, etc. visit the above website.
Note that donations above $250.00 will be announced on air during one of twelve time slots