|
FAMILY'S STRUGGLE PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON STROKE AWARENESS MONTH
 | | Bernie Dippolito and his wife, Julie and children, Julian and Sergio (Bernie's grown children, Anthony, Jessica and Bernardo, not pictured) recently learned what it means to recover from a stroke. |
|
OCEAN COUNTY - May is National Stroke Awareness Month. People don't often think of how they will react in the face of a stroke. One area couple recently found out.
Nearly four and half months ago, Bernie Dippolito, best known as the front man and lead singer of the local band "Frankie and the Burn," suffered a stroke in the early afternoon on November 30, 2006. His wife Julie had returned home from her job as a physical fitness teacher for Toms River Township to find Bernie confused, unable to walk or stand upright. Julie knew immediately that something was wrong and Bernie was telling her that he thought that he was having a stroke.
At Community Medical Center, it was confirmed that he had suffered an intra-cerebral hemorrhagic stroke deep in his brain. Hemorrhagic strokes account for about 17 percent of all stroke cases. It results from a weakened vessel that ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain. The blood accumulates and compresses the surrounding brain tissue.
Stroke can be devastating, robbing one of their ability to do the things they once loved. Bernie, who earns his living as a professional musician, could not speak, had left side weakness in his arm and leg, difficulty in swallowing and speaking along with vision impairment. During his one month stay at Community Medical Center, many procedures were necessary to stabilize him, including a shunt placed in his brain to release swelling. Julie wondered what type of rehabilitation would be best for Bernie so that he would have the best chance of piecing together a life as close to what he had prior to the stroke.
Bernie arrived at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Toms River on December 22, ready to get started on his road to recovery.
"When I first arrived, I was so scared. I thought I was going to die. But everyone around me was so positive, telling me that I could recover and don't give up," said Dippolito. Following admission, Health- South's team of physicians, therapists and staff began his aggressive physical, occupational and speech therapies seven days a week that would ultimately give Bernie the hope that life after stroke existed.
The first goal was to get him up and walking. With the persistence and assistance of his physical therapist, Jaydine Reytuya, this goal was accomplished early on in Bernie's stay.
"Jaydine would never would let Bernie quit, always encouraged him to keep moving, keep trying. Everyone really cared about Bernie," Julia recalled.
Barbara Zylberberg, who was Bernie's occupational therapist, incorporated music as part of Bernie's treatment. She brought in a harmonica for Bernie to play, drums for him to practice. Music would be one way to bring Bernie home, to give him hope in his recovery and help improve his function through the use of the tools that he loved best.
One month after being admitted, Bernie was discharged to home. Today, Bernie is in outpatient therapy treatment three days a week where he continues to improve and grows stronger each day. He is able to walk, his speech is back to normal and a short while ago at a fundraiser, "A Day for the Burn," where nine bands at three area clubs battled to raise funds in support of Bernie's treatment, he got up and sang on stage.
"I knew Bernie was going to make it when I heard him sing," Julie said. "He was going to be able to do all the things he loved."
From the fundraiser, Frankie Cicala, Bernie's partner and son Anthony Dippolito set up "The Bernardo Dippolito Trust." Donations are still being accepted to assist the family with the cost of his treatment. Anyone interested in more information can call 732- 557-4248.
Bernie and Julie have been married for 10 years and live in Toms River with their two children, Julian and Sergio. Bernie also is the father of three grown children, Anthony, Jessica and Bernardo.
| 
)