
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2024 issue of On The Level.
Featuring Rick Siemon, vestibular patient and VeDA Ambassador.
Rick was out for a run the first time the vertigo hit.
He was struck by a world that was suddenly spinning. He almost didn’t make it home.
At first it went away, so he chalked it up to dehydration and lack of sleep. But over the course of a couple of months, things went from bad to worse.
Rick noticed that certain sounds had become unbearable, his balance was getting less and less reliable, and he started having episodes of vertigo several times each week. He realized something was seriously wrong.
The First Step Towards Balance
Rick was eventually diagnosed with Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence (SSCD). That meant that there was a surgery that would help him regain his balance and reduce the dizziness.
It took many months of waiting, but finally, after a whole year of suffering, Rick got the surgery!
However, Rick would soon realize that things were going to get a lot worse before they would get better.
Recovering From Surgery
Recovering from the surgery was one of the scariest things Rick has ever experienced. Just trying to hold his head up was so exhausting that he would need to sleep for hours.
But Rick was determined to get back on the run. Four days after his surgery,
Rick started learning to walk again. His wife would hold him upright while he shuffled through his steps.
His first real “walk” took him 45 minutes, but he was able to stumble his way through a 1/4 mile walk.
Rick kept at it. What started as shuffling, eventually turned into steps. Then one day Rick looked at his wife and said “I’m going for it” and started to run.
His first run lasted about 20 steps before he had to stop, but it was cause for a celebration! He was running again!
After many months he was able to go on a full run by himself.
But Rick’s journey didn’t end there. Fueled by his love for running and devotion to his community, he became a beacon of hope for others facing similar battles.
Giving Back

Rick’s flamingo costume
In addition to a love for running, Rick has always been passionate about his community.
One of the ways that he serves his community is through his career in his local Parks and Recreations department.
Once his symptoms were manageable enough for him to work at full capacity, he realized that he could use the community organizing he does for work to raise awareness about vestibular disorders.
Rick applied to become an Ambassador for VeDA and got right to work raising awareness shining a light on the silent struggles of those afflicted by vestibular disorders.
His first event was during VeDA’s annual event, Steps-2-Balance, when he turned a regular senior luncheon at his local community center into a vestibular education session.
For the next Steps-2-Balance he was off to the races (literally)! He ran a local half marathon covered head-to-toe in the vestibular mascot, flamingos.

Rick running with other half-marathon participants.
Flamingos Everywhere!
By showing off this vestibular mascot, he was able to start a conversation about the role of balance in our day-to-day lives, and increase awareness of the needs and struggles of those who live each day without it.
From working with his Mayor to make Balance Awareness Week an official holiday to bringing flamingos to every activity and town event he can, Rick is always busy planning his next vestibular event.
He has become known as the “flamingo man” in his town thanks to his tireless work raising awareness. Because of this reputation, people who are struggling with dizziness and imbalance know they can come to him for advice and support.
Because of Rick’s amazing advocacy, other dizzy people in his town know they are not alone.
Keeping His Balance
Although it is better than before his surgery, nearly three years after his operation Rick still deals with frequent episodes and dizziness. But now he has the knowledge, community, and experience to handle it.
Rick’s message to anyone with a vestibular disorder is to stay hopeful and find your community. You are not alone.