West Nile attacks leaves Roscoe man unable to walk

Little did Leland and Tracy Treichel know that their lives would change in August 2022.

Leland did not feel well and his legs were shaky on August 16 so they went to Sanford Urgent Care in Aberdeen. They did tests but could not diagnose the problem.

The Treichels were back the next day for more testing. His concerns now included a rash. Back at home that night Leland fell after 15 steps and could not use his legs. His grandson Leo was staying with them then. Leo helped get Leland out to their vehicle and back to the emergency room in Aberdeen.

The next week was a blur, Leland said. His fever went up to 103° and the original problems had not changed. He couldn't move his legs. After a spinal tap they still could not diagnose the cause.

While he was hospitalized they could tell that he was having a stroke, which they could treat immediately.

Swelling on the spinal cord and brain were found on the MRI. Leland was breathing on a ventilator.

The medical staff wanted him moved to Sioux Falls. There they diagnosed West Nile Meningoencephalitis. West Nile was attacking his nerve cells and caused polio-like weakness and paralysis.

Their daughter Christel, who has medical experience, asked the Sanford staff what his future diagnose would be. "Having Christel on the phone with us asking the doctor those hard questions was a Godsend," Tracy wrote on Facebook.

He spent six days a week in physical and occupational therapy. Tracy said they expected him to stay in a wheelchair and likely be in a nursing home. Tracy insisted she wanted him at home with outpatient therapy.

Since she is a Edmunds Central School teacher, Tracy was only able to drive from Roscoe to Sioux Falls every weekend.

When his balance issues had improved the therapists wanted to know that Tracy could take care of him at home. They had a therapy "apartment" in Sioux Falls to make sure. So on October 5, the Treichels were headed home.

They had to be ready for the changes back in Roscoe. Their two-story home would be a challenge and a handicapped van had to be found. New equipment has included a chair lift and elevator. "The elevator has been a godsend," Tracy said. Divine assistance has come from local residents, especially their neighbors, she said.

"Sandra Frickson is the best thing happening in our lives," Tracy wrote on Facebook. She works with Leland an hour of physical therapy on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at the Hands on Health (HOH) location in Roscoe. He also has occupational therapy two days a week in Bowdle.

"The biggest challenge I see is the unknown," Frickson said "We really don't know what the course of this will be. I'm treating it like French Polio. As we see more and more muscles wake up it is exciting. At this point there really isn't a way to know how long it will take for him to regain control of all of his muscles. The positive is each week there is something new he can do. The strength is coming back slowly as he can get the muscles to fire."

Much of the day includes Leland's therapy homework, exercising legs and hands, getting muscle memory back. He works on an Easy Stand, which helps him to stand and motorized bicycle pedals which works muscles. Tracy said they can see small improvements.

"I've had patients work hard in the past," Frickson said "The effort Leland and Tracy have put forth amazes me. They take the tips I give them and they work it over and over again until he masters it. Then they continue to work those areas to make sure they can improve upon the skill."

The Treichels have set a goal to eventually go to Arizona not using a wheelchair, where their daughter Christel and their grandchildren live. "We're going to get there," Tracy said.

"Rarely are tears a good thing in therapy, but tears of joy are why I love what I do," Frickson said. "I know there will be a lot of tears shed the first time he takes steps again after all of this," she said.

Leland said he doesn't know when the mosquito carrying West Nile changed his life. But it is a serious threat - he could have died. Three individuals from this area were in Sioux Falls with serious West Nile symptoms when he was there. Protect yourself.