Duck Ponderings: New mom recovering after stroke

Throughout my life, I have been a very fortunate individual in regard to my health. My present issues don't even come close to comparing to what many people are battling during this world pandemic.

Sarah-Grace (Craig) Richardson, a former student of mine, is one of those individuals. I have known the Craig family for years. Sarah's mom, Cris, worked as a teacher assistant at Hope Elementary. Her dad, Monty, drove a bus for FRHC School Corporation. I also had the honor of working with Sarah's sister and brothers: Emma, Adam, Logan, and Graham. The entire family is musically gifted. Singing from her hospital bed in a Facebook post, Sarah has certainly been inspiring to me and others. She stated, “It's my favorite way to speak to the Lord, and I feel like it is is good for my brain.”

Not long after giving birth to her second child, Everett Dean on April 18th, and being released, Sarah started feeling poorly and ended up in the emergency room at the Decatur County Memorial Hospital. Soon, she was transferred to IU Health Methodist Hospital where she was diagnosed with cerebral venous thrombosis which caused a major stroke. While treating and carefully monitoring Sarah's progress in intensive care, Doctors expressed concerns about the amount of movement Sarah would regain. Due to the coronavirus, she could not be with her newborn baby or her other young child, Bear Daniel; she could not be with her husband, Thomas; she could not be with anyone in her family. Despite it all, Sarah stayed positive, appreciative, and faithful as evident within her words in this Facebook post:

“In general, I'm doing pretty well in keeping my spirits up, and I'm learning that every little muscle twitch is a big victory to celebrate. It's so weird because no 24-year-old woman expects to go from perfectly healthy one day to having had a stroke within a short amount of time. I know that my life has been completely changed and that I have a long road ahead. But, I'm willing to put in the work that it takes, and I'm just trying to stay optimistic and trying to remember the small victories are big victories. I ask that you would pray that I will have the strength to keep that mindset because I know days will come when it's hard to remember. And, I just want to thank you guys so much for your love, support, and prayers. It means the world to me. I just want to say that I love you guys. I can't wait to see everybody again and to give you all hugs.”

I am pleased to report, against all odds, Sarah is now at Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana and making all kinds of remarkable strides forward. (She has already experienced many victories and celebrations- from not being able to move her head to now walking with help of a physical therapist!)

Sarah has much support. In a Facebook post, she expressed gratitude to all of those in the medical field for their expertise and care. Both grandmothers and a great grandmother are helping Thomas with the two young children; a friend of the family is sharing the overflow of milk she is producing for her recent child; prayer warriors all over the world are constantly uplifting Sarah.

Recently, I helped facilitate a book study at the Hope Library Annex over one of the best books I have ever read, “Goliath Must Fall,” by Louie Giglio. There are so many Goliaths. When listening to Sarah, I hear Louie's words: “This Goliath, it must go down, God, because you must be lifted high.”

And, Sarah, you have lifted your former fifth grade teacher and others higher. We thank you and wish you the very best on this journey to recovery. Oh, we are all looking forward to that hug!

Cards sent to the address below would be great for Sarah as she continues her victory march:
Sarah-Grace Richardson
Room 206
Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana
4141 Shore Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46254