Meet our July 2010 Stroke Hero Of The Month - Katie Lowe

Meet Katie Lowe, a twenty year old vibrant young lady that Jessica and Brendon met at a local park this past month.  Chalk it up to “it’s a small world” or perhaps current figures available do not accurately reflect the occurrence of Childhood STROKE; but during a seemingly simple conversation we discovered that Katie is a STROKE SURVIVOR.

Our introduction to Katie was the result of a chance meeting.  Brendon and Jessica had gone to a local park during a recent two week session of Constraint Induced Movement Therapy, wherein Brendon’s left predominant hand is casted to promote strength and coordination in his “righty”.  A lovely young woman was giggling as she watched Brendon playing and trying to engage her younger sister in play.  After introductions, the young woman asked what Brendon had done to his arm.  In the course of explaining that it was part of Brendon’s therapy and that he had had a STROKE before he was born, the young woman stated that she had a STROKE around the time of her birth. Thus began our new found friendship with Katie Lowe.

Katie’s birth, at least initially had no reasons for concern.  She was not premature; in fact she was slightly overdue.  During the birth, she received a small cut above her eye for which she received basic treatment.  Soon after, Katie experienced a high fever and as a precaution was admitted to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).  There a NICU nurse witnessed Katie experience a seizure.  A series of tests including a CT Scan indicated that she had suffered a brain hemorrhage (aka STROKE).  After being hospitalized for two weeks, she was finally able to go home for the first time…on Thanksgiving!

For the next two years of her life, Katie was placed on anti-seizure medications and fortunately never demonstrated signs of reoccurrence.  Katie’s doctors could not explain her prognosis and remained skeptical in regards to her apparent lack of any negative effects resulting from the STROKE.  There was so little in the way of empirical data and even less practical knowledge regarding pediatric STROKE.

Twenty years later Katie is still moving along and the STROKE is given little thought in her home.  She experiences “little” effects as a result of the STROKE today, but none that anyone would notice; absence of memory, possible seizures.  Diagnostics revealed that these effects were most probably the result of her STROKE in combination with other unknown biological triggers.  Katie had initially written these issues off in part due to a lack of grasping the vast implications of SURVIVING a STROKE.  She now states it provides a comfort to know that these symptoms may be the result of her STROKE.  Katie states that the effects do not impact the quality of her daily life and for that she is thankful.  To survive a STROKE, overcome its effects and lead a rewarding life is a blessing.

Today  Katie has five younger siblings; one sister and four brothers (the latest born in June of this year!).  Katie lives with her family in St. Louis Missouri, where she attends Lindenwood University and is studying Psychology.  Katie has received two scholarships (St. Charles Alumni Scholarship and the Stephen Falk Memorial Scholarship) and an academic grant – she maintains an honors student status.  As if this isn’t enough, Katie also serves as a campus ambassador, works at local sporting goods store and babysits!   A well traveled young lady, Katie spent two weeks in England, Ireland and Wales during her senior year in high school.

Katie said she never realize how lucky she was when it came to her STROKE, until it hit her recently that the doctors gave the worst case scenario to her parents.  She states she knows she will never be able to be rid of the permanent damage that resulted from her STROKE, but she can move on and experience a normal day to day life,  which unfortunately is not always the case for other SURVIVORS.  Katie says she “got lucky and it is my responsibility to take care of myself and be grateful for the outcome I had”.

Katie represents how SURVIVORS, without the benefit of a well-organized effort of medical research, awareness and support surpass the most conservative diagnosis and persevere to have "normal" lives. In doing so, they represent something more akin to exceptional...our HEROES.

Congradulations to Katie Lowe, July 2010 Hero of the Month!