Jen and Andy, Partners for Life

Jen and Andy, Partners for Life

Jen and Andy have been together for 30 years.  They first met each other while working at Pizza Hut in 1993.  It was love at first sight for both Andy and Jen.  Andy made the first move and asked Jen out on their first date.  They went to HarMar shopping mall and on a haunted hayride.

Eventually they settled in central Minnesota, got married and had a son.  They were an active couple.  They loved taking long walks, going for hikes, snowmobiling and doing home projects together.  

All of this changed on Thanksgiving morning in 2021.  

Jen had a “wait and see” approach to getting vaccinated.  She had two previous allergic reactions to the flu vaccine; and had already had a Covid infection.  Jen was nervous about the Covid vaccine because of her previous allergic reactions.  She didn’t know why her body had reacted negatively in the past and wanted to do more research.  Unfortunately, her employer mandated the vaccine in August of 2021 and Jen’s timeline was sped up considerably.

After Jen’s second shot in late October she started suffering from headaches and heartburn.  She also had a weird reaction on the back of her neck.  She developed a red, inflamed cyst.  Intuitively she knew something was off in her body.

On Thanksgiving morning Jen, Andy and their son were at the gym.  Jen was in typical “gym rat” mode getting in a good workout before the holiday festivities.  Andy and their son were preparing for Thanksgiving in a more relaxed way-hanging out in the hot tub.  

All of a sudden Andy heard over the loudspeaker a request to come to the front lobby.  He didn’t even bother to change.  In his wet swimsuit, water dripping down his legs, Andy ran out to the lobby to find Jen laying on the ground semi-unconscious.  Three off duty paramedics were at the gym and jumped into action calling 911.  It only took 35 minutes from the time of Jen’s injury to be at the hospital undergoing a CT scan.

Andy received the worst news.  His wife of 21 years had suffered from a hemorrhagic stroke of her brain stem.  This is the worst place to have a stroke because it affects all 12 pairs of cranial nerves.  These nerves control eyesight; your ability to smell, taste and chew and swallow; your sense of hearing and balance; and motor control of your muscles. 

Jen was put into a medically induced coma for 10 days to help calm the swelling.  The doctors told Andy that she may not make it past 4 days because they thought her brain would herniate. 

Andy and their son were terrified, overwhelmed and devastated.  How could this happen to Jen?  She was in great shape, loved moving her body, and stayed active outdoors doing landscape work at their house. 

Jen is a fighter and she proved the doctors wrong.  She made it past those first 4 days.  Eventually she was moved to a long term care facility for two weeks and then to a rehab center for 34 days.  

Those two months were agony for Andy and their son.  Not having their wife and mother home with them brought on feelings of despair, hopelessness, heart ache and anguish.

Andy was determined to set-up a rehab like setting in their house. He knew her care would be full time work, but he was determined to get Jen back home.  His goal was to create a safe space for Jen where the 3 of them could be a family unit under the same roof.

The right side of Jen’s face and the left side of Jen’s body was affected.  She had a partially paralyzed vocal cord; suffered from double vision; was deaf in one ear; and had a difficult time swallowing. Jen couldn’t walk or care for herself.  She was learning how to talk with one side of her mouth and only use her right hand.

Andy chose to focus on what he could do for Jen and not on what the future held for their family.  He was going to transform their home into a safe place where Jen could recover.  He wanted the love of his life to be with him and their son as much as possible; and to not be alone in a rehab center.

Andy set-up a treadmill with a harness in their living room.  After  work Andy sets Jen up in the harness and gets her walking on the treadmill.  Research shows the more you train the affected muscles and limbs the more opportunity they have to heal.

Andy also purchased a hyperbaric oxygen chamber which Jen lays in each and every day. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers have shown to help stroke patients improve their strength, balance, coordination; and motor and verbal skills.

Andy’s dedication to his wife is evident when you interview them.  Jen is able to track the questions that are asked of her and she responds as best as she can given that only one side of her face is functioning.  Andy is so patient as he listens to her response and then helps to interpret her answer.  

Just by watching them on a Zoom meeting you can tell how much they love each other.

Andy and Jen are a testament to true love.  From that first meeting at Pizza Hut 30 years ago to making a conscious decision, a deliberate choice to love each other no matter what even if that “what” is a life altering injury is inspiring.  

When people are sick or get injured they need support.  They need a loving community that acknowledges their illness; that stands next to them; that truly listens to what they need and how they are feeling; that is there day in and day out.

Andy and Jen, partners for life, are the spirit of Team Humanity. 

Team Humanity’s goal is to show up for the injured when they are at their worst and living in darkness with no light in sight.  We offer hope, an opportunity to share their stories, and most importantly unconditional love. 

Andy has shown us how important unconditional love is to healing.  You can see Jen’s spirit coming back to life.  She has a twinkle in her eye, a sense of humor, and a calmness about her.

All stories are edited and approved by the participant before the story is published.

Andy and Jen on a hike before her injury.

Pictures from their first date and Pizza Hut