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Longtime local Jay Muhme recovering at Johnstown hospital after suffering stroke

Former Steamboat Springs Fire Marshall Jay Muhme pictured in 2014 shortly before retiring.
Matt Stensland/File

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Lifelong Steamboat Springs resident, and first responser Jay Muhme is at the Northern Colorado Long Term Acute Care Hospital in Johnstown recovering from an intra cerebral hemorrhage.

“It’s been a banner day,” Anne Muhme said Friday. “He got into a wheel chair for the first time, and he ate some apple sauce. He is speaking one or two words. They are small steps, but we will take them.”

Anne has been with Jay since he suffered the hemorrhage, a type of stroke, after undergoing knee replacement surgery at Rose Medical Center in Denver on Nov. 14. Anne said they didn’t think the stroke was caused by the surgery, but she was thankful that her husband was in the hospital at the time and received immediate care.



He suffered the hemorrhage in the early morning hours Nov. 15, and he was immediately taken to the Intensive Care Unit where he was stabilized. He was then transferred to the Swedish Medial Center, which is one of the top care facilities in the state for strokes.

He stayed there until Dec. 5 when he was transferred to Northern Colorado Long Term Acute Care Hospital in Johnstown where he has begun what is expected to be a long journey.



Muhme, 63, was born and raised in this mountain valley and has spent 41 years either volunteering or working as a firefighter in Steamboat Springs. He retired from his position as fire marshall in 2014, leaving a field that he has worked in nearly his entire adult life. 

The 1972 graduate of Steamboat Springs high school won a state wrestling championship in 1971 and was the runner up in 1972,  but for the last 37 days Muhme has been in the kind of fight that has left his friends and family praying for his recovery.

Anne is posting almost daily updates on caringbridge.org. Jay’s story can be found at caringbridge.org/visit/jaymuhme/journal. Anne said the popular website has been the best way for her to stay in touch with family members.

To reach John F. Russell, call 970-871-4209, email jrussell@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @Framp1966.


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