Against the Odds: The Lifesaving Power of Higher Education
A Rare Disease, a Remarkable Surgery, a Second Chance
Tadd Schmid is a husband, father of three, and lifelong Nebraskan. He loves the outdoors and everything about the Nebraska way of life.
Four years ago, on Father’s Day, Tadd developed a fever, followed by numbness in his fingertips. Assuming he had caught a cold, he tried to push through it. But as his fatigue and other symptoms worsened, he decided to go to the emergency room.
A CT scan revealed an abnormality in his chest, and Tadd was scheduled for a follow-up appointment with pulmonology the following week.
But a few days later, his fever persisted, and Tadd knew he needed to return to the emergency room. As he and his wife prepared to leave, he suddenly collapsed while walking toward the car.
His wife called 911, and Tadd was rushed to the hospital. Doctors ordered a CT scan to rule out a concussion. Instead, they discovered an infection in his brain.
That’s when Tadd met Dr. Jeremy Hosein.
Tadd was scheduled for surgery, and Dr. Hosein removed multiple brain abscesses. His initial recovery was going well—until the next day, when Tadd experienced excruciating pain in his upper back.
An MRI revealed that the infection had spread to his spinal cord.
A spinal cord abscess is a rare infection of the central nervous system—and even more unusual when it occurs alongside brain abscesses. Tadd began losing function in his lower extremities, particularly on his left side.
It was Fourth of July weekend, but there was no time to wait. A surgical team was assembled immediately for a second operation.
“The pain was unbelievable, but Dr. Hosein was confident he could perform the surgery,” Tadd recalled.
The infection Tadd was fighting was extraordinarily rare. His particular type of infection had been documented only a few dozen times since the 1800s.
The prognosis was grim. Tadd and his wife researched what they were facing, and the possibilities were frightening: death, paralysis, or, at best, significant difficulty walking with a cane.
But Tadd defied the odds.
“I have no disabilities. Nothing holds me back now. I had to relearn how to walk and relearn how to use utensils, but I’m so grateful to Dr. Hosein and his team.”
His recovery meant more than simply regaining his independence. Tadd’s wife had hoped he would one day be able to walk his two daughters down the aisle. Both daughters were engaged to be married the following year.
“I’m not a dancer,” Tadd joked, “but I did do a Father-Daughter dance at their wedding.”
Tadd’s story—and his remarkable recovery—is a testament to what happens when education, research, and determination come together.
It is also a reminder of why the University of Nebraska matters. We must ensure our university remains accessible and affordable, while attracting and retaining the best and brightest minds in our state—people who can solve Nebraska’s most complex challenges across medicine, science, agriculture, technology, business, and every other field of study.
For Dr. Hosein, Tadd’s story represents the very best of what a university can make possible.
“The ability to use my hands as an extension of my mind to save lives, to make an incredible difference in a relatively short time—to save someone’s life, give them the ability to walk again, or give them more time with their loved ones—this was the most meaningful experience I had at UNMC and it's a gift to be of service to others everyday."
I want to help ensure that experiences like Tadd’s and the learning, innovation, and exceptional people that make them possible remain part of Nebraska’s future for generations to come.
That’s why I’m running for Regent.
Comments