On June 9th, two
significant events happened in my life. First, I was elected to one of two
Readfield [Maine] Select Board seats in a contested four-way race with a 66% voter
mandate. Second, I only learned about the first outcome after being wheeled
back from an MRI to Maine General’s emergency room in Augusta.
That Tuesday, I hoped I would
win my election and also be joined by a fellow winning candidate dedicated to
good governance for our town. However, at around 5:00 PM while working at home I collapsed with a grand mal seizure
of which I have no memory. I vaguely recall two valiant 911 emergency
responders calmly assisting me in my first ever ambulance ride. I was very
fortunate that my wife, Barbara, was home and took action to secure vital
assistance in what could only have been frantic and frightening moments.
I had no history of seizures.
What followed were ten days that included emergency room care, blood tests, a CT
scan, MRIs, doctor calls, an EEG, neurology consults, a spinal tap,
anti-seizure medication, eventual hospitalization, and most concerning to any
of us – the unknown. All signs pointed to a tumor and there were disconcerting matter-of-fact
discussions about such an outcome. My father passed away many years ago of an
inoperable brain tumor at an age not much older than mine. Needless to say my
emotions were a roller coaster of fear and fate.
Finally, I was called to a
hastily scheduled meeting with neurosurgeon in Portland. His reading of my MRIs led him to believe that I did
not have a tumor but instead, a "venus sinus thrombosis." He
theorized I had a blood clot in my brain that caused the seizure. He
immediately admitted me to Maine Medical Center to have a more specific MRI in order to prove the clot and begin needed therapy.
On Friday, June 19th,
we had the answer that the neurosurgeon had it right. With great relief, he did not "have to go in" and a
biopsy or brain surgery was not going to be my next challenge. The plan now is
blood thinning to gradually dissolve the clot under the guidance of a specialty
clinic in Augusta. I can see the pathway back to good health over the
next several months. Most rewarding is the fact that all of this will not
affect my ability to serve on Readfield’s Select Board.
I now appreciate with new
eyes the concern and support of my friends, family, co-workers, the Readfield
community, the emergency responders, the many medical professionals, and very
especially my wife Barbara who kept my spirits strong and outlook positive
during the past few weeks. Fortunately the journey was not without stress
relieving lighter moments too. In one instance I received a letter from the office
of the Maine Secretary of State which I assumed must contain some sort of congratulatory certification of my election. To the contrary, it contained a form letter advising
me of the suspension of my driver’s license pending a seizure free period of
recovery.
This entire event appears to
be ending on a positive note. I know now what I face and what will need to be
done to achieve good health in a relatively short period of time. But as I traveled
this journey, I also discovered there are many other people with great courage facing
steeper odds, far more serious outcomes, less support, and difficult financial
stress. There are also many people who unselfishly offer encouragement, volunteer
support, or undertake challenging careers to help others. Because of all these
people, I’ll go on to serve on my town with greater aspiration to in some small
way contribute to a challenge of Robert F. Kennedy’s that I have always
cherished: "Each time a man stands
up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against
injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope... build(ing) a current that
can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."