A tough road back home

Faith, determination have helped DL woman through difficult medical journey

By Vivian (Makela) Sazama

Claryce Iverson of Detroit Lakes knows firsthand how one’s life can change drastically in a short period of time. Nearly two years ago, her life was turned upside down after a sudden illness left her paralyzed. She has  leaned on her faith to find peace and happiness through the challenging recovery.

 Claryce, the youngest of four children, grew up on a farm near Evansville with her two sisters and a brother. She graduated from Evansville High School in 1963 and eventually went to nursing school and became an Registered Nurse.

“I worked at the Sunnyside Nursing Home near Audubon for 39 years,” she said. “The last few years were very part time, teaching nursing assistant classes and filling in for the RN’s.”

In January of 2024, Claryce had a bout of the stomach flu. The illness was the start of a dramatic change in her health that lead her back to Sunnyside, this time as a resident.

“I’d had the stomach flu for five days, and was so sick that my daughter came to stay with me for a while until I could feel better,” she said. “I even went to the emergency room two times for fluids. I hadn’t been sick for years.”

On the fifth day, Claryce woke up and walked into her living room.

“I was feeling a bit better and I thought the worst of it was over,” she said. “I slept for part of the day in my living room. When I started to get up and realized I couldn’t. I called for my daughter to help me get up, but she couldn’t get me up either. She then called my granddaughter and her boyfriend to come help. They were finally able to get me standing up. My legs were both paralyzed. The ambulance was called and this was the beginning of nine months in hospitals and four months in nursing homes. I was transferred to Sanford Hospital in Fargo where I was diagnosed with transverse myelitis.”

Claryce was put on steroids every other day, and plasma exchanges every other day. A cat scan showed two abscesses behind her bowel. The doctors recommended transferring her to either the Mayo Hospital in Rochester or the University of Minnesota Hospital. After eight days, Mayo accepted her and she was airlifted there.

“My surgery was done by very competent surgeons,” said Claryce. “However many complications transpired over the next several months. Nephrostomy tubes were placed into both kidneys. Many trips were made to replace these tubes at either ER or radiology. Other serious complications included having a PICC line placed for IV nutrition due to two fistulas that doctors were hoping to heal without food or fluids by mouth,” she said. “Because of that I wasn’t able to eat or drink for four months. My first cup of chicken noodle soup was the best meal I ever tasted!”

Other complications were a TIA, delirium caused by the lengthy hospitalization and low hemoglobin which necessitated blood transfusions. Paralysis started in her chest which caused difficulty in breathing. The doctors called her a challenging case and told her she would never walk again.

“Despite this, my goal was to get back home. I dreamed of getting back to normal. Before I got sick I walked two miles everyday and was active at my church.”

During her recovery, Claryce worked at physical therapy and occupational therapy. She was gaining strength, but paralysis remained. In August, 2024, she was moved to the Sunnyside Care Center near Audubon, the same place she had worked as an RN for nearly 40 years.

“It was wonderful to see familiar faces and be in familiar surroundings,” she said. “The care was excellent! Being only a few miles from home and family made a huge difference. I was able to attend my church and spend Christmas in my home for the day.”

In January, 2025, Claryce had a nine-hour surgery back at the Mayo Hospital, by a urologist and a colorectal surgeon. Following recovery from the surgery Claryce spent three weeks at a rehab hospital in Fargo. This enabled her to return to her home and care for herself part of the day. She hired caregivers to help her with her showers and cares, using a lift in and out of bed. The caregivers are with her two to three hours in the mornings and one to two hours in the evenings. With the use of an electric chair she is able to do her own laundry, cook her own meals, and is back to entertaining at her home. A group of 18-20 women gather at her house for bible study and ministry. She is also back to personal prayer ministry, which she has been a part of for 25 years.

Many people have asked her how she survived the 13 months of trauma. This is her story of survival:

“I had a strong relationship with Jesus before I got sick. I knew He was with me all the way. When I would question Him about healing my paralysis, He would say, ‘Trust Me!’ I did trust Him. There were many things that helped me. My family was a big part of helping me through it. My three children took turns staying with me for months. Their spouses and my grandchildren also came frequently. Friends showed up along with my sisters, nieces and nephews. All that love was so healing. One day, God sent a room full of people to pray for me. No one knew the others were coming. Even the nurse joined them in prayer. It was powerful!

“While at Mayo, my family would wheel me down to the huge cathedral. It was peaceful there and we could feel God’s presence due to the many people that came to pray for their loved ones. One time as we entered the cathedral, a woman stepped up to the podium and read the account of Jesus healing the paralytic. I felt God saying to me ‘I am Healer. Don’t give up.’

“Other things that have helped me heal emotionally, mentally and physically are the wonderful caregivers. I received excellent care in the hospital and nursing home. The caregivers God provided me now at home are so knowledgeable and kind. I feel so blessed to have them and am so thankful!

“I never suffered from depression throughout all this time. I did have two or three days of crying all day as grief from the realization that my legs were paralyzed set in. After a day of crying I would feel better. I realized it’s important to allow grief to come out.

“I bought my home six years ago. God knew I would need it as it is all on one floor and has a bathroom that is accessible for the disabled. Very little needed to be changed in my house in order for me to come home.

“My friend and neighbor, Jeff Krueger, spearheaded a benefit for me which helped lift the financial burden. God provided in so many ways and the kindness that was shown to me are such blessings that it is difficult to express my gratitude in words.”

In May of 2024 Claryce journaled these words: “I know my God can heal me and I hope He will. He is Healer. But my desire is to walk through this trial by honoring His name and fully trusting Him with the results.”

“This is still my hope today,” she said. “I find joy in every day and am thankful for all God has done for me.”