It is with shock and sadness that we must report that Linda Wagar suffered a burst brain aneurysm on Tuesday Oct.6, 2009 and is now in Saint Vincent hospital in Ottawa for support and rehabilitation.
We have set up a GUESTBOOK where you can leave your encouragement for Linda.
See the article in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Time+help+runner+with+heart+gold/2091358/story.html
Linda’s condition is slowly improving but has taken many months for her to recover. In the first weeks she had two operations: to stem the bleeding and reduce the pressure on the brain by removing one side of her skull. A few months later, after the swelling went down, this was covered with a plate and a variable valve and catheter was installed to drain away the cerebrospinal (water-like) fluid that had been accumulating in her brain and likely preventing her from sufficient gains in awareness and function.
It has taken over a year of adjustments to the shunt, with infections and many ups and downs to get Linda to a state where she is cognitively improving. She can talk in both languages, her vision is improving. She is unfortunately more or less paralyzed in all limbs but the right arm but as her brain heals, and she responds to physiotherapy, there are signs of ability to move her other limbs.
With all the positive thoughts and prayers coming her way, she may surprise us all wit the final results of her recovery, but there won't be magical awakening one day and return-home the next, like you might see in movies. It may take 7 years.
Your support and encouragement is appreciated. It will not be possible to visit her or send flowers etc for weeks or months.
We are able to honour any book sales - with proceeds going to the Canadian Athletes Now Fund. Click http://canadianmarathonstories.com/dnn/BuyTheBook/tabid/54/Default.aspx
Linda remains in the Saint Vincent hospital in Ottawa for rehabilitation. To receive more information, arrange to visit Linda or be put on her linda-reports mailing list, contact:
Carl Wagar, husband
jcwagar@entrenet.com
It is with shock and sadness that we must report that Linda Wagar suffered a burst brain aneurysm on Tuesday Oct.6, 2009 and is now in Saint Vincent hospital in Ottawa for support and rehabilitation.
We have set up a GUESTBOOK where you can leave your encouragement for Linda.
See the article in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Time+help+runner+with+heart+gold/2091358/story.html
Linda’s condition is slowly improving but has taken many months for her to recover. In the first weeks she had two operations: to stem the bleeding and reduce the pressure on the brain by removing one side of her skull. A few months later, after the swelling went down, this was covered with a plate and a variable valve and catheter was installed to drain away the cerebrospinal (water-like) fluid that had been accumulating in her brain and likely preventing her from sufficient gains in awareness and function.
It has taken over a year of adjustments to the shunt, with infections and many ups and downs to get Linda to a state where she is cognitively improving. She can talk in both languages, her vision is improving. She is unfortunately more or less paralyzed in all limbs but the right arm but as her brain heals, and she responds to physiotherapy, there are signs of ability to move her other limbs.
With all the positive thoughts and prayers coming her way, she may surprise us all wit the final results of her recovery, but there won't be magical awakening one day and return-home the next, like you might see in movies. It may take 7 years.
Your support and encouragement is appreciated. It will not be possible to visit her or send flowers etc for weeks or months.
We are able to honour any book sales - with proceeds going to the Canadian Athletes Now Fund. Click http://canadianmarathonstories.com/dnn/BuyTheBook/tabid/54/Default.aspx
Linda remains in the Saint Vincent hospital in Ottawa for rehabilitation. To receive more information, arrange to visit Linda or be put on her linda-reports mailing list, contact:
Carl Wagar, husband
jcwagar@entrenet.com