May 24, 2010

Racing Fan Randy Logan Enjoys the Ride

Doctors said Annette Lord’s 15-month-old son likely wouldn’t live to the age of three. Diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with the complication of Werdnig-Hoffman disease, Randy Logan proved them wrong. He was a funny and inquisitive boy who attracted friends with his positive, accepting nature.

At 22, Randy is a self-professed “car man” and Richard Petty fan. He felt a great sense of achievement when he turned the ignition to his mom’s 1975 Trans Am—which he rebuilt with his former stepdad—and it started. The car can’t go fast enough for him.

From his mother, a painter, Randy learned to “put himself into his art” rather than copying what he saw. By the time he graduated from Cambridge High School in 2006, Randy’s portfolio included many paintings, mostly of car scenes.

Care Manager Toni Hrobsky has worked with Randy since he was 10, first as a case manager at Opportunities, Inc. and then with Jefferson County before moving to Care Wisconsin’s Family Care Program in September 2008. After high school, Randy’s dream of attending Madison Area Technical College for CAD drafting ended with a lack of assistance—and was one of the hardest things Toni has experienced on the job.

 “She’s there to see that Randy gets everything he needs,” says Annette of Toni. Familiar with the emotional and physical trials Randy has been through—tremendous pain, a near-death experience and 19 surgeries over the years, including two back surgeries— Toni is a valuable resource in his care. Toni works closely with RN Janice Atwood who is also on Randy’s care team and able to address health issues.

Randy has dealt with emotional hardships, too. His beloved great-grandmother died unexpectedly and, in 2007, his best friend succumbed to the same disease Randy has.  When doctors gave Randy six months to live in early 2009, he laughed and disregarded the prediction. He shifted his focus to bonding with his newborn nephew.

An important outcome in Randy’s care plan was to record a living memorial for his friends and family. In their quest to get this accomplished, his care team landed him a spot on the Muscular Dystrophy Association 2009 Telethon. But eventually his living memorial was produced through the help of UW-Madison. Annette keeps it in her hutch until the time comes for Randy’s loved ones to see his special messages for them.

Doctors say Randy is one of the oldest known survivors of this type of SMA. While he doesn’t mind being asked about his outlook on life, the question of whether he fears death offends Randy: “You don’t have a choice about when you leave—and I’m not going to fear something I have no control over.” This man who has been told since he was a child that he wasn’t going to live says he’ll go out on his own terms. This isn’t really surprising though: he lives his life that same way.

For more personal stories about Care Wisconsin and our members, see our  2010 Storybook.

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