Young teacher suffers stroke
By Laura Uhlmansiek
Published: Thursday, February 12, 2004
She should be teaching class today, but instead, she will be at home receiving hospice care.
She will not be alone.
Linda Bindner, lecturer in English, suffered a stroke Saturday that damaged her brain stem and left her unable to move anything except her eyes. Family friend Jennifer Creer, a former University instructor in English, said Bindner, 34, and her husband Don have received tremendous support from friends and family.
"I think that one of the things that has been the most important to Don and Linda is this enormous outpouring of love from people," Creer said. "From the very beginning, people have called, volunteered to baby-sit and have come down to Columbia."
Doctors have been unable to determine the cause of the stroke but have diagnosed her condition as Locked-In Syndrome, Creer said.
Locked-in syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that leaves individuals completely mute and paralyzed but fully conscious, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Web site.
"She has no motor control in her body except to look up or down, but she's fully cognitive inside," said Dereck Daschke, assistant professor of philosophy and religion. "She's able to answer 'yes' and 'no' by looking up and down."
Bindner was very healthy before the stroke, Creer said. Saturday morning was the first sign of any problem.
"She woke up early in the morning with what was initially perceived as a migraine, but it became clear pretty fast it was not an ordinary migraine," Creer said. "Throughout the day she lost motor function because it was a brain stem stroke."
Bindner was taken to the Northeast Regional Medical Center but was later transported to the intensive care unit at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, Mo.
"Right now, the most exciting thing is we are organizing a troop of volunteers among her friends here to provide hospice care, so that Don can bring her home," Creer said. "She should be coming home [today]."
Linda is married to Don Bindner, visiting assistant professor of mathematics, and is the mother of a two-and-one-half-year-old daughter. She also has a twin sister who lives in Kirksville.
Linda Bindner graduated with her bachelor's and master's degrees from Truman and has been teaching here since 1999.
Many students said Bindner is one of their favorite teachers, and they always look forward to her class.
Junior Taryn Litton, who plans on teaching elementary education, said Bindner's literature for children class was the highlight of her week.
"She just has so much enthusiasm when she talks about her different books," Litton said. "Her enthusiasm really is an inspiration because I'm going to want my students to have a passion for learning, and she's helping me learn the best way to go about that."
Binder has three courses this semester that are being covered by professors who have volunteered to help, said Heinz Woehlk, language and literature division head.
"We have no shortage of volunteers in language and literature," Woehlk said.
Creer said friends may send letters to Linda and the family to Donald's e-mail account or their home address at 23192 State Highway H in Kirksville.
"Don has read to her cards and e-mails from former students telling her what impact she has had on their lives," Creer said.
She said family and friends are organizing a fund-raising event for 6 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Dukum Inn to help the family cover medical costs and child care costs for the next three years.
The event will feature live band music. Tickets will be available Friday and will cost $40 or $20 for Truman students.
For more information about where to send donations or the fund-raising event, please contact Dereck Daschke at (660) 785-6005 or at ddaschke@truman.edu or Jennifer Creer at jcreer@atsu.edu.
By Laura Uhlmansiek
Published: Thursday, February 12, 2004
She should be teaching class today, but instead, she will be at home receiving hospice care.
She will not be alone.
Linda Bindner, lecturer in English, suffered a stroke Saturday that damaged her brain stem and left her unable to move anything except her eyes. Family friend Jennifer Creer, a former University instructor in English, said Bindner, 34, and her husband Don have received tremendous support from friends and family.
"I think that one of the things that has been the most important to Don and Linda is this enormous outpouring of love from people," Creer said. "From the very beginning, people have called, volunteered to baby-sit and have come down to Columbia."
Doctors have been unable to determine the cause of the stroke but have diagnosed her condition as Locked-In Syndrome, Creer said.
Locked-in syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that leaves individuals completely mute and paralyzed but fully conscious, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Web site.
"She has no motor control in her body except to look up or down, but she's fully cognitive inside," said Dereck Daschke, assistant professor of philosophy and religion. "She's able to answer 'yes' and 'no' by looking up and down."
Bindner was very healthy before the stroke, Creer said. Saturday morning was the first sign of any problem.
"She woke up early in the morning with what was initially perceived as a migraine, but it became clear pretty fast it was not an ordinary migraine," Creer said. "Throughout the day she lost motor function because it was a brain stem stroke."
Bindner was taken to the Northeast Regional Medical Center but was later transported to the intensive care unit at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, Mo.
"Right now, the most exciting thing is we are organizing a troop of volunteers among her friends here to provide hospice care, so that Don can bring her home," Creer said. "She should be coming home [today]."
Linda is married to Don Bindner, visiting assistant professor of mathematics, and is the mother of a two-and-one-half-year-old daughter. She also has a twin sister who lives in Kirksville.
Linda Bindner graduated with her bachelor's and master's degrees from Truman and has been teaching here since 1999.
Many students said Bindner is one of their favorite teachers, and they always look forward to her class.
Junior Taryn Litton, who plans on teaching elementary education, said Bindner's literature for children class was the highlight of her week.
"She just has so much enthusiasm when she talks about her different books," Litton said. "Her enthusiasm really is an inspiration because I'm going to want my students to have a passion for learning, and she's helping me learn the best way to go about that."
Binder has three courses this semester that are being covered by professors who have volunteered to help, said Heinz Woehlk, language and literature division head.
"We have no shortage of volunteers in language and literature," Woehlk said.
Creer said friends may send letters to Linda and the family to Donald's e-mail account or their home address at 23192 State Highway H in Kirksville.
"Don has read to her cards and e-mails from former students telling her what impact she has had on their lives," Creer said.
She said family and friends are organizing a fund-raising event for 6 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Dukum Inn to help the family cover medical costs and child care costs for the next three years.
The event will feature live band music. Tickets will be available Friday and will cost $40 or $20 for Truman students.
For more information about where to send donations or the fund-raising event, please contact Dereck Daschke at (660) 785-6005 or at ddaschke@truman.edu or Jennifer Creer at jcreer@atsu.edu.
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