Maj. Jeremy Ditlevson and his wife, Jeralyn, were looking forward to his retirement next year. After five deployments, four to Iraq and one to Afghanistan, they felt their 20 years of service in the Army was good and were excited to move on to the next chapter in their life together.
“We were planning on retiring. We bought our retirement home, our daughter and I put in a pool while Jeremy was deployed, and thought … we are good to go,” said Jeralyn.
Jeremy, at 48 years old, suffered a massive stroke on Jan. 17, 2023.
“We were having dinner cleaning up, and Jeremy sneezed 15 times, and the stroke happened. It took some time for paramedics to get to us. They medevacked him straight to Oklahoma City, 99 miles north of us.”
Jeremy suffered an Ischemic stroke.
“Jeremy was in ICU and on day five spiked a fever, and they had to do a decompression of his skull and removed part of his skull, then he threw a pulmonary embolism, which is another clot that went into both lungs.”
He was transported on day 17 to the Polytrauma unit at the Audie L Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio, where he spent nine weeks as an inpatient for rehab. Jeralyn’s once very outgoing husband is not able to speak.
“I can read his mood and interpret for him. I know … we’ve been married long enough,” she laughed. “Our family changed a complete 180 since this happened. I no longer work. He has to have care 24/7 for safety concerns.”
Jeralyn describes daily life now and how the family dynamic has changed.
“He can make a sandwich, but that’s about it. He doesn’t remember when things are hot; he could get burned and fall if he is not watched. He can’t drive and will never be able to work again, so it’s a very different life for us now.”
The field artillery officer began his recovery care at the Soldier Recovery Unit (SRU) in San Antonio, Texas, where he was assigned in April 2023. The Ditlevsons believe being introduced to adaptive sports as therapy was a Godsend.
“I think the adaptive sports program is one of the best. I didn’t know anything about any of this stuff, and it truly has helped him. He swims and does indoor rowing with one arm.”
Jeralyn credits the team’s hard work at the SRU with adding to his progress.
“He can now walk short distances. He still can’t use his right arm but discovered adaptive sports with Lorraine Currow, the recreational therapist at the JBSA Soldier Recovery Unit. It’s improved his stamina.”
Jeralyn shared her thoughts on what Warrior Care means to her. She says it goes beyond the immediate recovery from the crisis they experienced.
“I live in my mama bear status. Protecting his career and him is my job. Protecting his physical and mental needs is my job,” she proudly said. She adds she understands this new world of being a caregiver is a badge of honor and hopes other caregivers will remember to care for themselves.
“Warrior Caregivers need to take time for themselves. Even if they get a sitter and get away for two hours, their mental health is just as important.”
She doesn’t dwell on the hard stuff. She celebrated the victories.
“He’s in good spirits. From our research, we see a lot of stroke patients go into depression, but he hasn’t, and I wasn’t going to let that happen. He’ll never be 100%, but he is 100% positive!”
Jeremy worked hard and made Team Army! He will compete at the 2024 DOD Warrior Games in Orlando in June. Both Jeremy and Jeralyn are ready. The Ditlevsons’ positive attitude and hope sustain them, something they remind other caregivers who face sudden change like they did.
“10 months ago, they didn’t think my husband would survive, yet here he is walking and can communicate a little bit. He progresses every day. You can get there. You have to put the effort in.”
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