On January 29, 2007, Bill Thomas, 40, was a surfer, biker, scuba diver, hiker, coin collector, camper, fisherman, auto mechanic, and – most of all – an adoring husband and father of two boys aged 7 months and 3 years.

On January 30, 2007, Bill went home during his lunch hour to spend it with his family. His neck started to feel odd, and they put an ice-pack on it. He called his family doctor to make an appointment. Then his legs started to feel numb and he asked his wife, Julie, to take him to the emergency room.