Mariah’s Reemergence

To Mariah’s huge extended family,

I’m Mariah’s dad, Mark Steinwinter. This weblog will allow you to watch in wonder along with me as Mariah reemerges as her next new self.

First, to everyone who has expressed sympathy and support, my heartfelt thanks.

Captain Mariah Kochavi, 28, a veterinarian in the Army, is at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, recovering from a serious brainstem stroke she suffered while hiking in Peru on Father’s Day. She has retained her cognitive skills and memory, but has lost some motor skills, including swallowing, speaking, and standing. Fortunately, in true Mariah fashion, she’s already making great progress. A few days ago, she tapped a computer touch screen with her left index finger, and this morning while I was talking to her on the phone, she was able to vocalize for the first time since we left Peru.

Her mother and I expect her to be transferred to a rehab facility in the fairly near future where her journey to her new self will be her focus. We’re optimistic about the likelihood for considerable recovery (I prefer “reemergence”) in the coming months.

In order to be closer to Mariah and able to visit her daily, I’ll be moving my office from Boston (thank you SO MUCH, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations) to a family member’s home near DC on Tuesday. My plan is to visit with Mariah in the morning, and to work from the home office in the afternoon and early evening. I’ll return to Boston as needed, but the Information Technology team is more than able to keep things running smoothly with minimum interference from me. 🙂

Mariah and her dog Chai last May

Please hold Mariah and her family in your hearts and prayers.

– Mark