There are 26 years of serving our country before stepping down from that role. Of that total, four years were in active duty with the United States Navy and the rest in the National Guard that included a final stint as a Military Police Officer.

 

There was also a time period overlap with the National Guard that features a 15-year period that continues where the service was to the local community as a member as the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department. Most recently – with a 15-year anniversary back on Sept. 1 – that time in the sheriff’s office has come as a sergeant and as the handler for recently retired K9 handler for Rebbel for six-plus years.

 

For those who know John Laulis, they know he has given the vast majority of his 54 years on this earth providing help to those who needed it. Today, this long-time public servant needs our help. He needs our prayers, our good vibes, and, yes, the family could use a little bit of help on the financial front.

 

Laulis is currently in the fight of his life with his wife Laura Pysz-Laulis by his side. The situation he is in now is not one anyone saw coming less than two months ago. Back in September, he was fully active, still handling his law enforcement duties, and enjoying time with his wife and Rebbel.

 

At this moment, John Laulis is in a wheelchair. He is largely without movement from his bellybutton down. There is hope with a prognosis we will discuss shortly, but the current scenario just did not seem possible.

 

On Saturday, Sept. 24, the scenario of normalcy began to change. It was on that day Laura said John did not feel well. And by not feeling well, there was a reason for it.

 

“His temperature was high, extremely high and he had some body pain,” she said. “At one point, it was at 106.5 degrees. He told me to take him to the E.R., which for anyone that knows John was a major red flag something was seriously wrong because he doesn’t like to go to a doctor or even take a pill for anything.”

 

Once at the United Hospital Center emergency room and admitted, they ran tests trying to determine what was taking place. Things such as Lyme Disease and Legionnaires' disease among other were ruled out, but they were able to bring his temperature under control.

 

“He was discharged and told if the temperature spiked to come back,” said Laura.

 

On Monday, after talking to John’s primary care provider, they did. The doctor made the quick decision once he found out anytime a regiment of Tylenol and Ibuprofen was missed his temperature would go to 102.

 

“Along with the temperature, by Monday, the pain he had in his left shoulder blade had spread under his right shoulder blade. He told me he was miserable, and he know something was wrong,” said Laura. “With that and with what the doctor told us we were off.”

 

From there, things begin to turn south.

 

“He walked into that hospital on Sept. 26, and he has not walked since,” said Laura.

 

That Sept. 26 featured additional tests, including a spinal tap where he laid flat for about an hour. Laura said it was at that point the health situation began heading in the wrong direction.

 

“He stood up to have his sterile area cleaned and he then got up as we went to his room, but said his legs were like Jell-O the entire time,” said Laura.

 

Once in his room, he needed assistance to get to the bathroom, but could not go once there. Later that same day, when a nurse came in for vitals, he needed to go again to the bathroom with help and, again, he could not go.

 

“We thought it was the medication causing the problems with his legs and not being able to urinate,” said Laura. “I had no idea how bad things would get.”

 

Within a couple of hours, when it is was the early morning hours of Sept. 27, she said John Laulis had lost all feeling from his belly button down. It is nearing 50 days now since he first went to the hospital, and while they have determined his issue for the initial problems, Laura said it is unknown what has caused the paralysis.

 

The diagnosis on the pain and temperature spike was Haemophilus influenzae. In layman’s terms, he had a blood infection that Laura said is believed to have gotten into his spine that created the pain and temperature.

 

“No one knows how he picked up the virus; there is no idea,” she said.

 

The battle was not over. While still at UHC, he needed to be rushed on Oct. 1 to Ruby Memorial for emergency surgery.

 

“They found a lesion on his spine and had to go in and clean it out,” said Laura. “The procedure went well, but it was painful. He had 33 staples put in his back.”

 

At this point, it was as bad as it could be. Laura said he had no feeling at all in his lower extremities, no sensation of any type, yet Laura remained hopeful. Although different, part of the hope stemmed from her own situation as a child.

 

“I was actually paralyzed when I was 9 from Guillain-Barré syndrome,” she said. “I wasn’t scared because I was too naïve. I thought about that, looking back as an adult, and was hopeful things would change. I didn’t know what type of change, but I wanted change.”

 

The change would come. For many days, Laura would touch his leg and John Laulis would feel nothing. Then one day, there was a burning sensation. Eventually, he felt pressure, and still does. Then, he wiggled his toes and each day a little bit more wiggle along with moving his knees just a small amount and then continuing to get just a bit more movement.

 

“It tells us his nerves are working. He has a little bit of mobility and sensation. Those two things really keep us going,” said Laura.

 

Two other things have kept them going. One of which are the therapists who have been working with John.

 

“They’re amazing. They got him to the point where he could come home,” said Laura.

 

And this as well.

 

“Our friends, our family, the entire law enforcement community has been so very supportive. He had visitors, beyond me, at least one, every day, especially at UHC,” said Laura, who said the best visits were from Rebbel. “The calls, the texts, the support let us know anything we need we can have, and the words have not been hollow. We’re surrounded by a very supportive community.”

 

That same community, or for anyone who would like to assist, can do so in one of two ways. There is a GoFundMe account set up that you can access HERE. There are other ways to donate to assist HERE.

 

While the couple does have insurance, it does not nearly cover all the needs. And to be involved in a medical situation for so long has created a mountain of paperwork and expenses.

 

“I’m overwhelmed with everything that has come in and then you have to deal with things like learning insurance doesn’t cover a shower chair of a bedside commode or things like that,” she said. “There is so much paperwork that goes along with this, and I have gotten help from people at the (Veteran’s Administration) and PEIA to navigate through it.”

 

Laura said despite being overwhelmed, it pales with what her husband is going through, and she will do all she can to make sure her husband can walk again. And that is a very real possibility, she said.

 

“His outcome looks good. They’re confident he’ll be able to walk again, but it could take one to two years,” Laura said. “To hear that makes us excited and gives us hope. He is as determined a person as I’ve ever known, and he’s made so much progress to this point because of that determination. I know the day is coming where he will be walking again.”

 

Today, however, is the day for what John Laulis would like to get out to his family, friends, the community, and even people he has never met.

 

“John would like to say thank you,” Laura said. “He is so appreciative of people that have reached out and supported us. It means the world to him and to us.”

 

There is one final request, she said. And it is one most should be able to handle.

 

“Please continue to keep him in your prayers. WE believe they are working, and we need all of them we can get,” said Laura. “If you pray, please do. If you are at a church and can add him to a prayer chain, we would appreciate it.”