Jack's Bank Busting Brain Adventure

Jack Bruggenkamp, of Snohomish, Washington, had an Ischemic stroke due to a blood clot on the right side of his brain, Monday April 25, 2016. At the time of the brain event Jack was traveling alone for work in Los Angeles, 1162 miles from home. He was admitted to Cedars Sinai Medical Center where he remains. The stroke resulted in paralysis on the left side of Jack’s body. His speech is affected but is improving. He is able to stand with assistance and is working very hard on walking. Two days after the stroke, tests revealed that Jack has a “severely leaky heart valve.” This requires major surgery to repair or replace. Jack hopes the surgery will be done at the University of Washington Medical Center, nearer his home. Before valve replacement can happen, Jack will be participating in, inpatient physical rehabilitation for a month or so. He is hopeful and trying to process the scale of change he is experiencing. The pace and scale of this challenge is bigger than two people can face alone. That is why your willingness to help is such a powerful affirmation of the good that can come from a bad situation.