A visual cortex stroke recovery story

Three years ago, almost to the day, I suffered a major stroke to my visual cortex due to complications from brain surgery in order to remove an abscess that was taking my life. I remember prior to this surgery being full cited and able to see like most people. Upon waking up from surgery and opening my eyes the result was complete blackness. Needless to say this was an unexpected complication to the doctors and my loved ones were told that most likely, the vision loss was because of swelling taking place in my brain and pushing on my optic nerve thus causing the blindness. But they were assured by the neurologist that when the swelling subsided my vision would return. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Unbeknownst to the doctors, the surgery had cut off blood and oxygen supply to my visual cortex thus causing a  stroke and major brain damage to that area. As you all may or may not know any damage to brain tissue is pretty much the end for that tissue. Brain cells have no ability to regenerate themselves like a skin or blood cells.

That concludes the depressing part of my story. Here I am 36 months later and I am not entirely blind. I have managed to regain approximately 10% of my vision back or a 5-7° field of vision. To most readers this may seem like a very minimal amount of vision considering that most normal people with 100% vision have a  visual field that allows them to do all the things that a fully sighted person does on a day to day basis. The reason that these numbers are significant is because the neurologists and experts in the field of brain surgery had forecasted that I would not regain any of my vision and would live out the remainder of my life as a blind person. Upon hearing this diagnosis my family and I immediately began to hunt for ways to regain my site. The laundry list of third piece begins with a visual therapy that is done on a daily basis called "nova vision" www.novavision.com

 following the nova vision therapy which took six months to complete I add regained a significant amount of vision. Following noble vision I decided to increase the blood flow to my brain by using hyperbaric oxygen therapy. I purchased my own hyperbaric oxygen chamber from a company here in California called oxyhealth  www.oxyhealth.com this is a low-pressure hyperbaric oxygen chamber that I purchased and keep in my bedroom. I spent approximately one hour every other day in the chamber increasing the blood flow and oxygen to my brain.

 Lastly, and most significant, were the two trips that I have made to New Delhi, India for stem cell treatment from a wonderful doctor. by the name of Geeta Shroff.  The name of her clinic in New Delhi is called new tech mediworld. my experience and results from the stem cell therapy in India were quite marvelous. I will save my adventurers and photos in India for another day and another post.  Also please see my other interests at http://williamsfishtank.blogspot.com/