BOISE, Idaho — Jake Norman is a proud husband, father and officer at the Boise Police Department. He's been with the force for the last 13 years and despite some days being more difficult than others, he loves his job.
Last month, Norman's world was rocked. While on vacation with his wife of 18 years, 42-year-old Erin, and their two sons, 16-year-old Jackson and 12-year-old Carter, Erin His beautiful wife of 18 years, 42-year-old Erin, suffered a debilitating stroke.
"It was the last night of our vacation, and she was excited to go for one more bike ride before we went home. So we went on the bike ride," Norman told KTVB. "As the doctors explained it to me, she had a spontaneous dissection of her carotid artery, which the doctor believes led to cutting off the supply of blood to her brain, which then caused her to begin to lose consciousness. That just so happened to be at the top of a hill that was pretty steep. I think she lost consciousness on top of the hill. She was able to coast down it on her bike, and she collided with a tree."
Erin was seriously injured. Norman called the paramedics for help, and she was rushed to the hospital.
"Once she got to the hospital, part of the clot that was in her carotid artery broke off causing her to have a stroke," Norman said. "That's where the most serious medical issues began, and I think at that point she was very close to losing her life."
Norman credits the doctors at St. Charles Hospital in Bend, Ore. for saving Erin's life. Several broken bones and surgeries later, she is now improving slowly but surely.
"She's still in the hospital being treated, but we're optimistic we can get her back to the valley, her friends and family, and our kids soon," Norman said.
Ever since Erin's stroke in June, Norman has been using accrued vacation time from the department to help take care of her in Bend. A family friend lent him an RV to use, and he has spent night after night sleeping in the hospital parking lot.
"The police department thankfully and graciously said 'Don't worry about us, we will be fine while you tend to your family.' It was very nice of them to take those worries off my plate," he said. "Her brain is beginning to mend and I can definitely see signs of her personality beginning to poke through and show again which is very heartening."
One of the toughest parts of all of this is Erin being away from her two sons. It's been just as hard on the boys, who went a month without seeing her.
"The Facetiming and the phone calls have been very helpful for the boys," said Jake Norman. "But, they miss their mom."
Family, friends, and fellow police officers have rallied around the family with love and donations, and it means so much to the Norman family. Medical bills are mounting, and Jake knows they have a long road ahead. Erin will need to relearn to walk and life may look different in the future.
"It's been extremely humbling. It's easier for me to help people than it is to be helped," Norman said. "We have been helped out with a GoFund Me, and I'm also a member of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) here in Boise. They have a yearly policemen's ball and they were able to raise some money for my wife and me. So I'm extremely grateful to them, people that I know, and even people that I don't know, offering to help in any way that they can."
This week, there was a very special reunion for Erin and her sons. The boys made the trip to Bend to finally see their mom. Norman said it was emotional for them all.
"I said, 'The second your mother sees you again, she's going to burst into tears. So, be ready for that.' She misses them dearly. She loves them and they love her," Norman said. "I know the boys miss their mom, the boys miss their family, as I do, just the family being whole again. We're missing one of the most important parts."
Erin is the heart of her family, and the goal is to get her back to Boise as soon as possible to continue her recovery. She is a constant inspiration as she battles her way back from the stroke, and other injuries she suffered in the bike crash. Jake says his family just couldn't do this without all the amazing support from this community, and his law enforcement family.
"I don't know if I'll ever be able to properly thank all of these people, it just means so much."
Norman went back to work this week after taking several weeks off and he's still trying to get Erin home to Boise to continue her recovery. He will spend his off days every week with her in Bend until that happens.
For more information on how to help the Norman family, you can click here for the family's GoFund Me account.
You can also go to this website for more information on how you can donate to the local FOP.
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