Mineral Wells Area News

By Gary Norman / Special to Mineral Wells Area News / ~A Four-Part Series~ Part 2

Previous Part 1 The Iron Woman Falls Ill Click here to read

Part 2: A Medical Mystery

A Worsening Condition

Over the next few weeks, Brooke’s condition continued to deteriorate, and she soon was suffering from eight to ten debilitating seizure-like episodes per day.

“It was like my brain was on fire. There was a constant stinging and burning on the left side of my brain. My face would go numb on the left side and would droop for hours after an attack,” said Brooke.

Her vision in her left eye would blur, her arms and hands would seize up and curl inward, and she would have no control over them.

Family life and volunteer work had become impossible.

Race to Dallas

As the episodes were now coming almost back to back, on March 29, 2024, Russell placed Brooke in his truck and they set out for the University of Texas Southwestern Hospital in Dallas.

Brooke suffered from repeated seizures the entire drive and was taken immediately into the Emergency room for treatment.

Once again, the CT scans showed nothing. The doctors told Brooke she was suffering from a mental disorder, and she should seek professional mental help with a behavioral therapist.

“I begged them to give her parasite, heavy metal, and fungi testing,” said Russell, who had no medical training but had done considerable research into Brooke’s condition.

The doctors declined, stating the tests were not indicated even with the associated symptoms. Once again, Brooke was sent home.

“Can you imagine that you have all these symptoms, you are declining rapidly, and the PhDs are telling you it is stress and anxiety? At this point, my mental outlook was deteriorating as fast as Brooke’s physical condition,” said Russell.

A Turn for the Worse

In the ensuing days while the episodes continued, Brooke noticed it was becoming harder and harder to speak and form words.

Then, on Sunday, March 31, 2024, Easter morning, Brooke began to stutter when she tried to speak.

“The way I was stuttering, it was like I couldn’t catch a breath,” said Brooke.

She declined to go back to the emergency room. She saw no point in it, having already been told it was all in her head.

Hope at the VA Hospital

Approximately one month later, on April 27th, 2024, Brooke visited a cardiologist at the VA hospital in Fort Worth to check on a potential heart condition.

The cardiologist heard her stutter and sent her to the emergency room.

While no serious heart condition requiring surgery was found and another CT scan on her head showed no abnormality, she was admitted to the hospital for observation.

While there, she saw a speech therapist who encouraged her to do breathing exercises and suggested she engage in animal talk therapy with her dog.

She was also scheduled to go back to the University of Texas Southwestern Hospital to see a neurologist.

Another Dead End

Once again, Brooke returned to Fort Worth with at least a modicum of hope.

Upon being examined by the neurologist, Brooke was told she had conversion disorder where it was explained to her that her body was attacking itself because women do not know how to manage stress.

As treatment, it was suggested she see a counselor, a behavioral therapist, a psychiatrist and engage in anxiety group therapy.

Brooke went home still suffering from multiple episodes per day and chronic stuttering.

A Husband’s Mission

During this time, Russell had done much more regarding her treatment than ferry Brooke to doctor’s offices and hospital emergency rooms.

When not continuing to work in his business and manage the household, he read voraciously everything he could find regarding Brooke’s condition and possible treatments.

He established a support group of friends and family which morphed from a way to keep them informed of how Brooke was doing to a wider research group.

As word spread, soon he was receiving what he described as tons of calls, text messages, and emails.

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Tomorrow: Part 3 – Seeking Alternative Answers – The Barnetts begin exploring unconventional treatments as traditional medicine fails to provide relief.