OpenLetterbyBryanMelchorStrokeAwarenessMonthTheDaytheMusicDiedTimewillforeverbemarkedbylifebeforeAugust2,2015andlifeafterthisdaywhenIwasjoyfullyleadingmychurchbandinsongsofpraise–feelingsogratefulandupliftedbythegospelmusicIwasapartof.Thenthemusicstopped.Ifeltsleepy.Myspeechwasslurred.Iwashavingamassivehemorrhagicstroke,andIwasonly30yearsold.Hemorrhagicstrokeisanintracerebralhemorrhage–ableedorclotdeepinthebrainthatisknownasthedeadliestandmostdebilitatingkindofstrokewithnosurgicalanswer.Ashocking35%-52%1ofpeoplewhohavethiskindofstrokedonotsurviveandofthosethatdosurvivor,only10%-25%2returntolivingalifeoffunctionalindependence.Turnsout,Iamoneoftheluckyones.BecauseIwasfortunatetobetakentoahospitalthatisprogressiveinitssearchforanduseofadvanced,innovativetechnologies,mysurgeonwastrainedonanewwaytosurgicallytreatanintracerebralhemorrhagelikemine.MyclotwasabigasatwoeggsstackedontopofeachotheranddoctorstoldmywifethatImaynotsurvive.ShewasleftwiththedauntingdecisiononwhetherIshouldhavesurgerythatinvolvedremovingpartofmyskullsothebraincouldhaveroomtoswelloranewwayofdoingbrainsurgerythroughadime-sizeholethesurgeonthoughtcouldsavemylife.Thisnewminimallyinvasivewayremovedtheclotwhilerespectingmyhealthybrain.Althoughsurgeryisnotyetthestandardofcareforintracerebralhemorrhage,wemovedforwardinthehopesofsavingmylifewiththisnewtechnology.Thewaitingroomandlobbywerefilledwithfriendsandfamilywhen,aftermorethanfourhoursinsurgery,thesurgeoncameouttoreport,“thingswentperfect.”Thesurgeonwasabletoremovemorethan90%oftheclot.Ofcourse,therewasstillmuchworktobedone.Iwasinacomafortwoweeksfollowingsurgery.MyfamilywastoldIwaslikelyparalyzedontherightsideofmybodyandthatImayneverwalkagain.SignsofmebeatingthoseoddsappearedwhenIbegantowakeupfromthecomawithimmediatemovementonmyrightside,andIbegantospeakwithinamonth.Onthesecondmonthaftermysurgery,Ibeganwalkingagainwithoutawheelchairorcane.At6months,Iparticipatedinawalk-a-thonandexceededmygoalofmorethantwomiles.Sincethen,I’vecompletedsevenwalks!Today,Iamworkingtowardrunningagain,Icontinuetoreachcognitivemilestoneswithspeechtherapy,andIamdriving–atruemarkerofregainingmyindependence.Icouldnothaveachievedallofthiswithoutlove,supportandprayersfrommyfamilyandfriends.Thiskeepsmepositiveandkeepsmefightingtorecovertothefullestlevel.Musichascomealiveagainandispartofmylife.Iamsingingatchurch–gratefulforthemiraclethathasallowedmetobewhereIamtoday.Mostpeoplesaytheycan’teventellI’vehadastroke.

IamsharingmystoryduringStrokeAwarenessMonthtogiveothershope–hopethatsurvivalandregainingthelifeyouhadbeforestrokecanhappen.Myoptimisticfutureistheresultofaskilledsurgeontakingthetimetogettrainedonnewtechnologiesthataregainingmoreandmorepublishedevidenceonsafelyremovinghematomascausedbyahemorrhagicstroke.

Idon’tunderstandallofthetechnicalitiesofthesedevicescalledBrainPath,whichhelpedmysurgeonreachthehematomainanewwaythatminimizeddamagetomybrain,andMyriad–thetoolusedtoremovemyclot.ButI’mforevergratefulfortheinnovation,theskillsofthesurgeon,andfortherevolutionbeingcreatedbyofferingasurgicaloptiontopeoplewhohaveanintracerebralhemorrhage.Maybesomedaysoon,itwon’tbethedeadliest,mostdebilitatingkindofstroke.

BryanMelchorwastreatedatSutterEdenMedicalCenterbyneurosurgeon,Dr.EdieZusman.Heandhiswife,Nikkolette,resideinFremont,California.TolearnmoreabouttheNICOBrainPathandMyriadtechnologiesusedinBryan’ssurgery,visitwww.NICOneuro.com.ThisletterwastranscribedandwrittenwiththeassistanceofSueGoin,SapphireCommunications.

1MacellariF,PaciaroniM,AgnelliG,CasoV.Neuroimaginginintracerebralhemorrhage.Stroke.2014;45:903-8.2AndersenKK,OlsenTS,DehlendorffC,KammersgaardLP.Hemorrhagicandischemicstrokescompared:Strokeseverity,mortality,and riskfactors.Stroke.2009;40(6):2068-72.