Meet our December Stroke Hero of the Month - Brandon Zimmermann

On September 23, 2000, the Zimmermann family’s life was turned upside down.  Their 6 month old son Brandon had experienced a seizure.  Brandon’s parents feared he was dying as his body trembled and he turned blue.  Rushed to the hospital by ambulance, Brandon’s parents noticed that his left side was not moving and his eyes were fixed to the right side.  He had a blank glossed over look.

The next 4 days consisted of countless diagnostic tests attempting to determine what was wrong with the Zimmermann’s infant son.  The case neurologist finally informed the parents that their son had SURVIVED a right posterior cerebral STROKE.  The doctor explained that Brandon had a weak vessel in his brain that failed to deliver oxygen and nutrients.  Brandon had brain damage that could not be repaired; the medical team could not provide his parents a reason for the apparent weakness of the blood vessel responsible.  The doctor explained that while Brandon was expected to have a weakened left side, no left peripheral vision, may need glasses and would most likely  have some balance problems his body would learn to compensate.  He assured the Zimmermann’s that Brandon would learn to talk, walk, run and play like any other child and that no further intervention was necessary.  

When Brandon was released from the hospital, the Zimmerman’s were given no direction on how this event may affect his personality and development. Therapy was not mentioned at all - even though his parents tried to ask all the right questions.  Brandon’s social emotions were virtually non existent - he always seemed to have a glossed over look.  He just stared off into space.   Brandon’s physical abilities were incredibly challenged, he couldn’t even sit up because his trunk was so weak. He couldn’t open his left hand or lift his left elbow.  His neurologist and pediatrician still tried to assure the Zimmermann’s that as Brandon’s body learned to adjust and compensate that he would develop like a normal little boy.

Brandon’s mother Nadine felt she wasn’t getting the answers she needed to help her son, forcing her to become proactive in her son’s diagnosis, evaluations and therapies  (like so many STROKE SURVIVOR parents and caregivers).  Nadine became “Mama Bear”; filling out mounds of paperwork and telling her story over and over again to anyone who would listen.  She scheduled all of Brandon’s evaluations and found every single one of his therapists on her own; it took almost five months.  By the time Brandon was a year old, he was in therapy 5 days per week.  Brandon was receiving therapy for social, cognitive, fine motor, gross motor, self help and language skills. 

Jump forward:.  Brandon participated in 62 sessions of neurofeedback therapy while in the 2nd grade.  Nadine feels that while the sessions cost a small fortune they helped tremendously.  Some of the therapies were non-traditional and outside the mainstream medical field.  Brandon saw a chiropractic neurologist for 2 years receiving adjustments and stimulation to his left side via audio, visual and tactile therapies.

Brandon is now a happy 10 year old young man who currently he takes karate twice per week (and is doing amazing!!!) and grappling (groundwork for karate) once per week.  He is working to get promoted to orange belt in American Kenpo.   He enjoys cooking and most recently he loves identifying cars by make and model:)  He loves building with Legos and Bionicles and has the patience to read the directions and look at the pictures  He loves listening to his iPod and likes Transiberian Orchestra, Chris Daughtry, Train, Rascall Flatts, One Republic and of course Michael Jackson.

Brandon has come a long way from the glossy eyed non-expressive baby 10 years ago.  The Zimmermann’s are so very proud of Brandon and feel very blessed to be his parents!

Brandon represents the strength, charactor and resilience that is so "common" in thes uncommon HEROS.

For these and so many more reasons, Brandon is our December 2010 Stroke Hero of the Month!