Jen's Love Army

By: Susanna Keilman

It's taco Tuesday and I have my friend Jen and her two daughters over. Sage, a one-year-old is sleeping on my dog’s bed while Jen laughs it off. Tegan, a four-year-old is looking up at me with big eyes asking me to pick her up. I look at these two young girls and their mom just happy to be in their presence not knowing that within a few weeks their lives would change completely and that this moment would become cherished.

Jen is a Critical Care Nurse and Certified Radiology Nurse working in Interventional Radiology at Madigan Army Medical Center on Joint Base Lewis McChord.

She is prior service active duty and currently a colonel in the US Army Reserves. It wasn’t until she was 47 that she decided to have children and soon gave birth to her first daughter and at 51, her second.

Jen didn’t let her age, marital status or any other societal standards dictate her path or hold her back from her goals. She was in excellent health, exercised regularly and had a radiant presence. About a month ago, Jen caught a common cold, recovered and went back to her normal routine.

A few short weeks later, Jen felt a numb finger, which eventually radiated to pain in her legs. Within two days, Jen's legs were giving out—she collapsed several times and eventually could not walk or stand. Shortly after, Jen was transported to the emergency department and admitted to the intensive care unit where she received a diagnosis of Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS).

A critical care nurse who has been providing patient care was now the patient. She had to quickly have serious conversations with her doctors and loved ones.

Within 72 hours she could not breathe on her own—placed on a ventilator and intubated. The disease progressed fast and hard.

Jen quickly deteriorated. As the doctors monitored and provided reports, they indicated they were not happy with her status. With a 47% mortality rate, no one wanted to talk about Jen fitting into those statistics. When visiting her, she was unable to speak though 100% aware of her current battle.

According to the Mayo Clinic, GBS is a rare disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves. The exact cause of GBS is unknown, however about 66% of patients present with symptoms two to six weeks after having a bacterial or viral infection.

Adults in the United States over the age of 50 are at higher risk to contract the disease (CDC) though the chances of actually getting GBS is .00001%.

Jen remains hospitalized, unable to move, eat and breathe on her own. Her body is in a forced state of rest. She will need to relearn how to perform basic functions like brushing her teeth, standing and walking. Though 60-80% of patients with GBS can regain most function within six months, for some it can take up to a year and bring forth associated disorders. Jen is in extreme discomfort yet receives physical therapy as the first step to making her way back. She recently had a small milestone of feeling sensation on her arms, which is a milestone being celeHERbrated. It’s easy to get caught up in the doom and gloom of Jen’s prognosis but a Love Army is surrounding her. The common denominator of Jen’s Army?

Mostly veterans or military-affiliated civilians. The unspoken bond is an indescribable limitless commitment to your comrade. This Love Army ensures that Jen’s visitors are scheduled, she is read to, music is played and proper care is rendered.

They are working with her reserve unit, her civilian leadership and raising funds to ensure her girls’ living expenses are covered until she wins this battle.

This Army is serving as a physical extension of what Jen would be doing. Her girls are being loved, her bills are being paid, their future is being planned. The Love Army mission is to take care of Jen’s life so that she can continue to fight for it.

Join the Love Army. Donate at https://www.gofundme.com/f/2eigk7sq7c