Jackie and Family join Governor and First Lady Armstrong for Encephalitis Day North Dakota

To promote the 7th annual Bismarck Brain Walk and folks going #RED4WED for February 22nd's World Encephalitis Day and Encephalitis Day North Dakota, Jackie and her family joined Governor Kelly Armstrong and First Lady Kjersti Armstrong at the North Dakota Capitol.

Jackie had this to say about the meeting:

"Many moons ago, I took a summer job as a student-law clerk for a lawyer I'd only met on the phone. The job was transformative in a million ways. That lawyer was then criminal defense attorney extraordinaire and is now the Governor of the great state of North Dakota.

"Governor Armstrong and First Lady Kjersti Armstrong have been mentors, colleagues, and fierce supporters of me and my family post-autoimmune encephalitis. Their friendship and generosity have shown up for us in countless ways through the years.

"In honor of World Encephalitis Day and Encephalitis Day North Dakota , our family took a trip to the State Capitol to visit the Governor's office and had a fabulous time amidst the mountain goat, bison, and North Dakota history. We even came bearing gifts: a new #Red4WED shirt and Abby brought him a sucker!

"In an odd sort of way, our meeting really felt like a full circle moment, and yet another one of life's profound lessons. While our lives and careers have widely zigzagged since I wrote search and seizure briefs for him, and our plans, places, and dreams have also drastically changed, our friendship has remained constant. One can live without her career as a trial lawyer, but one cannot fight AE and its wrecking ball alone.

"Governor and First Lady Armstrong once again demonstrated to me and to AE survivors everywhere that you're never alone in this illness or in your life after. And that when you have trusted friends, you'll have the necessary support and confidence to venture out on a road less traveled.

"Special thanks to our dear friends, the Governor and First Lady, their staff for accommodating the visit, and  Mike for the lovely photos!"