On the morning of October 19th, Karsen had an episode of dizziness and vomiting. Throughout the day, he continued to feel ill and by late afternoon he was having issues with his mobility and was not responding normally. We called the ambulance and Karsen was taken to Unity Point Marshalltown where a CT scan showed a mass in his brain.
Karsen was transferred by ambulance from Marshalltown to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Shortly after arriving in Iowa City, even though it was just after midnight on a Sunday morning, the doctors and staff called for all hands, not just the routine weekend crew, to provide Karsen the best care and assessment possible. After many tests, scans, and different avenues considered, they determined that Karsen had suffered a stroke caused by a blood clot in his cerebellum. The stroke affected strength and coordination on the left side of his body but after a week of observation along with amazing care and rehab, he was released.
After returning home, Karsen had been through a week and a half of physical and occupational therapy and was working on getting back into his school routine when he had another episode of dizziness and vomiting on November 7. He again was taken by ambulance to Iowa City where stayed one night for observation as tests and scans did not show any changes. Throughout the night his symptoms subsided and the next morning Karsen was sent home to continue his therapy and rehab.
On the night of November 16 Karsen symptoms returned and he was again taken by ambulance to Iowa City. Tests and scans this time, however, showed that Karsen had suffered another stroke that was now affecting the strength and coordination on the right side of body along with his speech and his balance. After another week of amazing care and rehab at the Stead Family Children’s hospital, Karsen was again sent home begin working through therapy and rehab to retrain and strengthen his body.
Going home after the second stroke was more challenging, both physically and emotionally, as Karsen could not walk or stand without help. His spirit had also taken a huge hit as the joy and confidence that his previous progress had brought was gone along with his trust in the treatments and medications that he had been told would help him. This challenging and concerning low point, however, was brief as Karsen began putting his whole heart and effort into his therapy and he began to show progress that even his doctors and therapists can’t explain. We do remain a little weary though as the doctors have not been able to find an explanation or cause for the clots and therefore cannot rule out the chances of more incidents.
Karsen continues to receive blood thinner injections daily and goes to Marshalltown for therapy three times a week. Three weeks ago he was released from speech therapy and just recently his physical therapists have expressed confidence in him being done with therapy in a couple months as he has progressed so amazingly. Karsen has also been working to get back into his school routine and is now going to school every day with at least a couple full days each week. He does continue to have check ups and appointments in Iowa City and the doctors there have had nothing but positive and encouraging news.
Throughout this whole ordeal we have been able to experience the amazing healing power of sports. One of Karsen’s driving goals has been to get back to wrestling. In fact, the only time he really cried was during our first stay in Iowa City when we had to tell him he wouldn’t be able to wrestle this year. Even though he hasn’t been able to actively participate, the support and brotherhood that the club and school wrestlers and coaches have shown Karsen and our family has been amazing. He’s been told to come to practice whenever he wants and the couple times we have gone have provided excitement and a sense of normalcy that is unexplainable. The amazing things we’ve seen, however, aren’t limited to wrestling. When we opened the shades in Karsen’s room during our first stay in Iowa City he instantly recognized the bricks of Kinnick Stadium at which point he knew where he was and it made his face light up. In fact, every game we’ve watched since, he recognizes and points out the window he got to see the field through when they show “The Wave”. After the first time Karsen was released, several boys from the high school football team decided to come to our house and spend an evening with him and it was awesome to see the enjoyment they all got from entertaining each other.
Karsen was transferred by ambulance from Marshalltown to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Shortly after arriving in Iowa City, even though it was just after midnight on a Sunday morning, the doctors and staff called for all hands, not just the routine weekend crew, to provide Karsen the best care and assessment possible. After many tests, scans, and different avenues considered, they determined that Karsen had suffered a stroke caused by a blood clot in his cerebellum. The stroke affected strength and coordination on the left side of his body but after a week of observation along with amazing care and rehab, he was released.
After returning home, Karsen had been through a week and a half of physical and occupational therapy and was working on getting back into his school routine when he had another episode of dizziness and vomiting on November 7. He again was taken by ambulance to Iowa City where stayed one night for observation as tests and scans did not show any changes. Throughout the night his symptoms subsided and the next morning Karsen was sent home to continue his therapy and rehab.
On the night of November 16 Karsen symptoms returned and he was again taken by ambulance to Iowa City. Tests and scans this time, however, showed that Karsen had suffered another stroke that was now affecting the strength and coordination on the right side of body along with his speech and his balance. After another week of amazing care and rehab at the Stead Family Children’s hospital, Karsen was again sent home begin working through therapy and rehab to retrain and strengthen his body.
Going home after the second stroke was more challenging, both physically and emotionally, as Karsen could not walk or stand without help. His spirit had also taken a huge hit as the joy and confidence that his previous progress had brought was gone along with his trust in the treatments and medications that he had been told would help him. This challenging and concerning low point, however, was brief as Karsen began putting his whole heart and effort into his therapy and he began to show progress that even his doctors and therapists can’t explain. We do remain a little weary though as the doctors have not been able to find an explanation or cause for the clots and therefore cannot rule out the chances of more incidents.
Karsen continues to receive blood thinner injections daily and goes to Marshalltown for therapy three times a week. Three weeks ago he was released from speech therapy and just recently his physical therapists have expressed confidence in him being done with therapy in a couple months as he has progressed so amazingly. Karsen has also been working to get back into his school routine and is now going to school every day with at least a couple full days each week. He does continue to have check ups and appointments in Iowa City and the doctors there have had nothing but positive and encouraging news.
Throughout this whole ordeal we have been able to experience the amazing healing power of sports. One of Karsen’s driving goals has been to get back to wrestling. In fact, the only time he really cried was during our first stay in Iowa City when we had to tell him he wouldn’t be able to wrestle this year. Even though he hasn’t been able to actively participate, the support and brotherhood that the club and school wrestlers and coaches have shown Karsen and our family has been amazing. He’s been told to come to practice whenever he wants and the couple times we have gone have provided excitement and a sense of normalcy that is unexplainable. The amazing things we’ve seen, however, aren’t limited to wrestling. When we opened the shades in Karsen’s room during our first stay in Iowa City he instantly recognized the bricks of Kinnick Stadium at which point he knew where he was and it made his face light up. In fact, every game we’ve watched since, he recognizes and points out the window he got to see the field through when they show “The Wave”. After the first time Karsen was released, several boys from the high school football team decided to come to our house and spend an evening with him and it was awesome to see the enjoyment they all got from entertaining each other.
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