About Mikey

On February 7, 2000, Mikey Dee, who was 37 years old at the time, suffered a stroke that caused damage to the ventral pons in his brain stem. This severe and rare kind of stroke can leave a person with what is called "locked-in syndrome." Individuals with locked-in syndrome are conscious and have cognitive function but they are unable to speak or move functionally. While many patients do not recover significantly some, in time, do. Mikey's journey was fraught with setbacks and frustration, yet he did make some improvements in communication and movement which gave us hope and kept him fighting. Unfortunately, like many locked-in survivors, he also suffered from repeated bouts of pneumonia, which eventually caused his death on July 6, 2003. (Biography)

Mikey made the most of the 3 1/2 years he survived after his stroke, inspiring all of us with his bravery and persistance, bringing people together to assist him and cracking us up with his impressions and well placed eye-rolls.

You can follow Mikey's journey from Feb 7, 2000 - July 6, 2003 by reading the Recovery Updates. If you are visiting this site to learn more about Locked-in Syndrome you may find some of the information on the update pages informative. Also check out the Brainstem Stroke Links and info page

For the Benefit of Mr. Dee 2000, 2001
Musical events featuring hundreds of Boston-based performers.

Stuff we did with Mikey: The Singalongs | Mikey's Photo Gallery | Mikey's Birthday Shows, Photos

Mikey Dee with Annie Sprinkle

Mikey's Odyssey
by M. A. Ricciardi

Dear Mikey
from M.A. Ricciardi

Some of the organizations Mikey was active in before his stroke:

Team Dee: Tina Bugara | Mary Ricciardi | Valerie Kahn-Dorato | Adam Lewis | Eleanor Ramsay | Linda Viens | T Max

Some early well wishes and stories...

Are You In a Band?
from Brian Westbye

T'was The Night Before Surgery
from Tina Bugara

Strange but (un)True
from Marty Barrett

Happy Birthday Mr. Dee
from Tom Kielty

From Arch Curran
(Brainstem Stroke Survivor)