Family Overcomes Adversity

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Family Overcomes Adversity

http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?s=12020672

By Brett Crandall, Local News 8 Reporter

A family has overcome many hardships as a local pharmacist has learned to walk

again, but not with his own legs, with prosthetic ones.

Less than two years ago they lost their oldest son to suicide.

This fall Ty lost his legs, almost his life, and it all started with a small cut

on his foot.

Ty Swenson suffers from a rare incurable disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth

syndrome.

After cutting his foot open this disease prevented his body from healing itself.

Swensen faced the decision between death or the amputation of both his legs.

" I think the hardest part of it all was the thought that I might lose him, " said

Ty's wife Telisa. " The first couple of days was pretty scary. That was the

scariest part of it all. We just lost our son and I didn't want to lose my

husband either. "

For two months Ty lived at the hospital and his family spent a lot of time there

as well, but they left with thankful hearts.

" You tend to hear negatives more than you hear positives around, but my health

care was very very good, " said Ty. " I couldn't say enough good about the

doctors I had and the decisions they made and the choices they gave me were

great. "

When he got home though, it took Ty some time to get used to life with

prosthetic legs.

" Initially the biggest thing was not being able to drive myself around and that

loss of independence and depending on people to help you get in and out of a

chair or get where you need to go, that was the hardest part, " said Ty.

While insurance covered the vast majority of the medical bills, including his

first pair of prosthetic legs, this summer Ty will need to buy his second pair,

and they aren't cheap. Prosthetic legs like can cost up to $ 10,000.

But the Swensen family doesn't complain about the cost, they are just happy Ty's

alive.

" I feel like insurance is there for catastrophic events just like we went

through, " said Ty. " Not necessarily for I got a cough and I need to see a

doctor. "

With dad's limitations the kids do have added responsibilities.

" I put dad's dish in the dishwasher, " said 7 year old Trey.

But 14 year old Trevin says life really isn't too different.

" I guess I thought there would be a lot of changes in the way we lived I guess

but not as much as I thought there would be, " said Trevin.

While at first it took Ty a long time to put on his legs, over the last few

weeks he's learned how to get behind the wheel again.

" My feet were so messed up before I didn't feel very well anyway, " said Ty. " I

actually feel more comfortable driving now than I did before. "

Ty has worked as a pharmacist in eastern Idaho for the last 13 years and

currently co-owns Idaho Drug in Rigby where he is already back to work just two

month after leaving the hospital.

The Swensen family's friends will hold a fundraiser on Friday, February 26, at

hHgh School from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $ 5.00 per person and

there is no cost for children 3 and under. The event will include live

entertainment, a silent auction, and plenty to eat. For more information contact

Brown at 716-0898 or visit www.swensenfamilyfundraiser.blogspot.com.