After 12 days apart, Jaterria Patrick saw her golden retriever Jack again when hospital staff approved a visit at an Altamonte Springs rehabilitation facility. Patrick, 24, was working as a saleswoman at T-Mobile when she had her first stroke in 2020. The reunion came during a medical ordeal that has included multiple strokes, a heart attack, and repeated stints on life support.
Patrick reunited with Jack on October 22 at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital, according to FOX 35 Orlando. She named him after her mother, Jackie, who died of cancer eight months after Patrick’s first stroke, The Dodo reports. In an account to Storyful, Patrick said the reunion lifted her spirits and recalled that Jack jumped when he spotted her.
A Medical Ordeal That Began at Age 20
Patrick's health crisis started on June 15, 2020, when she had her first stroke at age 20 while working at T-Mobile, per FOX 35. The stroke left her with significant deficits on her left side, forcing her to relearn basic movements including crawling and turning over. Her mother's death from cancer followed eight months later, compounding the trauma of that first recovery.
In August 2026, Patrick had a second stroke that left her nearly paralyzed from the waist down, according to The Dodo. On October 11, 2026, she had a mild heart attack and returned to the hospital for a stay that kept her apart from Jack longer than before. FOX 35 also reported that she has faced heart failure, pulmonary complications, and pituitary issues; a fundraising page cited in the report says the pituitary problems contributed to significant vision loss. Patrick has said she was placed on life support three times, and The Dodo reported that she was intubated three times.
Stroke trends and recovery services
A CDC analysis found that self-reported stroke prevalence rose by 7.8% nationwide from 2011–2013 to 2020–2022, with increases among adults ages 18–64, according to the CDC. These population-level findings describe reported trends; they do not explain Patrick’s individual case.
For recovery services, Orlando Health says its Comprehensive Stroke Center at Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center has physical, occupational, and speech therapists to assist patients.
Jack's Approved Visit After 12 Days Apart
FOX 35 reports that Jack’s visit was approved after Patrick had spent 12 days receiving inpatient care at the Altamonte Springs facility. The Dodo also says she received the news on her twelfth day there. After a few weeks in the hospital, she was cleared to go home and was using a wheelchair while learning to walk again, according to The Dodo.
Pursuing Education Through Repeated Setbacks
Patrick has continued her education alongside her recovery. FOX 35 reports that she graduated from Seminole High School with a 3.4 GPA and, after marching band and Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, once hoped to join the military. She earned an associate degree in computer science in May 2025 and a barbering license in May 2026. She is now studying computer engineering technology at Daytona State College and hopes to complete a bachelor’s degree by May 2028.
FOX 35 reported on the reunion based on a Storyful report, and The Dodo also covered the visit. The meeting with Jack took place during a recovery that has involved repeated hospital care, as well as Patrick’s efforts to continue her studies.
