By Krystle J Bailey
For Atlantic County resident Timothy Ade, a trip to the emergency room and the fierce advocacy of his loving wife, Jenn, saved his life. In August 2019, following their one-year wedding anniversary, Tim displayed unusual symptoms, including an excruciating headache and blurred vision that couldn’t seem to be rectified with over-the-counter medications and rest.
The Ades would soon find out that Tim had contracted Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-transmitted disease known to kill horses. While many humans who contract EEE can fight the illness on their own, in a rare sequence of events, Tim was also bitten by a tick carrying Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The combination of insect-born illnesses caused swelling in his brain that would change the course of his life indefinitely.
When Tim was nearly discharged with a diagnosis of migraines, his wife Jenn jumped in to advocate for him, as she knew something wasn’t right. Her hard-working, incredibly active husband was not himself, and her instincts kicked in. With years of experience working in the healthcare field, Jenn demanded that her husband be monitored for 24 hours.
During that time, Tim spiked a 102-degree fever, followed by a 25-minute seizure later in the evening. In the days that followed, test after test came back negative as symptoms continued to worsen. By Labor Day of 2019, they discovered fluid on Tim’s brain. Still lacking a clear understanding of the prognosis, doctors began treating Tim’s condition as a stroke or spinal cord injury, using the term “brain injury” to determine the treatment modalities.
Following discharge from the hospital, Tim spent 12 weeks in a rehabilitation center where he learned to walk and eat food on his own though Tim’s life would be changed forever. Four years later, Timothy Ade lives a new version of his very full life. While he no longer can participate in the physical labor he once enjoyed, he is loved fiercely by his family and enjoys playing chess, listening to music, and strolling the boardwalk with the people he loves.
In April 2021, Tim had a permanent shunt placed that drains the continuous flow of fluid from his brain into his stomach. He receives 24/7 care from Bayada home health aids, who have helped him to master a new level of independence while ensuring his well-being day-to-day. He uses a wheelchair as needed and can walk with assistance. With limited verbal function, he uses modern means of communication to connect with Jenn and their family.
While his life may look different than it once did, Tim lives an abundant life of love, laughter, and adventure. From Phillies games to Kane Brown concerts, morning breakfast trips with his home health aids, to watching his stepson Tyler wrestle for Egg Harbor Township Highschool, Tim is charting a new path with the help of his 15-person healthcare team and the support of his family.
Jenn, who buys six half gallons of ice cream every trip to the grocery store just for Tim, lovingly nurtures and cares for her husband through sickness and health. Without her advocacy, it is likely that Tim would not have survived the first hospital visit. Their endless love for each other is what keeps them pressing forward and advocating for others. The Ades encourage everyone to spray their yards for ticks, check for bites daily during the summer months, and to be mindful of symptoms, including headache and fever following a bite. While Tim’s condition is rare, it is important to be informed and willing to advocate for yourself and your family when the unexpected happens.
As the Ades approach the four-year anniversary of the day that changed their lives forever, they look forward to renewing their wedding vows under the same tree where they were married in 2018 with a deep sense of gratitude for Tim’s life and healing.
