Jacob Adkisson and his husband, Taylor Hess, enjoyed a celebratory weekend in East Texas last autumn for their niece’s wedding. On their return to Denver on a Monday, while stepping onto the airport escalator, 37-year-old Adkisson felt a tingling sensation and numbness creeping up his right leg. He assumed he might have pinched a nerve or the heavy duffle bag on his shoulder might have caused the discomfort.
As they boarded the plane and settled in, Adkisson began to notice the numbness extending up his leg and spreading to his right arm. Confounded by these escalating symptoms, he realized this was far more serious than a simple nerve pinch. However, with the end of the flight approaching, he opted to remain silent.
By the time the plane descended for landing, Adkisson’s condition worsened, and he was unable to chew or swallow due to the numbness that had consumed the right side of his face. Despite his deteriorating state, he remained quiet until they retrieved their luggage and reached the parking lot. Finally, turning to Hess, he confessed, “Something’s wrong with me. We need to go to the hospital.”
Previously employed in hospital patient administration, Adkisson recognized the urgency of his situation upon arriving at the emergency room. His declaration, “I think I’m having a stroke,” mobilized the medical staff into action. They drew blood and monitored his heart, while his speech now suffered from severe garbling.
Adkisson’s blood pressure was dangerously high, and despite medication, it did not lower sufficiently to administer the clot-busting stroke medication. Subsequent tests revealed he had suffered an ischemic stroke, where blood flow to the brain is obstructed. In his case, a tear in an artery wall allowed blood to block the passage, impacting regions of his brain that control speech and movement on the right side of his body.
Commencing therapy the following day, Adkisson grappled with an immobilized right arm and leg, envisioning dire scenarios where he might never work or enjoy life in Denver again. A compassionate nurse, Penny, shared her story of hope, mentioning her husband’s recovery from four strokes. “Don’t give up,” she urged Adkisson, “It will demand hard work, but it isn’t your future.”
Driven by determination, Adkisson immersed himself in therapy, with Hess and his family offering support and encouragement. Each small victory, like waking up one morning able to scratch his nose, was a pivotal point motivating him to persevere. He graduated from standing on his own to using a walker, and eventually even climbed stairs.
Several days later, Adkisson transferred to a rehabilitation facility to continue his therapy, and within weeks, returned home. He maintained his therapeutic regime diligently in the subsequent months.
Reflecting on Jacob’s challenging yet inspiring recovery, Hess was moved to tears as he recalled his partner’s journey from partial paralysis to completing a mile-long run. Witnessing Adkisson confidently lead a meeting and deliver speeches without any indication of his ordeal filled Hess with awe and admiration.
Doctors attributed Adkisson’s stroke to high blood pressure. Eventually, they successfully managed to control it with a tailored medication plan. Adkisson began sharing his experience, hoping to educate others that stroke symptoms might not always manifest through the typical signs—face drooping, arm weakness, and slurred speech—and could appear gradually or in varied combinations.
Adkisson urged people to monitor their health vigilantly and act promptly upon detecting any anomaly. Though officially allowed to drive, Adkisson retained a lingering fear of an unforeseen stroke recurrence behind the wheel. Methodically, he rebuilt his confidence, initially backing the car out of the garage, progressing to short drives and eventually resuming his motorcycle journeys.
He eschewed viewing his recovery as a return to ‘normal,’ instead setting aspirational goals which he diligently pursued. These included long hikes and motorcycle day trips—ambitions he managed to tick off in time, save for one: flying.
Marking their anniversaries, Jacob and Hess embarked on a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Adkisson approached the flight with trepidation, but the journey proceeded without incident, ushering in a well-deserved ten days of serenity.
Continuing his forward-focused outlook, Adkisson remains acutely conscious of the significant event he endured. The experience did not erase itself but altered his perspective and journey permanently. He concludes with a profound realization of personal growth post-stroke.
Stories From the Heart presents tales of resilience and courage in the face of heart disease and stroke. These experiences, albeit personal, shine light on broader health understandings but do not always align with established organizational positions.