A Georgia Southern University graduate returned home eight months after she suffered strokes and was paralyzed when a chiropractor severed her arteries.
Caitlin Jensen, 29, was released from a treatment center on February 16 after regaining movement in her head, arms and legs, months after she was hospitalized on June 16 following an appointment with Dr. TJ Harpham, 42.
She suffered four ruptured arteries that led to strokes and heart attacks. Caitlin was hospitalized in a trauma center with limited body movement until she was eligible to move to Atlanta’s Shepherd Center in September to begin physical therapy.
The graduate, who had seen Harpham after suffering back and neck pain from long hours of studying, was cleared to begin treatment in her new home paid for with the help of generous GoFundMe donators that contributed $166,301 to Jensen’s recovery.
Caitlin was seen in a video last month on her car ride home with her family while cheerfully nodding her head to ‘East Bound and Down’ by Jerry Reed.
Caitlin Jensen, 29, was released from a treatment center on February 16 after regaining movement in her head, arms and legs, months after she was hospitalized on June 16
She suffered four ruptured arteries that led to a stroke and heart attacks. Caitlin (pictured before the incident) was hospitalized in a trauma center with limited body movement until she was eligible to move to Atlanta’s Shepherd Center in September to begin physical therapy
Caitlin’s mom, Darlene, has avidly posted about her daughter’s recovery since her hospitalization. Several photos show Caitlin sharing a smile while in her bed, wheelchair, or at physical therapy.
Darlene proudly embraced the new challenge of taking her daughter back home to transition into a new way of living.
‘[Caitlin] will return to a different life, but the most important part in all of this is that she still has a life!’ Darlene wrote on Facebook.
‘When she was laying in the Neuro ICU unit in June, we didn’t know if that would be the case, or what her cognitive capacity would be if she did make it. Bringing her home next week is a gift of hope.’
Darlene purchased a new home for her and Caitlin to live which features outdoor wheelchair rails and several handicap accessibility features.
The new home also features an outdoor garden station to allow Caitlin to continue her beloved hobbies.
With the excitement and nerves of transitioning Caitlin out of Atlanta’s Shepherd Center, the family had a small hiccup a few days into their homestay that landed them back in the ICU.
‘This is not the homecoming update that I had planned to share tonight, but here we are,’ Darlene wrote in a Facebook post on February 20.
‘Caitlin fell outside tonight (and yes, I absolutely do blame myself and nothing can change that). She is being admitted to ICU as she does have a brain bleed, and she also has some external lacerations.’
With the excitement and nerves of transitioning Caitlin out of Atlanta’s Shepherd Center, the family had a small hiccup a few days into their homestay that landed them back in the ICU
Several photos show Caitlin sharing a smile while in her bed, wheelchair, or at physical therapy. Caitlin celebrated her 29th birthday in the treatment center
The graduate was cleared to begin treatment in her new home paid for with the help of generous GoFundMe donators that contributed $166,301 to Jensen’s recovery
The new home also features an outdoor garden station to allow Caitlin to continue her beloved hobbies
The home features an accessible shower for Caitlin as she transitions to being home
Caitlin (pictured before the incident) had seen the same chiropractor on several occasions to address neck stiffness she was experiencing from ‘sitting at her desk for months working on her last classes’ at Georgia Southern
Darlene attached a photo of Caitlin with a bloody bandage wrapped around her as she laid in the hospital bed with a neck brace.
‘She has been through so much, and I feel terrible about this accident,’ Darlene wrote. ‘I am crushed.’
After a few days, Caitlin was cleared to recover at home.
While the 29-year-old has regained some movement, she still is unable to speak. Videos of Caitlin’s progress showed her attempting to sing ‘Believe’ by Cher while letting out small sounds.
Caitlin is able to say ‘Bro’ after being able to successfully say ‘Mom,’ for the first time at the end of August.
‘She is also getting sounds out more and more,’ Darlene shared. ‘She is able to tolerate wearing the speaking valve all day now.’
Caitlin also carries a tablet around with her that she communicates with. A recent message she wrote to her mom read, ‘It’s ok that I fell.’
Aside from working on Caitlin’s speech, getting her vision back to where it was is another goal after she lost some of her eyesight from the strokes.
Caitlin also carries a tablet around with her that she communicates with. A recent message she wrote to her mom read, ‘It’s ok that I fell’
Caitlin is able to say ‘Bro’ after being able to successfully say ‘Mom,’ for the first time at the end of August
Before being released from the treatment center, her mom took her out on several outings
Caitlin is seen about in her new home. Her mom posted the photo of her on March 5
In September, Caitlin’s movements progressed after she was only able to wiggle her toe and fingers.
She was able to complete sitting practices without assistance and took her first steps with a walking harness that provided only 20 percent assistance.
Dr. TJ Harpham, the chiropractor who treated Jensen, has repeatedly declined to comment about what happened to his patient
Caitlin also started pottery classes where she could move her hands to paint a vase, and took part in a meeting about mobility solutions.
Darlene previously told DailyMail.com that her daughter had been to her chiropractor on several occasions to address neck stiffness she was experiencing from ‘sitting at her desk for months working on her last classes,’ but had never undergone a neck adjustment.
‘You don’t think that a 28-year-old healthy woman is going to be having such an emergency and having a stroke,’ she said.
Darlene previously recalled the shocking call she received from Harpham on her daughter’s phone.
‘I just thought maybe she was dizzy,’ Darlene said. ‘It didn’t ever occur to me that it was a serious event. I just thought maybe she stood up too fast or she was slightly dizzy and they were being over cautious.’
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 to allow Caitlin to continue her beloved hobbies. Pictured: Caitlin gardening at the treatment center
