04/13/2026
Over the course of a few days, Jessica lost the ability to taste, close one eye, smile on one side of her face and she had severe pain in her ear. Doctors ruled out a stroke, and she was ultimately diagnosed with Ramsey Hunt Syndrome, a condition caused by the reactivated chicken pox virus that can cause damage to facial nerves.
While many people with the syndrome recover on their own, Jessica’s symptoms persisted. For example, Jessica would have difficulty keeping one eye open when she smiled. She ultimately connected with the speech therapy team at Aurora BayCare to help her recover. Jessica started facial therapy to help retrain her brain and the muscles in her face to do things that were once second nature.
Today, her symptoms are less severe and she’s regained confidence to do the things she loves again.
To learn more about speech therapy and rehabilitation services at Aurora BayCare visit: https://bit.ly/43l3gf0