NRHS alum Otto faces road to recovery

Rachael Otto, a 1993 NRHS grad who's among the most successful athletes to ever come out of New Rockford, is taking on the fight of her life.

On Sunday, Sept. 17, Otto was enjoying a weekend at her lake cabin in Minnesota when she experienced a blood clot in the lower portion of her brain.

She was immediately rushed to a hospital in Detroit Lakes, Minn. and later taken by ambulance to Fargo, N.D. where she underwent several surgeries to remove the clots.

Then came a devastating diagnosis: Locked-in Syndrome.

Most commonly the result of a stroke, Locked-in Syndrome (LIS) is a rare disorder of the nervous system which can result in near total paralysis.

For an individual with LIS, often the only muscles that can function are those that control eye movement. Meanwhile, the individual remains cognitively intact – perfectly capable of thinking, reading, feeling emotions and understanding the world around them just as they always were.

Otto is currently working with a speech pathologist to help her communicate using her eyes, and her family has said they're already seeing significant progress.

Although very difficult, it's possible for those with Locked-in Syndrome to regain some control of their body through physical therapy and determination – and if anyone can do it, Otto can.

"Rachael is a fighter. She has the will to fight," wrote Otto's family in an update on their Caring Bridge page. "Rachael has responded to the doctors that she wants to fight, "and she is proving it."

Otto first began making waves as a fighter on her hometown court in New Rockford, where she and her family lived from 1984 through 1994. Her parents, Terry and Mary Otto, later moved to Carrington in 2004 and live there currently.

An excellent athlete in just about every sport she attempted, those in Carrington may remember Otto finding success competing for the Rockets in volleyball, track & field and especially basketball, where she made her greatest impression.

By the time she graduated from NRHS in 1993, Otto had been playing varsity basketball for the Rockets for six years, from seventh grade through her senior year.

Her coach at the time, Deb Burgad, said Otto was a superb athlete and an even better human being.

"There's all the adjectives in the dictionary to explain Rachael. She was very unselfish," said Burgad. "There were times when I thought she should have taken a shot herself and she would pass it, so just a very unselfish player.

"But I have to say, taking away the athletics, just as an individual, as a human being, a person, you couldn't beat her. She was just super kind, caring, compassionate, and thought of others. Just all around a wonderful human being."

Following her stellar high school career, Otto went on to attend North Dakota State University where she continued to play basketball from 1993 to 1998.

During that time, Otto played a pivotal role in helping the Bison win two NCAA national championships – securing her legacy as one of the Bison's great female athletes.

"It was fantastic," said Burgad about seeing one of her students have so much success after high school. "I went and watched as many games as I could to support her."

Otto's competitive spirit is well-known by anyone who's gotten to know her over the years – and anyone that found themselves opposite her on the basketball court.

That spirit has helped her overcome tough challenges and propelled her to profound athletic success, but she now finds herself facing her toughest challenge yet.

Otto's family has created a Caring Bridge account, where they've been posting regular updates as Otto begins her recovery process.

On Monday, Oct. 9, after several weeks at a hospital in Fargo, Otto traveled with her family to Colorado to begin her stay at Craig Hospital, which specializes in rehabilitation for those with brain and spinal injuries.

There, she's undergoing occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT) and speech therapy, and work is ongoing to establish baselines and to determine what technologies can be used to aid her recovery process.

After Otto's first few weeks at the Craig Hospital, her family said they were already seeing great signs of progress.

"Overall Rachael is doing great," wrote her family on Oct. 23. "She is making improvements everyday, and surprising many people in Denver. ... There is now a 90 day plan for Rachael to remain at Craig Hospital, with the possibility of additional time beyond that."

Recently, Otto has been working with her care team on swallowing as well as jaw and tongue control, and although it takes a lot of concentration, she's now able to have ice chips.

She's also made progress with moving her eyes side-to-side, and is on a motorized bike several times a day.

"Nothing is coming easy, but she is making progress every day," her family wrote.

Throughout Otto's battle with LIS, her parents, Terry and Mary Otto of Carrington, and her wife, Susan Faus, have been right by her side every step of the way, and they couldn't be more thankful for the support so many have shown them.

With well over 35,000 site visits to their Caring Bridge page, Otto's story has clearly captured the attention of thousands across the state and beyond.

Those that cheered for Otto during her time helping the Bison win championships, and even those that rooted for their rival school, UND, have shared Otto's story online and showed their support.

The Caring Bridge page created for Otto also includes ways to support her and her family financially, and many have already chosen to do so.

"Patients with LIS require specialized care and rehabilitation, with round-the-clock professional caregivers for the remainder of their lives," states Otto's Caring Bridge page.

"Many of these expenses fall outside of healthcare coverage. This extensive long-term healthcare support, along with the loss of the patient's income puts a tremendous financial burden on the families of those with LIS."

Donations can be made by going online to lendahandup.org/give/rachael724/.

A benefit fund has also been set up at Gate City Bank in Fargo, N.D. Those who wish to contribute can send checks to P.O. Box 2847, Fargo, ND 58108.