mardi 17 juillet 2018
This Man Renewed His Wedding Vows With His Wife After She Lost 17 Years' Worth of Memories
Once Jeff Hartung said "I do" to his wife Angela Sartin-Hartung in 2001 after they met in a Bible class at their local church in Tulsa, OK, he meant it when he said he'd stick by her side for better or for worse. So when Angela was struck by a car in New York City on Oct. 25, 2013, while she was walking across the street - causing her to lose 17 years' worth of memories - he knew his wife needed him more than ever.
He told POPSUGAR that the accident nearly cost Angela her life.
"Her head penetrated the windshield of the New York Police Department traffic vehicle before being thrown to the ground as the vehicle stopped," said Jeff. "Unconscious, bleeding profusely, unresponsive, and not breathing."
Thankfully, an ambulance was nearby when the accident occurred, and paramedics immediately began working on her before transporting her to the hospital.
"Angela's injuries were extensive, requiring life support," said Jeff. "The most significant injury was a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Her injuries were horrific, and the outlook was not good. She was in a coma for four weeks before waking and beginning the long and difficult recovery process."
"We had to start all over again: friendship, trust, affection, hope, faith, all the things which built the relationship the first time."
At that point, Jeff admits he just went into an "automatic" overdrive. He was determined to help Angela in any way he could by being her advocate while holding down a full-time job. As soon as Angela woke up from her coma, Jeff quickly realized that his wife had lost 17 years of her memories, including those of their wedding day.
"After she came out of the coma it became apparent how impacted she was as a result of her injuries," he explained. "There are many resulting long-term effects of the injuries sustained that day, however, the greatest effect has been the amnesia like loss of memory of the past 17 years."
Jeff quickly got to work teaching Angela about her life. He explained every detail - from the tragic news of her first husband passing away from illness to the fact that she had two stepchildren - to her, even though she was struggling to form sentences at the time.
"We had to start all over again: friendship, trust, affection, hope, faith," said Jeff, "all the things which built the relationship the first time. I was 100 percent responsible for making it all happen again as she just wasn't capable the few years following the accident."
After helping her grieve the loss of her first husband as well as her father who died a few years before the accident, Jeff and Angela started dating again. He showed her photos and videos and took her to the special places they used to frequent together.
And by all accounts, the couple really seemed to hit it off again. They recently renewed their wedding vows during a ceremony in Central Park.
"As for Jeff, he was by my side, walking it with me, covering me with love, supporting me, all with an ever-present, inexplicable patience," said Angela. "His commitment and dedication to our marriage, my physical and emotional care, our family, and rebuilding our relationship, has proven him, if nothing else, the best caregiver (and husband) I could ever ask for. I don't believe I would be where I am without him."
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