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Friday, May 31, 2014
HI-LINE
P.E. teacher continues recovery in midst of her pregnancy Last semester, the unthinkable hap- centimeters, very large for the brainstem. pened: physical education teacher Jamie After a few days, Smith was transSmith suffered an unexpected stroke, in ferred to The Covenant Rehabilitation the middle of her fourth pregnancy. The Unit and began physical and occupationschool rallied in support of Smith, as she al therapy. She stayed there until Nov. 21 embarked on her journey of recovery and and then spent four days at New Aldaya are anxiously waiting her return next fall. Lifescapes for more physical therapy. She Smith’s stroke came from a bleed in came home the day before Thanksgiving, her brainstem, which controls basic bodi- while continuing physical therapy. ly functions, on Oct. 25. The stroke imHowever, on Dec. 26, Smith discovpaired much of ered that the bleed her left side and in her brainstem her right eye. was caused by a Both are improvcavernous malforing, although mation cavernoma her vision has (CM), also called returned much popcorn legions. more slowly. Smith was told by Beyond that, one surgeon that Smith and her she would need baby were unsurgery after deharmed, partially livering her baby, due to her robust and that she would —P.E. teacher Jamie never be the same state of health and fitness beafterwards. A secfore the stroke. ond opinion at Over ChristMayo assured her mas break, the Waterloo/Cedar Falls that surgery was not needed, since it Courier featured a front-page story on could seriously reduce her quality of life. Smith’s rapid recovery. Therefore, many Therefore, she and the doctors decided expected her to come back right away in to wait to see if her brainstem will bleed January. Unfortunately, Smith will not be again, the likelihood of which decreases back at all this semester, as she needs to over time. continue to focus on recovering and havWhile Smith planned to come back to ing her baby in the spring. school this semester, the prognosis she Mrs. Bockes, who filled in for Smith received on Dec. 26 made it clear that last semester, has continued teaching she would not be able to. She is physically Smith’s classes for the remainder of the able to work, but she would not be able school year. to demonstrate or set up equipment, and Smith’s journey has been a long one, she would need to sit often. starting several months ago last fall. She Currently her vision is corrected with recalls how she almost passed out around a prism lens because it is still double, first hour on Oct. 21. Throughout that and when she uses the computer, she eiweek, she began to feel nausea and tin- ther speaks into it or types on her iPad gling in her left hand and foot. with one finger. On top of these obstaOn Thursday. Oct. 24, she went to the cles, Smith said she needs to focus on doctor after feeling tingling in her face. her health and the health of her baby. Thinking that it was a side effect of the “My first priority is continuing to have a flu, Smith’s doctor sent her to Sartori to healthy pregnancy and have baby Smith receive fluids. That night, however, she smoothly,” Smith said. woke up feeling dizzy and nauseous, and The baby is due on April 12, but will she had lost fine motor function in her left be delivered a week earlier by C-section hand. so natural labor does not cause added She went to Covenant right away, stress on Smith’s brain. “She has been where she did many tests, including a CT my major concern this entire time,” Smith scan. The CT scan showed a hemorrhage, said of her baby. or bleeding in the Pons area of the brainSmith said the hardest thing about restem, which controls many basic functions covery is the constant mental battle. “It is and movements. frustrating to tell your body to do someSmith was then airlifted to the hospi- thing and have it completely ignore you. tals at the University of Iowa where she It is humbling to have to constantly ask received another CT scan and an MRI for help and just resign yourself to the fact scan. While the MRI showed no tumor, that you are unable when everything used the picture was unclear due to the blood to be so easy and second nature.” Smith still in the affected area. The bleed was 2 has learned to ask for help and to “slow
“I have to be vigilant in reminding myself that I am strong and to trust in my faith.”
Smith
Above: P.E. teacher Jamie Smith relaxes in bed during her recovery. Above right: Bracelets with Smith’s personal mantra “Do Better. Be Better” were made to support her recovery. down, enjoy the little things, tell those I love and appreciate how important they are every day, to trust in my faith and so much more.” For those struggling with health or unexpected obstacles, Smith said to focus on how far they have come rather than how far they need to go. She also encourages them to talk about it. “It helps so much to just be open with what you are experiencing, whether it’s good or bad,” Smith said. She has recounted much of her journey on her Facebook page, journaling at
least once a week. “It helps me release my fears and keep my friends and family up-to-date,” Smith said. She said that she has had complete strangers reach out and tell her their personal stories. “The support and encouragement that I get from people’s comments to those posts helps so much,” Smith said. They help to remind me that I can do it and am going to be OK.” By Editor-inChief Elle
Wallingford