Update on Dean Hopper

Madison NC — Do you believe in Miracles?

A note from The Hoppers…

Friends, Fans & Family:

The Hoppers first want to extend our deepest thanks to each of you for every prayer, well wish and kind word. We are so pleased to report that Dean has been home resting and recuperating for the last week; he is in excellent post-op condition!

Even more, we want to share with you the miracle God orchestrated in our lives just days ago…

As most of you know, Dean suffered two strokes in December of last year due to a physical anomaly. Born with only one vertebral artery carrying blood to the brain and it, doctors say, narrowed to 50% use for most of his life, Dean is a blessed man to have not been affected by this at a much younger age. On Tuesday, August 8th, he incurred three more strokes to the cerebellum and an angiogram was performed two days later. Results showed Dean’s one working artery had increased to more than 80% blocked, and plans to place a stent in the lower part of the brain were set. However, the morning of surgery, his blood was deemed “too thick”. The procedure would be rescheduled for the following week, even still, medical staff insisted he come in nearly every day to be tested again and again. Abruptly, in the early hours of August 16th, Dean was taken from his routine blood work chair and wheeled back to the OR.

Four and half hours later, doctors came to the family in a daze. Only after surgeons had opened the vessel did they discover Dean’s already-narrow artery had gone from 80% to more than 90% blocked in less than a week. With this type of rapid deterioration, doctors believe he would have occluded before his appointed procedure time, blocking all blood flow to the brain.

That day, and today, could have been very different for our family. We serve a mighty, wondrous God who must have heard the hearts of folks like you all over the world. Dean, and the entire family, is exceedingly and extraordinarily blessed.

May God bless each of you,
The Hoppers