Mini-death springs new life

In 2006 Danny Henderson suffered a severe stroke at the age of 36. In fact, he suffered a ‘mini-death’ – the stroke was so severe he was hospitalized at KU Medical Center for two months and he was partially paralyzed on his right side. A football player in high school and college, Danny had never asked for help for anything. Following his stroke, he needed help in so many ways.

“After my stroke, my father died and I was seriously depressed, I wanted to die. Without the Bert Nash Center and the help I received from Marilee McCleerey and Lee Jordon, I hate to say what would have happened to me,” Danny remarked.

Today, Danny is working hard on recovering his athletic abilities. He has stopped smoking and lost 15 pounds. He works out on an elliptical trainer and is walking more than a mile with the aid of a cane. His case manager, Marilee, takes him to his doctor’s appointments and helps him with grocery shopping, errands and managing his home.

“I am a much better person since my stroke. I was selfish before, now I take other people’s feelings into consideration. Marilee has shown me, by example, what it means to be a good person. I can’t say enough good things about Bert Nash. I am worried about the budget cuts, I hope you don’t lose any more staff.”