Cara Dempski
Donation protected
On Friday, December 21, 2018, while covering an accident for the newspaper where she was Acting Managing Editor and Regional Sports Editor, Cara had a massive stroke and brain bleed.
She had surgery to stop the bleed and reduce pressure on the brain that night. As the surgeon explained, if they didn't do the surgery STAT, she wouldn't survive 24 hours.
Cara has woke up after surgery and was able to answer questions alertly and able to use her right side, but she had no movement on her left side. After a long hospital stay, followed by a lengthy stay at an in-patient facility, Cara transitioned to her parents' home. They had to add a wheelchair ramp to the house, and they set up a makeshift shower in the kitchen, because Cara could not use the stairs.
Cara and her parents are so thankful for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy at the accident scene Cara was covering who was concerned. He put her in his squad and got her to the ER in Fort Atkinson, WI. They are so thankful for the ER for stabilizing her. They are so thankful for the Med-Flight crew who carefully but quickly prepared her for transport to St. Mary's in Madison, WI . They are so thankful for the surgeon and all the nurses and staff at the ICU at St. Mary's. Her parents are so thankful for our family and friends for their continuing prayers.
Over the past few months, Cara has remained strong-willed and she has been persistent with physical therapy. She progressed to being able to use a walker for short distances, followed by a 4-pronged cane inside the house, and she was recently able to master taking the stairs, slowly (forward-facing up and backward-facing down) in order to use her parents' regular upstairs shower! This is HUGE and Cara and her parents are excited and feel blessed at the progress she has made since she has been home.
But with that progress has come challenges, too. Namely, since Cara has been unable to work, there has been an immediate and constant financial burden on her and her retired parents, magnified by her out-of-pocket healthcare costs incurred during this time.
Our original goal was $5000, and we can't thank you enough for helping to meet that goal, but Cara needs our support again so can continue to focus on her recovery. We are going on 9 months into Cara's post-stroke journey, and we are hoping to raise an additional $10,000 to assist Cara and her parents with living expenses and medical expenses.
Please support Cara and her parents by donating today!
You can also support them by attending "Pasta with a Purpose" on September 13 at 5:00pm in the Elk Mound High School Commons. Details posted in the latest update!
She had surgery to stop the bleed and reduce pressure on the brain that night. As the surgeon explained, if they didn't do the surgery STAT, she wouldn't survive 24 hours.
Cara has woke up after surgery and was able to answer questions alertly and able to use her right side, but she had no movement on her left side. After a long hospital stay, followed by a lengthy stay at an in-patient facility, Cara transitioned to her parents' home. They had to add a wheelchair ramp to the house, and they set up a makeshift shower in the kitchen, because Cara could not use the stairs.
Cara and her parents are so thankful for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy at the accident scene Cara was covering who was concerned. He put her in his squad and got her to the ER in Fort Atkinson, WI. They are so thankful for the ER for stabilizing her. They are so thankful for the Med-Flight crew who carefully but quickly prepared her for transport to St. Mary's in Madison, WI . They are so thankful for the surgeon and all the nurses and staff at the ICU at St. Mary's. Her parents are so thankful for our family and friends for their continuing prayers.
Over the past few months, Cara has remained strong-willed and she has been persistent with physical therapy. She progressed to being able to use a walker for short distances, followed by a 4-pronged cane inside the house, and she was recently able to master taking the stairs, slowly (forward-facing up and backward-facing down) in order to use her parents' regular upstairs shower! This is HUGE and Cara and her parents are excited and feel blessed at the progress she has made since she has been home.
But with that progress has come challenges, too. Namely, since Cara has been unable to work, there has been an immediate and constant financial burden on her and her retired parents, magnified by her out-of-pocket healthcare costs incurred during this time.
Our original goal was $5000, and we can't thank you enough for helping to meet that goal, but Cara needs our support again so can continue to focus on her recovery. We are going on 9 months into Cara's post-stroke journey, and we are hoping to raise an additional $10,000 to assist Cara and her parents with living expenses and medical expenses.
Please support Cara and her parents by donating today!
You can also support them by attending "Pasta with a Purpose" on September 13 at 5:00pm in the Elk Mound High School Commons. Details posted in the latest update!
Organizer and beneficiary
Kelly Holzer
Organizer
Elk Mound, WI
Linda Dempski
Beneficiary
