Adventist Health Glendale | Healthline Quarterly | Early Spring 2018

PHIL HALPRIN couldn’t believe what the doctors told him: “There is no cure. Your body will have to heal itself with supportive care. You’re the one in a million.” It was October 2015. Halprin lay in a Glendale-area hospital, para- lyzed from his lower back to his toes. During the past 10 days, doc- tors had been testing for every conceivable cause of the paralysis that suddenly and without warning had changed Halprin from an energetic, athletic type to lying flat on his back in a state of disbelief. At age 53, he’d never been treated in a hospital before. Amid a whirlwind of tests, as he lapsed in and out of awareness, two ques- tions dominated his mind. What’s happening to me—and why? Detecting the culprit An array of tests came back negative. Each day frustration grew. Finally, on day 10, doctors discovered the cause. Halprin tested positive for West Nile virus, most commonly spread to people by mosquito bites. In rare cases the virus invades the central nervous system. In Halprin’s case, the invasion was extreme, causing a condition known as transverse myelitis, an inflammation of both sides of one section of the spinal cord resulting in partial paralysis. The culprit turned out to be a turtle pond that was in his backyard— the standing water provided a habitat for mosquito larvae. “I’d walk by Grateful patient recovers with rehabilitation LEFT: The driver rehabilitation program has enabled Phil Halprin to return to driving his own car, fitted with an alternate accelerator pedal on the left side. RIGHT: Physical therapist Joanna Mallari-Jimenez, left, and occupational therapist Jenna Petrigno share smiles over Phil Halprin’s recovery. BELOW: Under the guidance of physical therapy, Phil Halprin strengthens his lower body. —Continued on page 2 ㈀　㄀㘀 A high-performing hospital TO F I ND A DOC TO R , V I S I T ADV E N T I S T H E A LT HG L E NDA L E . ORG HEALTHLINE QUARTERLY ° AN AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION EARLY SPRING 2018 “Nerve damage heals slowly, but I’m seeing results every day.” —Phil Halprin Discover how rehab might help you. Call Jan Aducci, manager of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, directly at (818) 409-8288 . Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Long Beach, CA Permit No. 2041 Glendale Adventist Medical Center 1509 Wilson Terrace Glendale, CA 91206