A Georgia Southern University graduate returned home eight months after suffering a stroke and was paralyzed when a chiropractor severed her arteries.
Caitlin Jensen, 29, was discharged from a treatment center on Feb. 16 after regaining movement in her head, arms and legs, months after she was hospitalized on Jun. 16 following an appointment with Dr. T. J. Harpham, 42.
She suffered four ruptured arteries leading to strokes and heart attacks. Caitlin was hospitalized in a trauma center with limited exercise until she was eligible to move to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta in September to begin physical therapy.
The graduate, who had seen Harpham after suffering back and neck pain from long hours of studying, was allowed to begin treatment at her new home, paid for with the help of generous GoFundMe donors who contributed $166,301 toward Jensen’s recovery. .
Caitlin was seen in a video last month on her car ride home with her family happily nodding her head to Jerry Reed’s “East Bound and Down.”
Caitlin Jensen, 29, was discharged from a treatment center on Feb. 16 after regaining movement in her head, arms and legs, months after being admitted to hospital on Jun. 16.
She suffered four ruptured arteries leading to a stroke and heart attacks. Caitlin (pictured before the incident) was hospitalized in a trauma center with limited exercise until she was eligible to move to Atlanta’s Shepherd Center to begin physical therapy in September
Caitlin’s mom, Darlene, has eagerly posted about her daughter’s recovery since her hospitalization. Several photos show Caitlin sharing a smile while lying in her bed, wheelchair or in physical therapy.
Darlene proudly embraced the new challenge of bringing her daughter home to transition to a new way of life.
“(Caitlin) will return to another life, but the most important thing in all of this is that she still has a life!” Darlene wrote on Facebook.
“When she was in the Neuro ICU in June, we didn’t know if that would be the case, or what her cognitive capacity would be if she made it. Bringing her home next week is a gift of hope.”
Darlene bought a new home for her and Caitlin to live in, with outdoor wheelchair rails and several handicap accessibility features.
The new home also features an outdoor garden station so Caitlin can pursue her beloved hobbies.
With the excitement and nerves of Caitlin’s transition from the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, the family had a minor hitch a few days into their homestay stay that landed them back in the ICU.
“This isn’t the homecoming update I planned for tonight, but here we are,” Darlene wrote in a Facebook post on Feb. 20.
“Caitlin fell out last night (and yes, I absolutely blame myself and nothing can change that). She is admitted to ICU because she has a brain hemorrhage and also some external lacerations.’
With the excitement and nerves of Caitlin’s transition from the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, the family had a minor breakdown a few days into their homestay stay that landed them back in the ICU.
Several photos show Caitlin sharing a smile while lying in her bed, wheelchair or in physical therapy. Caitlin celebrated her 29th birthday at the treatment center
The graduate was allowed to begin treatment in her new home, paid for with the help of generous GoFundMe donors who contributed $166,301 toward Jensen’s recovery
The new home also features an outdoor garden station so Caitlin can pursue her beloved hobbies
The house has an accessible shower for Caitlin as she transitions to being home
Caitlin (pictured before the incident) had seen the same chiropractor several times to address neck stiffness she experienced from “sitting at her desk for months working on her final classes” at Georgia Southern
Darlene added a photo of Caitlin with a bloody bandage on her as she lay in the hospital bed wearing a neck brace.
“She’s been through so much and I feel terrible about this accident,” Darlene wrote. “I’m crushed.”
After a few days, Caitlin was allowed to recover at home.
Although the 29-year-old has regained some movement, she still cannot speak. Videos of Caitlin’s progress showed her trying to sing Cher’s “Believe” while making small noises.
Caitlin can say “Bro” after successfully saying “Mom” for the first time in late August.
“She’s getting more and more noises too,” Darlene said. “She can wear the speaking valve all day now.”
Caitlin also carries a tablet that she communicates with. A recent message she wrote to her mom read, “It’s okay that I fell.”
Aside from working on Caitlin’s speech, another goal is to get her sight back to where it was after she lost some of her vision from the strokes.
Caitlin also carries a tablet that she communicates with. A recent message she wrote to her mother read: ‘It’s okay that I fell’
Caitlin can say “Bro” after successfully saying “Mom” for the first time in late August
Before she was released from the treatment center, her mother took her on several outings
Caitlin is seen in her new home. Her mother posted the photo of her on March 5
In September, Caitlin’s movements progressed after she could only wiggle her toe and fingers.
She was able to perform sitting exercises unassisted and took her first steps with a gait harness that provided only 20 percent support.
Dr. TJ Harpham, the chiropractor who treated Jensen, has repeatedly declined to comment on what happened to his patient
Caitlin also took up pottery where she could move her hands to paint a vase, and participated in a mobility solutions meeting.
Darlene previously told DailyMail.com that her daughter had been to her chiropractor several times to address neck stiffness she experienced from “sitting behind her desk for months working on her final classes,” but that she had never had a neck adjustment.
“You don’t think a 28-year-old healthy woman would have an emergency like that and have a stroke,” she said.
Darlene previously recalled the shocking call she received from Harpham on her daughter’s phone.
“I thought she might be dizzy,” Darlene said. “It never occurred to me that it was a serious event. I just thought maybe she got up too quickly or she was a little dizzy and they were being too careful.’
Darlene said she was by her daughter’s side when her heart stopped for 10 minutes.
Harpham has repeatedly declined to comment on the incident.
The new home also features an outdoor garden station so Caitlin can pursue her beloved hobbies. Pictured: Caitlin gardens in the treatment center
