Georgia Southern grad paralyzed after chiropractor visit moves to Shepherd Center for rehab
Caitlin Jensen dissected four arteries leading to cardiac arrest, multiple strokes and loss of pulse
Caitlin Jensen dissected four arteries leading to cardiac arrest, multiple strokes and loss of pulse
Caitlin Jensen dissected four arteries leading to cardiac arrest, multiple strokes and loss of pulse
Recent Georgia Southern University graduate Caitlin Jensen, who had four arteries dissected after a visit to a chiropractor, has now moved to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta to begin rehab.
“I try not to look too far ahead, because that can be very overwhelming. Every morning, we get up, we pick an outfit, we get dressed for the day, we get to work, we do the therapy. And it go by quite quickly. The days kinda fly by,” Darlene Jensen told WJCL.
Since the incident on June 16, Darlene and her daughter Caitlin have been living day by day.
“She went to a chiropractor and they did a neck manipulation that resulted in four arteries being dissected. Which caused multiple strokes to happen in her brain and then caused her to go into cardiac arrest. That happened when she was in the emergency room. And so here we are now,” Jensen said.
After spending weeks at Memorial Health, in early August Caitlin was accepted into the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.
“There's a lot to deal with for her now. It's been a really big transition for her. Coming out of the ICU and that isolation, and then coming into a rehab setting,” said Jensen.
Caitlin is undergoing speech, occupational, physical and recreational therapy. She's progressing faster than anyone thought.
“I credit her a great deal for her attitude. I think that her positive spirit and attitude has really helped a lot," Jensen said.
Since the incident, Darlene has been out of work by Caitlin’s side every day. That's why the family has turned to GoFundMe to ease the burden of mounting medical bills.
Since our first report on Caitlin, thousands of people have donated. More than $100,000 has been raised.
“We've been blown away by the support and very appreciative because we do have a very long road ahead of us. It helps to know those funds are there for her needs, because we don't even know what all of her needs are going to be yet,” Jensen said.