Twelve-year-old Chase Aeschliman suffered a stroke caused by a dissection of his carotid artery, resulting in a blood clot on the left side of his brain. There are numerous ways to help the family out, from donating to his Youcaring.org page, to purchasing #teamchase shirts from McJ’s in West Union, to donating to the Chase Aeschliman fund at First State Bank in Fayette, or by attending a benefit for Chase put on by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Oct. 25 at the Echo Valley Banquet and Reception Center. 

Communities rally to help

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Chase Aeschliman is your typical 12-year-old boy. He loves sports, hanging out with his friends and spending time with his family.

On Monday, Aug. 24, after football practice the Wadena boy suffered a stroke that was caused by a dissection of his carotid artery, resulting in a blood clot in the left side of his brain. The freak accident was not the result of a concussion, according to Chase’s mother, Laine Aeschliman.

“That is why he is unable to speak and move his right arm and right leg,” she explained. “He still doesn’t have any movement there.”

Chase was brought by ambulance to Palmer Lutheran Health Center before he was airlifted to Gundersen Health System in LaCrosse, Wis. Once he arrived in the emergency room in LaCrosse, Chase received a CT scan that indicated he had little blood flow to the left side of his brain and showed the blockage.

“They could not treat it,” Laine said. “Usually after a stroke, they give you some medication to dissolve the clot. Because he had a clot also by his carotid (artery), if they were to do that he would bleed internally. The part of his brain that was damaged couldn’t have been saved, so therefore, there really wasn’t much they could do anyway.”

It was more of a risk to go in and do surgery because he could bleed out, causing more problems. So the hospital gave him aspirin.

On Tuesday at 2 p.m., another CT scan was done, and an hour later doctors removed a portion of his skull on the upper left-hand portion of his brain to relieve swelling. He eventually will have a plate placed where the doctors removed his skull after he is done with rehab.

Chase remained in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) until Thursday, Aug. 27, when he was moved to the Neuro Unit, where he is currently.

On Saturday, doctors removed his IV and catheter, but he is still on a feeding tube. The strong young man had another feeding tube put in through his belly button Tuesday morning, Sept. 1, because the one he had in place through his nose wouldn’t be accepted by the rehab facility, On With Life in Ankeny, that he will attend. Today (Wednesday), 24 hours after the feeding tube was put in, the Aeschlimans hope to have Chase on his way to On With Life.

There, Chase will spend at least 60 days at the rehab facility to relearn what he has lost. Only time will tell if he will ever be able to speak and use the right side of his body again, but the Aeschlimans are hopeful.

“We are really hoping he will regain his right side and be able to somewhat walk again and talk,” Laine explained. “I will say today (Monday, Aug. 31), he ate three spoonfuls of pudding and swallowed it pretty well. It is hard on his right side yet, but he did pretty well and he drank two small glasses of water.”

However, despite this progress Laine said they need to leave in the feeding tube. Chase needs to consume 2,500 calories a day, but he is unable to eat that much without help from the tube.

“That way, too, they can give him medication,” Chase’s mom explained. “I don’t know if he is well enough to swallow medications yet.”

The road ahead will be tough, both Chase and his parents know this, but the outpouring of support the family has received from the community continues to make the day-to-day struggles just a little bit easier.

“It means a lot to us,” Chase’s mom said. “It has helped us through the really hard days. Those first 72 hours with the critical care and the ICU were very hard for my husband and I, and with the love and support from the surrounding communities and all the children, it helped, and we were very thankful for that. We know, no matter how he comes back, that all his friends and the whole school will love him, no matter what.”

For those who want to help the Aeschlimans with medical expenses, a Youcaring.org page has been set up, which had raised $13,198 as of 5 o’clock on Monday night.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a benefit at Echo Valley Banquet and Reception Center on Oct. 25 to help Chase.

Also, supporters can purchase a #teamchase shirt by filling out an order form at McJ’s in West Union. All profits will go to Chase Aeschlimans family. Those wishing to make a direct donation can go to First State Bank in Fayette and give to the Chase Aeschliman Fund.