Madison alderman returns following stroke
MADISON — Warren Strain was welcomed home last week by a host of friends, family and elected officials with a drive-by parade that included police cars and a fire engine.
Strain, Madison’s alderman-at-large, on Dec. 23 suffered a massive stroke deemed fatal that left him in a coma for three weeks. He survived, and after much therapy and pray, came home from an Atlanta rehabilitation facility last week.
“Our Warren is home,” Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler declared saying, “It a day to always remember.”
Sandra Strain says her husband’s survival is nothing short of a miracle.
“We were in Hattiesburg when it happened. He said he had a splitting headache, nausea, and then fell into a coma, all within a span of around 15 minutes,” she said.
Over the past nine months Warren has been in eight ambulance rides and six different hospitals.
“I heard the doctors talking about how it would be astounding if he made it through this, and one of them told me it was ‘in God’s hands now,’” she said. “All I can say is that God answered our prayers.”
Strain said Warren was moved to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta Georgia, which she deemed one of the best rehabilitation centers in the nation. And now, he’s finally come home.
“When he arrived home, it was by far the happiest day of my life,” she said. “The adversity he had to overcome was incredible and we were afraid to get excited. It was so surreal.”
Currently, Warren has made significant strides of recovery, including being able to speak some words, understand what people are saying, and even accurately drive a motorized scooter through the grass around some trash cans and onto the sidewalk.
“Right now he only has control of one arm and leg, but we’re praying that he’ll be able to walk again,” she said. “I’m just so thankful for the community support, everyone in Madison has been so loving and kind.”
Strain said no matter what happens now, she will always be thankful to God to have her husband back.
“All I can do is live day by day and keep my faith in God,” she said.
Currently, a GoFundMe account is set up, with $29,760 of the $36,000 goal raised.
According to Nadia Chris Maxwell, the organizer of the fundraiser, the family’s biggest need right now is financial.
“Insurance will cover the bare minimum of costs but there are so many expenses above and beyond that are not covered and have not been since the stroke 9 months ago,” Maxwell said. “(Warren) will need 24/7 care for the foreseeable future and Sandra can’t handle that on her own.”