May is the month when people all across Texas are thinking of their mothers.
The woman who gives the gift of life plays a very important role in many
Texans’ lives, and Mother’s Day is when appreciation can be shown
in countless ways. Sometimes giving life can be dangerous, though, and
many mothers know the ordeal of childbirth is trumped only by the joy
of being a parent.
That joy was dimmed, though, for one mother who suffered
pregnancy-related injuries after having her oldest son, now 9-years-old. During the delivery process,
the woman was given painkillers which, unfortunately, caused a spinal
cord abscess. An injury to the spinal cord is particularly threatening
because it has the potential to create a permanent disability. In this
case, the mother of three boys had to go back to the hospital just a few
days after giving birth, and experienced such horrendous pain in her back
that she required intensive rehabilitation and physical therapy.
The mom notes that due to her serious injury, some parts of her body can’t
communicate with other parts, making mobility difficult. She can walk,
but needs a cane to do so, and even uses a power wheelchair at home. While
she hasn’t let the trauma put a stop to her goals or dreams, she’s
had to overcome challenges that many parents couldn’t even imagine.
Showing tremendous strength, she’s been able to finish college, earn
a master’s degree, start law school and have two more children.
The recovery process after pregnancy-related injuries can be grueling,
to say the least. The long-term consequences of such a protracted recovery
are numerous, and can include spiraling medical costs that only grow over
time. There may also be medical equipment to purchase and even, as in
this mother’s case, home improvements that must be made to accommodate
a disability. Women injured during the birth process can investigate their
options for financial recovery if they suspect a doctor or nurse exhibited
some form of negligence during their pregnancy or their child’s delivery.
Source: The News Journal, “Setback can’t stop mom with a mission,” James Fisher, May 10, 2014