Brian Cowie's USA Treatment and Rehab Fundraiser

Brian 'Blizz' Cowie

Blizz attended Waitaki Boys' High School in the late 1970's early 80's. He played 1st XV Rugby for the school as a loose forward and made a New Zealand Secondary School team in his last year at school.

He entered the NZ Royal Police College in 1985 and graduated later that year. He was posted to Invercargill where he worked in uniform before entering the CIB. He continued to play rugby for the Old Boys Rugby Club.

He joined the Invercargill Armed Offenders Squad in 1991 and served on the squad till 2007, with the last 5 years as second in command.

In 1999 he was promoted to Sergeant and was in charge of a General Duties Section before returning to the CIB as a Detective Sergeant some 18 months later. In 2007 he was promoted to Detective Senior Sergeant in charge of the Invercargill CIB.

In the meantime he was a rugby referee for a number of years and coached the Southland Under 48kg rugby team, winning the South Island competition on more than one occasion.

He also has an avid interest in the horse racing industry through his parents being trainers in Oamaru and he has continued the family interest through his involvement in a syndicate owned race horse.

He was also Chairman of the Salford School Board of Trustees and was actively involved in the Southland community both through his work as a police officer and as a member of the community.

He has two teenage boys and a younger boy with his partner Jo Parnham who is also a serving police officer.

STROKE

In 2009 Brian was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation which is an irregular heartbeat caused by a malfunction in the heart's electrical system.

As a result he was required to undergo two cardiac ablation procedures in Christchurch in an attempt to correct his condition. He continued to work and hold his position on the Board of Trustee and coach representative schoolboy rugby.

In November 2011 at the young age of 47 years, while at work, he suffered a massive stroke.

He was rushed to Invercargill Hospital and then flown to Dunedin. The prognosis wasn't good but he was eventually stabilised and spent over 3 months in hospital and rehab in Dunedin. He was released and returned to Invercargill in February 2012.

As a result of the stroke he has very limited speech and movement down the right side of his body. He can walk but only with a brace on his leg and he has little or no movement in his right arm. He also has a condition called Aphasia which complicates his ability to communicate both receptively and expressively.

In April 2013 he was medically disengaged from the Police ending a 28 year career.

TREATMENT

Recently on 60 Minutes there was a documentary which involved a person who suffered a stroke getting treatment in the USA. The treatment takes place in Los Angeles in Florida. It is very new and has only been known for the last 3 years.

Approximately 1000 people have been treated so far with the numbers rising every day.

The treatment involves an Etanercept injection into the person's veins in the base of the neck which goes to the brain and which can assist in regenerating affected brain cells. In some cases the treatment can improve a sufferer's condition in a major way.

After going through a screening process, Brian has been accepted for treatment. He has been told that due to the extent of the stroke he has suffered the treatment will not be a cure but it can have positive effects around movement, fatigue, clarity in the head, motivation, sensation, senses, taste, smell etc.

Fatigue is a huge factor as he tires easily, having to sleep during the day 2-3 times. This causes him huge frustration when he is trying to keep up with three sports minded boys.

Further information in relation to this treatment can be found on the following website: Institute of Neurological Recovery: www.strokebreakthrough.com

If he responds well to the first injection, he has the option of a second treatment which can further enhance the first treatment.

It is estimated the trip and treatment will cost approximately $30 000.

Refer to Activity button to follow updates of Brian's treatment.