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Patient Stories - Annual Hope AwardsCNI's multidisciplinary team of neuroscientists offer a comprehensive and compassionate approach to patient care. In the past, having a neurological illness meant spending a lot of time and energy going from one doctor's office to another. Today, we offer patients access to neurologists, neurosurgeons, oncologists, radiologists, nurses, neuropsychologists, social workers, and state of the art hospital and laboratory facilities all under one roof.
Below are just a sample of the success stories at CNI - our current Hope Award Recipients. These exceptional individuals ere nominated and selected by members of the Colorado Neurological Institute (CNI) for their demonstration of courage, strength and continuous hope. In each feature, you’ll learn about their unique challenges as well as the defining moments they’ve achieved—and are inspiring others to achieve—with the help of CNI.
Tanner Whitmore
What makes his story even more compelling is the fact that he was also born profoundly deaf. For many, the combination of these challenges might have proved too overwhelming to result in anything but a life of limitations. But not for Tanner. The ongoing support, love and encouragement of his parents, his older brother Taylor, and his twin sister, Madelyn, have helped make Tanner’s…a story of unlimited hope. With the help of professionals at CNI and the Listen Foundation, the Whitmores learned early on that Tanner was an ideal candidate for a cochlear implant—a sophisticated device that effectively allows the profoundly deaf to “hear.” At 15 months old, Tanner received a cochlear implant for his left ear. While the transition to the hearing world was shocking to Tanner at first, he gradually became more confident and independent.“The turning point came about six weeks after the surgery,” his mom explains.“He started to turn when we called his name, and he began to understand that all of these things around him have sound. The world began to open up for him.”With the help of weekly therapy sessions and the constant support of his family, Tanner has continued to steadily progress, even beginning kindergarten in a mainstream hearing classroom this year. He also recently underwent a second procedure that equips him with a bilateral implant for his right ear, enabling him to now “hear” out of both ears so he can better pinpoint sources of sound. CNI has also continued to play an important role in Tanner’s ongoing progress through resources like the annual Cochlear Kids’ Camp and the CNI Angel Network,which recently provided funding to help offset some of Tanner’s ongoing auditory and verbal therapy costs. These days, Tanner loves to listen to music, play basketball, wrestle with his brother and just be a kid. For him and his family, it’s been a long journey to get here, but one that’s been defined by hope every step of the way. Learn more about cochlear implants at the CNI Center for Hearing Carissa, Alyson and Judy Krivanek
Despite their differences, however, Carissa and Judy share a special bond: they have both been diagnosed with Juvenile Huntington’s Disease (HD).Exhibiting symptoms as young as 7, Judy was the first to be diagnosed. Carissa’s symptoms were not as prominent, but she made the decision to be tested for the disease and was diagosed this past summer. “It’s a kind of relief to be diagnosed,” Carissa explains.“It’s hard to deal with what you don’t know.” The courage and positive attitude demonstrated by both girls has been a key factor in helping others learn more about the disease. Judy, in fact, was recently honored by the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) for her efforts in helping to build community awareness about HD. Through their involvement with CNI and a community HD support group, both girls have also helped inspire others who are at risk for the disease to make the decision to get tested. “A lot of adults, even, have said that they were less afraid to find out because of them,” their mom, Alyson, explains. With a host of symptoms that can range from constant fatigue, to speech and memory difficulties, to loss of balance and muscle control, the girls are limited in what they can do on a daily basis. They both attend a school for special needs students in their community, and Judy also enjoys working at a part-time job when she can. The family’s involvement in the annual HDSA convention and retreat provide a unique outlet that they all look forward to each summer. “Everyone there is so accepting and amazing,” Carissa explains.“I don’t have to try to hide my symptoms because everybody has them. I can just be myself.” Despite the challenges of the disease, both girls look to the future with a lot of hope. And while they realize that a lot of their goals may be beyond their reach unless a cure is found, they see every day as an opportunity to simply enjoy life and each other. “We do what we can to help get the word out about this disease so that hopefully more people will support research that, yes, may one day lead to a cure,” Alyson explains.“But we don’t live on that possibility. Our biggest hope is to enjoy the time we have together right now…to laugh a lot, love each other and hopefully make a difference in other people’s lives along the way.” Learn more treatment for Huntington's Disesase at the CNI Movement Disorders Center Jan Humphreys
“At one point, Jan was down to 89 pounds,” he recalls.“And there was nothing I could do to ‘fix it.’”At CNI, the Humphreys discovered that Jan was an ideal candidate for an advanced procedure known as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Surgery. This breakthrough treatment effectively pinpoints and “controls” the symptomatic movements of Parkinson's through ongoing electrical impulses. In January 2001, Jan underwent the surgery, realizing an immediate reduction in her tremors and dyskinesia. For John, however, the most telling results came the next morning. “Prior to surgery, Jan could hardly eat. She was nauseous all the time and vomiting almost every day,” he explains.“So you can imagine what it was like to walk into her hospital room the next morning and see her enjoying an entire tray of breakfast food—pancakes, toast, coffee, eggs…you name it. And she finished it all.” With extensive follow-up care at CNI, Jan ultimately was free of tremors and able to reduce her medication to less than half the amount required prior to surgery. Since then, Jan and John have been asked to talk to other patients contemplating DBS surgery to share their insights as patient and caregiver. Jan worked with the Parkinson Association of the Rockies (PAR) as director of education and with other support groups for almost 20 years. Now 75, Jan continues to remain active in the Parkinson’s community. She also speaks with patients and caregivers about her own experience with Parkinson’s, providing creative ways for patients to find a sense of peace and to “make friends” with their illness. Jan also began writing poetry as a form of therapy and outlet for her own emotions about the disease. Her recently published book, “Dancing the Circle,” offers unique insight into the day-to-day reality of living with Parkinson’s and has been requested by numerous physicians and therapists as well as patients and families. After 53 years of marriage, Jan and John continue to enjoy life together, with all its challenges and rewards, including the recent birth of their very first great-granddaughter. For them, every day is about hope.“We live on hope,” Jan says.“It’s like oxygen.”
Learn more about Deep Brain Stimulation at the CNI Thompson Center for Restorative Neurosurgery Kyle Severson
In the summer of 2005, Kyle suffered a massive aneurism and stroke that nearly took his life, and severely affected his entire left side. After a difficult journey back to health that required him to relearn everything from swallowing to speaking, Kyle required substantial rehabilitation. Faced with the challenge of minimal insurance coverage that fell far short of Kyle’s needs, his parents turned to the CNI NeuroHealth Center to take advantage of a special program that covers the cost of rehabilitation services for under-insured and uninsured post-stroke patients. Kyle became the Center’s youngest stroke patient. “When I first came to CNI, I was in a wheelchair,” Kyle recalls. “I couldn’t walk or even stand for more than a minute. And I wasn’t able to move my left arm at all.” After weeks of hard work and support from his entire family, Kyle’s first breakthrough came in the form of a very simple task—he picked up a single Cheetoh with his left hand. “He’d been practicing with lots of small objects,“ his mom explains with a smile,“but I had this idea that the snack would be a little more motivating.” Attending therapy sessions four days a week, Kyle has continued to make steady—and remarkable—progress. Today, he is able to walk and even climb stairs and has regained full range of motion in both arms, although he continues to work toward restoring full use of his left wrist and fingers. He also started attending 7th grade full time in January, earning A’s and B’s in all of his classes despite certain learning difficulties that have resulted from his stroke. And if that weren’t enough, he’s also studying for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah and hopes to begin playing his saxaphone again soon. Over the course of his therapy, Kyle has proved to be a real inspiration to everyone he meets, including patients and staff at the Center. His therapists explain that Kyle brings a unique optimism and energy that are as contagious as his smile. These days, Kyle’s biggest goal is to start riding his bike again so he can participate in either the Courage Classic or MS 150 ride, both of which benefit individuals with neurological disorders. And like any typical kid, he also has big plans for his future. “I might want to be a physical or occupational therapist,” he explains. “I think I could be good at it because of what I’ve been through. I think I could connect with people.” In June 2006, Kyle had his Bar Mitzvah and in September he walked the Denver Marathon. He began 8th Grade and since he is unable to continue playing his saxophone due to his left hand, he is learning to play the trumpet instead. Kyle also rode in the Courage Classic for Children’s Hospital and this winter Kyle is working on getting back on his snowboard. Learn more about stroke treatment at the CNI Stroke Center and stroke rehabiliation at the CNI NeuroHealth Center. Sarah Tomicich & Kim Merlo
In 2001, both women’s lives were forever changed by the effects of a deadly and aggressive form of brain cancer, called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In that year, Sarah’s father, Michael,was diagnosed with the illness. For nearly three years, he and his family turned to the CNI Center for Brain and Spinal Tumors for treatment and care that in Sarah’s words,“made it possible for my dad to live as long and as high a quality of life as he did.” Despite his courageous struggle, the illness ultimately claimed her dad’s life in 2003. For Sarah, the experience left her with a compelling need to “give something back” to the people and organization that had become such an important part of her family's life. Over the next year, she began volunteering at CNI and participating in various events and fundraising programs. After revealing her love of running to a member of the CNI team, Sarah was introduced to Kim. Like Sarah’s dad, Kim had been diagnosed with GBM in 2001. Only 35 at the time, however, Kim’s youth and exceptional health as a long-time marathon runner helped her survive the deadly illness—but only after it took a heavy toll on her health, her vision and her memory. The combination of effects made running virtually impossible for Kim. All that changed when she met Sarah. Just weeks after their introduction, Sarah and Kim began running together. While only able to jog a few hundred feet at first, Kim was soon able to run several miles a week with Sarah. “At first, Kim’s limited vision made it really difficult for her to run,” Sarah recalls.“Just a change in terrain would cause her to stop because she wasn’t sure what had happened; it was disorienting for her.” Over time, Kim learned to trust her steps to Sarah. And by last August, the two, along with Sarah’s mom, Nancy, completed the 9th Annual Race for Research 5K Run in Denver. For Kim it was an important achievement on many levels. “It felt wonderful to be running again—and, most importantly, to be helping someone else in the process,” Kim explains.“Before my illness, I only ran in benefit races because I always felt it was important to use my healthy body to help someone else.” “Now when I run, I know I'm helping others just by example,” she adds. “People see me, and I think it gives them hope.” Going forward, Kim and Sarah both plan to lace up and take to the trails again this spring. While their new goal is to complete a 10K benefit race this summer, every run they take has special meaning. “Kim always tells me how much she appreciates my taking her for these runs, but what she doesn’t know is how much I appreciate them as well,” Sarah explains.“It’s a chance to help somebody feel better and stronger— something I wanted to do for my dad. Every run makes us both feel good…and a little more at peace.” Learn more about brain tumor treatment at the CNI Center for Brain & Spinal Tumors
Meet our previous Hope Award recipients. Read their stories... BACK TO TOP |
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While only seven years old, Tanner Whitmore has overcome more challenges
than most people face in a lifetime. Born with Noonan’s Syndrome,
a serious condition that affects both physical and mental aspects of
a child’s development, Tanner has struggled with a wide range of
health issues and other difficulties throughout his life. 
Like most teenage girls, Carissa and Judy Krivanek love going to the
mall, listening to their iPods and taking in the occasional movie. At
15, Carissa is Judy’s older sister, but only by a year.And while
there is a clear resemblance between them with their petite frames, delicate
features and beautiful smiles, they are distinctly individual—with
unique goals, interests and personalities. 
By the time Jan Humphreys came to CNI, she had endured the debilitating
effects of Parkinson’s Disease for nearly 30 years. She was suffering
from nearly constant tremors, dyskinesia, and severe nausea from a growing
intolerance to many of her medications. For her husband, John,who is
a retired physician, the effects of the disease were devastating.
Kyle Severson is just like any other typical 12-year-old boy—full
of energy, big smiles and lots of ambition. His story, however, is anything
but ordinary. 
Kim Merlo and Sarah Tomicich share a unique connection that goes far
deeper than their love of running. 
