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Up and running
Fiercely determined stroke survivor honored at this weekend's 'Human Race' event

by Diana Reynolds Roome

Three and a half years ago on Thanksgiving Day, Mike Cooper suffered a stroke. Shortly afterwards, his heart stopped after going into atrial fibrillation at the hospital. Code blue was called and he was revived, only to discover later that he was completely paralyzed on his right side, and could no longer speak or swallow.

At the time, Cooper was CEO of a software company, and at 56 apparently in the peak of health. He worked out every day, running and spinning strenuously at the gym. Suddenly he was in a wheelchair, unable to eat or write, and hardly able to make himself understood.

But determination was always a big part of Cooper's character, as well as strong motivation and a positive outlook, said his wife Mieke Wiegman. As someone who had run the Bay-to-Breakers race for 19 years in a row, he was not about to miss his 20th. With the help of Mieke — and of physical, occupational and speech therapists and a speech pathologist — Cooper worked ferociously to regain all he had lost.

Stroke, which is caused by the interruption of blood flow to the brain, can affect the body and mind in varied and unpredictable ways. Mieke encouraged her husband to push his reluctant limbs to move again, get out of his wheelchair, eat by himself, and try to speak — even though damage to the speech center of his brain made it a challenge to get a word out, let alone an intelligible sentence. Using every possible means, including singing songs, reciting the alphabet, and playing Scrabble, Cooper and Mieke worked tirelessly to exercise the damaged connection between brain and lips.

When the next Bay-to-Breakers race came around in May 2004, Cooper managed to walk the entire 7.5-mile course by himself. It took him three and a half hours. Mieke reluctantly let him go, but did not join him. "I don't want to see you kill yourself," she recalls telling him. Against overwhelming odds, Cooper has now completed the Bay-to-Breakers race for 24 years without a break.

This Saturday, May 12, he'll be running with Mieke in the Human Race at Shoreline Park, helping to raise funds for the Peninsula Stroke Association. In recognition of their extraordinary achievement in recovery, they are honorees of the PSA team.

The association, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing stroke and supporting stroke survivors and their families in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, has helped Cooper regain his life in a number of ways.

"I love to go to various PSA support groups," said Cooper. "And I admire what the whole organization does for stroke survivors and also for people who might have a stroke."

But the best part for him is the opportunity to be effective again. As a peer visitor, he goes every week to the Mills Peninsula Hospital to visit patients of all ages who have recently had strokes. He also aims to become a speaker who can educate the public about recognizing stroke warning signs and acting fast to get the patient to a certified stroke center for expert medical help.

For various reasons, Cooper was not able to receive the most effective medical treatments as soon as he suffered his stroke, and had to regain his abilities more slowly through therapy. But he is especially effective in demonstrating that it is possible to make an extraordinary recovery from the most devastating effects of stroke.

Some of the most advanced stroke treatments in the world have been developed by two Mountain View companies, and teams from both are taking part in the Human Race fundraiser.

Concentric Medical's Merci Retriever has been used with more than 5,000 patients since its approval by the FDA in 2004. The instrument, resembling a tiny corkscrew, has successfully removed stroke-causing blood clots in almost 70 percent of patients, including those whose treatment has been delayed.

Boston Scientific's Wingspan Intracranial Stent opens up blocked blood vessels in the brain, thus restoring blood flow essential to preventing a stroke. Other Boston Scientific devices are designed to prevent stroke after the rupture of an intracranial aneurysm.

INFORMATION:

What: Human Race 2007, a fundraiser for the Peninsula Stroke Association

When: Saturday, May 12, 7:45 a.m.

Where: Shoreline Park, 3070 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View

Contact: To join the race or donate online, visit www.psastroke.org. For more on Mountain View companies making medical advances in stroke prevention, visit www.bostonscientific.com or www.concentric-medical.com.