By Leigh Ann Rutledge
Accent Editor
December 29, 2009
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| Barb Maple and her son Devin Dearth, 2009 |
You have an opportunity to share a family’s journey of faith and hope.
Devin Dearth, son of Barb and Don Maple of Carrollton, was 40 years old when tragedy struck. Dearth of Central City, KY, a champion bodybuilder and father of three, suffered a debilitating stroke Nov. 15, 2007, leaving him paralyzed on the right side and unable to walk. He has double vision, difficulty speaking and is unable to care for himself.
Devin’s mother Barb said, “When we heard Devin had a stroke, it was unbelievable. He was a picture of health.” The fateful day began like normal with Devin heading to the gym at 4:30 a.m. Devin’s friends told Barb he told them he “didn’t feel right.” Dearth was flown to University Hospital in Cincinnati. Diagnosed with a brain stem bleed stroke, his prognosis was grim. He spent a month in the intensive care unit before being transferred to Fraizer Rehabilitation Center in Louisville, KY, for a six-week stint.
“Six weeks,” Barb explained. “That was when the insurance ran out and they told Devin to go home.” Suddenly the man who was always going out of his way to help others, needed continuous help. Barb jumped into action and traveled to Kentucky each week to stay with her son, allowing his wife, Stacey, to return to work. Devin’s insurance did allow for some outpatient therapy but those therapists were unsure how to handle the severity of his condition, according to Barb.
The entire family began researching other treatment options for Devin. Devin’s brother, Doug Dearth, a film producer from California, found Ruth Lycke on the Internet. Lycke suffered two strokes in 2001, a brain stem bleed like Devin and a secondary stroke, which left her in a coma for five days. With no stroke support groups in her hometown of Marshalltown, IA, she began one with the help of the American Stroke Association. Lycke had double vision, which caused everything she looked at to bounce. She had no mobility or feeling on the right side of her body, limited left side mobility and no balance. She also had cognitive deficits making words her enemy and often repeated herself.
The Lyckes hosted foreign exchange students for several years including two girls from China. Having learned about Chinese medicine from the students, she began searching the Internet for information on stroke and traditional medicine. She found the First Teaching Hospital and University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Tianjin, China.
Lycke forwarded her medical records to the hospital and spoke with a doctor who told her they could fix her. She flew to China alone and upon arrival was taken to the hospital by the families of the exchange students. Lycke, the first American patient, stayed five months and has normal vision, is able to walk and she is able to talk.
After corresponding with Lycke, a benefit was held with help from China Connection Global Healthcare, to raise funds for Devin to go to China.
Barb said, “I was a nurse for 40 years and it scared me to think of him going to China. But he checked into it and told me he wanted to go. The entire family put all our doubts behind us and we let him go in faith.”
Devin along with his brother, Doug, went to China April 30, 2008. Doug decided to document Devin’s progress. Devin immediately began an intensive regimen of 10-hour days of therapy. He had acupuncture twice a day Monday-Friday, once on Saturday and none on Sunday. He went off medication and began using herbs and an herbal drink referred to as “sludge.” By the second day, Devin was able to raise his leg.
Doug stayed with Devin the entire time he was in China and decided to turn his project into a documentary. Barb explained his objective was to show people the faith his family has and how hard work pays off.
The documentary became “9000 Needles” the number of needles Devin had during his acupuncture treatments in China. According to Barb, China was very welcoming and had no problem with Doug filming the process. The film is being shown to raise funds for the continuation of Devin’s recovery process and all proceeds go to The Devin Dearth Fund.
The documentary will be shown Jan. 9, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. at the Church of Christ Christian, 353 Moody Ave., Carrollton. Suggested donation is $10.
Devin, a pilot and president of a computerized bandsaw company is very competitive, Barb stated. “His recovery is an ongoing process for the whole family. Sometimes his insurance will allow him to receive rehabilitation or physical therapy. The whole thing is just so unbelievable.”
Devin and his wife Stacey have three children, Zach, 20, Kaley, 17, and Sarah, 10. To read Stacey’s journal of the ordeal, visit www.caringbridge.org and visit the website of “devindearth.”
For information about the documentary, visit www.9000needles.com. Director Doug Dearth explains his decision to make the documentary. “With healthcare in the United States being such a big issue these days, I felt it was important to share my family’s struggle to get Devin the care he needed. But I was also inspired to show their unwillingness to fall victim of our broken system, and demonstrate their courage in seeking an alternative solution,” he said, “Additionally, I was excited for the chance to reveal a positive side to China. I think in the West we have misconceptions about China.”
What does Doug hope audiences will take away after seeing the film? “The most important thing to me is this: We have within us more power, courage, determination and, most importantly, love than we realize. No matter how big or little our challenges may seem, we must keep looking forward and try, and try and try again... Ultimately, it is about waking up each day, and just trying our very best. And if it doesn’t work today, try again tomorrow.”
For information on China Connection Global Healthcare, Inc. visit http:// chinaconnection.cc. |
