Jerri Eckel, 59, underwent occupational and physical therapy at Masonic, allowing him to regain his mobility and return home after a long-term hospital stay for lymphoma.
Time is fleeting, and time is precious. Depending on the perspective, seven months can seem like a long time, or it may feel like a blink of an eye. For Susan Eckel of Crestwood, it was both. She was able to spend seven months of quality time at home with her husband of 24 years, Jerri Eckel, after he regained his strength following chemotherapy and a long-term hospital stay. Jerri greatly increased his mobility after a week of regular occupational and physical therapy at Masonic Homes Kentucky’s Rehabilitation Center.
While Jerri ultimately passed away from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Susan is thankful for the extra time she was able to spend with her husband at home after the therapy he received at Masonic. “I’m just extremely grateful for all that was given to him, and Masonic was a part of that,” she said. Jerri’s battle with cancer began in Spring 2016. Jerri, 59, was sent to the hospital for an ulcerated lymphoma tumor that left him minutes from death. Doctors were able to save him, and he began chemotherapy right away to treat stage 4 lymphoma, spending 25 days in the hospital. “My husband is 6’4’’ and a big, strong guy,” said Susan. “After that, he couldn’t stand unassisted along the bed.”
Doctors prescribed occupational and physical therapy at Masonic to help him regain his mobility after the month-long hospital stay. “I wanted to get him home as soon as possible but they said he can’t come home until he can navigate the stairs and all that on his own,” Susan said. “My husband is very faithful and is also very determined. He did everything he was told to do and even more.” Thanks to Jerri’s hard work, a recovery that doctors had estimated would take several weeks of therapy ended up only taking five days. He was soon home and able to spend time with Susan and do what he loved.
Jerri was a passionate musician and luthier – a builder of musical instruments such as guitars – known for his big smile, curly blonde hair and for the guitar picks he regularly gave out inscribed with “Pick Jesus.” He also held a job in the oil and gas industry and even went back to work full time in the fall following his hospital stay. The couple also owns The Clothes Boutique, a secondhand clothing store in Crestwood, Kentucky, where he handled “everything aside from the clothes,” Susan laughed. With his cancer in remission and mobility back, he was functioning well. “I was able to be with him all the time,” Susan said. Unfortunately, a PET scan in December found that the cancer was back and had spread, and soon after, he passed away. “I’m just grateful for them saving his life and for him going to rehab,” she said. “It allowed him to go home and it was pivotal in giving me seven more months with him.”