Aho continues to recover from October stroke

By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

October 26 was a frightening day for Jamie Aho and his family, to put it mildly. It was that Thursday that Aho was on his way to an appointment in Baxter, Minn. when he suffered an extensive stroke due to a tear in his carotid artery. The stroke left his left side paralyzed.

After being admitted to the hospital in Brainerd, Aho was quickly life-flighted to United Hospital in St. Paul, where he spent two and a half weeks in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit. His doctor’s performed a craniectomy to remove a piece of Aho’s skull in order to make room for the swelling of his brain, something that is more common in strokes in Aho’s age group.

“Because of the size of his stroke and his age, he had to have a piece of his skull taken out the following day after his stroke and that is supposed to go back in in February,” said Aho’s wife, Tamara. “It needed to come out to allow for swelling after the stroke, that’s why he wears a helmet when he’s up because he’s missing a decent size of his skull right now.”

Aho’s protective helmet also sports messages from his family celebrating both his Finnish and Christian heritage. Not only is the helmet signed by family members, but it also features messages such as “Powered by Sisu,” a testament of Finnish determination, “My Hope is Set on Jesus,” a song by Keith and Kristen Getty, a Ty Tuff sticker on the top in honor of Jamie’s nephew, Ty, who passed away from cerebral palsy, and on the very back says “Helmet of Salvation,” which is a reference to Ephesians 6:17.

A tracheotomy had also been done during his stay at the hospital, which meant that his third destination would have to be a long-term care facility, where he stayed for eight days.

After beginning rehabilitation under an acute care program at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Aho was able to transfer to a Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Center in Golden Valley, Minn. on Dec. 14. There, he will work towards his goal of being able to walk again within his 12-week rehab program.

“The hope and the trajectory is that he will be walking, not solely, but he’ll be able to walk short distances at least with some type of assistive device, like a cane or walker,” said Tamara. “March 7 is the anticipated discharge date, we don’t know if that is pretty definite or if that’s going to be subject to plus or minus a week or two, I don’t know, but that is his planned discharge date to come home.”

Despite the circumstances, Tamara said that their family is “doing well, all things considered.” She said that there have been ups and downs, but have all been able to stay positive and keep going. She also mentioned that Jamie’s recovery is going well and he is motivated to make his goal in the rehabilitation program.

“He is doing well,” she said. “He maintains a positive attitude and he’s in good spirits.”

Tamara attributes her family’s wellbeing and safety during this trying time to their Christian faith and God’s unwavering provision in their lives.

“We have felt God’s peace with us through this journey and that He has carried us,” she said. “Psalm 46:1, ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’ That has been a verse that has stuck with me through this time.”

A benefit for Jamie Aho and his family will be taking place from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 28 at the Apostolic Lutheran Church in New York Mills. A chili and soup meal will be provided along with sides and desserts. A free-will donation will be taken and all proceeds will be used to defray the cost of a handicapped accessible bathroom for when Jamie returns home to his wife and five children in March.