Controversial hope for stroke victim

Posted: Published on July 30th, 2014

This post was added by Dr Simmons

FAMILY MAN: Luke Elliott hopes to be able to speak to his two young boys, four-year-old Mason and two-year-old Mitchell.

Luke Elliott's stroke left him unable to read, write and speak but he still dreams of reading a book to his two little boys.

Now his family has new hope that might come true as it tries to raise $30,000 for a controversial treatment that could change his life.

The 33-year-old Takanini resident also lost movement down half his body and was lucky to survive the stroke that struck him after cricket practice in 2005. He was 24.

The unexplained attack left the young sportsman with a condition known as aphasia and he required months of recovery in Middlemore Hospital.

For nine years he has battled away with therapy, improving the movement in his body and even learning to change his kids' nappies with one hand.

His wife Kylee says it is the first time since his stroke that there has ever been a glint of hope - but they are moving forward with realistic expectations.

"We're looking for any improvement that we could get from this treatment . . . it's been nine years since his stroke so we're at the point where we're willing to try anything," she says.

"Naturally Luke would be absolutely gutted if it wasn't successful but he's a pretty strong person and if he didn't have the success that we hoped for he'd have the strength to deal with it."

Luke is scheduled to undergo treatment by American doctor Edward Tobinick in Los Angeles at the end of year.

See original here:
Controversial hope for stroke victim

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.