You Can Help Change Tim's Life
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Tim’s Story
On the morning of June 20, 2011 Tim’s life would forever be changed. At the age of 49 Tim suffered a massive stroke (dissection of his interior carotid artery) which left him paralyzed on his right side while on a cruise ship to Bermuda. For 3 long days Tim fought for his life while in the sick bay of the cruise ship. Once the ship docked in Bermuda, he was transported by ambulance to the local hospital and then eventually that evening flown by the Air Ambulance to Harrisburg International and then onto Hershey Medical Center where he spent 1 week there after which he was then transported to the Hershey Rehab Hospital for 5 weeks. While at the Rehab Hospital Tim began the long journey of regaining his ability to walk, to talk, and attempt to move his right arm again.
I am devastated to say that Tim has had no function in his arm and hand since his stroke, and at one point his arm and hand became so contracted that it was hard for him to be able to put a shirt on independently and a coat was only covering his arm. Since the contracture was so severe and a very common side effect of non-use, Tim endured 2 surgeries to make his arm straight at the elbow and at the wrist. The surgeries have allowed him to be able to dress himself with much more ease.
After the surgeries for his arm and hand Tim was evaluated for a device called the MyoPro, which is a myo-electric device that assists with arm movement. Because Tim has muscle movement in his shoulder and bicep he is able to activate the device. The purpose of the MyoPro is to assist with daily functional activities such as some lifting, positioning the arm to hold a plate from moving on the table, turning lights on and off, possibly opening up a door, assist with dressing and bending at the elbow (this would also help with preventing contractures in the future). The possibilities are potentially endless. However this device is not covered by various insurances, Tim’s being one of them (we took the appeals process the whole way through only to be denied). The reason for our insurance denial was due to lack of clinical trials and the anecdotal records and documentation was not sufficient for insurance to see it as a benefit for Tim. The cost of the device can cost $35,000.00 and beyond depending on the molding and needs of the patient.
Prior to his stroke Tim was an avid photographer of nature, he also enjoyed fishing, hiking, and golfing among other physical activities. Since Tim was right handed prior to his stroke, he has had to teach himself to do simple things with his left hand- such as tying a shoe one-handed, eating and getting dressed. Simple things that a non-disabled person takes for granted everyday are hard for Tim because he not only needs to do it one-hand but also think about how to do it and with the opposite side than he would have done in the past.
Four years later, Tim still continues with therapy to regain his walking ability. He currently uses a walk-aide (e-stimulation device that helps with foot drop) and cane to assist him. The walk-aide has been such a helpful tool for Tim because it has allowed him the freedom to be able to put on his own shoes plus the issue of foot drop is greatly decreased making it safer to walk. He also continues to progress with his speech by participating in Tele-speech therapy. He is now up to some basic words and some 3-word sentences.
We have tried many different approaches, from reaching out to high school students with robotic devices, to open source 3D printed alternatives such as the Airy Arm (pictured). None of these devices are able to help someone as severely disabled as Tim as they require some movement of the arm. The MyoPro is the only option that has been proven to work for Tim and we need your help. Every donation that we receive is a giant leap toward allowing Tim to operate his arm once again.
Thank you for your time and your kind consideration.
On the morning of June 20, 2011 Tim’s life would forever be changed. At the age of 49 Tim suffered a massive stroke (dissection of his interior carotid artery) which left him paralyzed on his right side while on a cruise ship to Bermuda. For 3 long days Tim fought for his life while in the sick bay of the cruise ship. Once the ship docked in Bermuda, he was transported by ambulance to the local hospital and then eventually that evening flown by the Air Ambulance to Harrisburg International and then onto Hershey Medical Center where he spent 1 week there after which he was then transported to the Hershey Rehab Hospital for 5 weeks. While at the Rehab Hospital Tim began the long journey of regaining his ability to walk, to talk, and attempt to move his right arm again.
I am devastated to say that Tim has had no function in his arm and hand since his stroke, and at one point his arm and hand became so contracted that it was hard for him to be able to put a shirt on independently and a coat was only covering his arm. Since the contracture was so severe and a very common side effect of non-use, Tim endured 2 surgeries to make his arm straight at the elbow and at the wrist. The surgeries have allowed him to be able to dress himself with much more ease.
After the surgeries for his arm and hand Tim was evaluated for a device called the MyoPro, which is a myo-electric device that assists with arm movement. Because Tim has muscle movement in his shoulder and bicep he is able to activate the device. The purpose of the MyoPro is to assist with daily functional activities such as some lifting, positioning the arm to hold a plate from moving on the table, turning lights on and off, possibly opening up a door, assist with dressing and bending at the elbow (this would also help with preventing contractures in the future). The possibilities are potentially endless. However this device is not covered by various insurances, Tim’s being one of them (we took the appeals process the whole way through only to be denied). The reason for our insurance denial was due to lack of clinical trials and the anecdotal records and documentation was not sufficient for insurance to see it as a benefit for Tim. The cost of the device can cost $35,000.00 and beyond depending on the molding and needs of the patient.
Prior to his stroke Tim was an avid photographer of nature, he also enjoyed fishing, hiking, and golfing among other physical activities. Since Tim was right handed prior to his stroke, he has had to teach himself to do simple things with his left hand- such as tying a shoe one-handed, eating and getting dressed. Simple things that a non-disabled person takes for granted everyday are hard for Tim because he not only needs to do it one-hand but also think about how to do it and with the opposite side than he would have done in the past.
Four years later, Tim still continues with therapy to regain his walking ability. He currently uses a walk-aide (e-stimulation device that helps with foot drop) and cane to assist him. The walk-aide has been such a helpful tool for Tim because it has allowed him the freedom to be able to put on his own shoes plus the issue of foot drop is greatly decreased making it safer to walk. He also continues to progress with his speech by participating in Tele-speech therapy. He is now up to some basic words and some 3-word sentences.
We have tried many different approaches, from reaching out to high school students with robotic devices, to open source 3D printed alternatives such as the Airy Arm (pictured). None of these devices are able to help someone as severely disabled as Tim as they require some movement of the arm. The MyoPro is the only option that has been proven to work for Tim and we need your help. Every donation that we receive is a giant leap toward allowing Tim to operate his arm once again.
Thank you for your time and your kind consideration.
Organizer and beneficiary
Matthew Campagna
Organizer
Lancaster, PA
Danielle Pfautz
Beneficiary