Social worker suffers sudden stroke
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Torrington, CT domestic violence counselor suffers sudden, massive stroke and fights back to give back this May, National Stroke Awareness Month...
“My work at the Susan B. Anthony Project was so important. By sharing my story and hopefully increasing donations to my GoFundme web page I will have the opportunity to continue helping the organization.
So 75% percent of the net funds raised, after I reach my personal assistance goal ($6000.) will go to the critical work of the Susan B. Anthony Project" - Michelle Ouellette
(The Susan B. Anthony Project promotes safety, healing, and growth for all survivors of domestic and sexual abuse and advocates for the autonomy of women and the end of interpersonal violence.)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Torrington domestic violence counselor suffers sudden, massive stroke and fights back to give back this May, National Stroke Awareness Month
TORRINGTON, CT – Strokes can strike anyone, at any age. Michelle Ouellette, just 33 years old, served as an evening shelter manager at Susan B. Anthony Project in Torrington, a safe haven for domestic violence survivors. On her day off on Aug. 13, 2014, she felt a sudden stabbing in her head. Michelle didn’t realize it at the time, but she was suffering a massive embolic stroke, and would soon be fighting for her life.
“I had an extreme, ice pic-like stabbing pain on the right side of my head,” Ouellette said. “I never felt pain like that before, I knew something was very wrong.”
In the emergency room at Bristol Hospital a CAT scan revealed an embolic stroke. She was immediately administered an intravenous infusion of TPA, Tissue Plasminogen Activator, the first line of defense for embolic and ischemic strokes. Next she was rushed by ambulance to the nearest designated Stroke Center, Hartford Hospital. A second CAT scan was done, and a second dose of TPA was administered. Next a radiology procedure removed some clots from her right carotid arteries. By morning her symptoms worsened, the only option left was an emergent craniotomy, a removal of a section of the skull to relieve the buildup of pressure and fluid in the brain. Unable to maintain her airway, she returned to the Critical Care Unit on a ventilator, alive, but with her left side completely paralyzed. Occupational, physical and speech therapists worked with her daily for nearly two weeks until she was transferred to Gaylord Hospital for long term rehabilitation.
Ouellette is one in a troubling trend of younger female stroke victims. According to a 2012 study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strokes have been rising for young adults. The number of women ages 15 to 34 who were hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke rose 23 percent, from 3,750 a year to nearly 4,900.
“I thought it only happened to older people,” Ouellette said. “I think it’s important that young women are aware that they can be at risk for a stroke, even if they don’t have any risk factors. If they experience symptoms they should call 911 or go to the hospital right away.”
While strokes can be devastating physically, often not considered is the emotional and financial distress.
“Long term disability insurance should be an important consideration for anyone,” she said. Unfortunately for Ouellette, she didn’t have long term disability insurance and is in the arduous process of applying for Social Security disability. Ouellette hopes to resume her career in some capacity someday. But she is not at that point yet. “Every day is a challenge and it’s the test of my life for sure. Things I have taken for granted had to be re-learned.”
In an effort to help Michelle get through the difficult financial times, friends have established a GoFundMe donation web page. “Friends have set a personal financial goal to help me get through the year,” she said. “But I’ve also stipulated that 75 percent of the net funds raised, after I reach my goal will go to the critical work of the Susan B. Anthony Project (https://www.sbaproject.org ) in Torrington.” Ouellette added “My work at Susan B. Anthony was so important. By sharing my story and hopefully increasing donations to my GoFundme web page I will have the opportunity to continue helping the organization.”
To donate to Michelle Ouellette, and in turn the Non-Profit Susan B. Anthony Project Organization, please visit: http://www.gofundme.com/suddenstroke
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Michelle's Story
Domestic violence social worker Michelle Ouellette spent her life helping people in need, but after a sudden massive stroke, now she is need of help.
Before last August, Michelle was just like any other normal 33 year-old. She loved going to the beach, shopping, walking her dog and spending time with her friends and family.
Michelle also had a passion for her job as a evening manager at a domestic violence shelter, serving the city of Torrington, Connecticut and its surrounding communities. She was on the front line helping people during the worst moments of their lives. Like any human services professional , that line of work can take its toll. But she loved her work, clients, staff and coworkers and was available virtually 24 hours a day for those in need and no matter how tired she was, she was at her best as a shoulder to cry on or to lend an ear or to support someone in the courtroom. On a lighter note, one of her more fun tasks was shopping for her domestic violence shelter survivors around the holidays to ensure everyone had a wonderful holiday
But on Aug. 13, 2014 her life suddenly changed. She suffered a massive stroke and was fighting for her life. Her brain swelled so much that she needed to have half of her skull removed to ease the pressure of the blood swelling to her brain. With her life in danger, she fought. Thanks to the skilled hands of the surgeons of Hartford Hospital, she lived.
Like many stroke survivors, Michelle was paralyzed on the left side of her body. To her, that side of her world didn’t exist. Michelle received great care at Hartford Hospital, but it was never clear why this happened to her. Remarkably, at the end of her stay in Hartford, her left leg began to move and the physical therapist got her to stand up with assistance. This was a thrill for her and her loved ones to see her upright again. She also received an outpouring of support from friends, family and co-workers, and her whole Susan b Anthony family during her darkest days. All of the love and well wishes she received were invaluable in her survival and recovery.
After three trying weeks on the Intensive Care floor at Hartford Hospital, Michelle was discharged to Gaylord Hospital. She arrived in Wallingford on Aug. 31. Again, she got great care. Her first day of therapy her physical therapist had her on the parallel bars and walking with support. That was the beginning of monthsof hard work. Slowly, but steadily, Michelle’s legs got stronger methodically she graduated from a walker, to a four-leg cane, to a normal cane to eventually being able to walk on her own.
While her legs were getting stronger, there was still no movement in her left arm. Despite her best efforts and the watchful eye of her occupational therapist, there was no visible progress until one morning out of the blue, she was able to move her arm. Michelle also worked with a speech therapist to help her work on her attention and relearning some skills that she lost. She stayed inpatient at Gaylord for three weeks.
After leaving the inpatient community at Gaylord, she lived in a transitional living house at Gaylord. She stayed there for six weeks and relearned skills to be more independent. After leaving the transitional living house, Michelle had another surgery to put the piece of her skull back in. The surgery was successful and shortly after, she has returned home to her dog and cat.
Michelle continues to go to Gaylord to this day. Most days are challenging, but she has fought through the pain of a separated shoulder and regular headaches among other ailments. Although her improvements have been immense, she still needs assistance for her day-to-day activities.
Her endurance isn’t where it used to be. A short walk saps her of her energy and she can’t return to driving yet.
Michelle hopes to return to work someday. But she is not at that point yet. With a mortgage and medical bills piling up, she could really use some help.
“My work at the Susan B. Anthony Project was so important. By sharing my story and hopefully increasing donations to my GoFundme web page I will have the opportunity to continue helping the organization.
So 75% percent of the net funds raised, after I reach my personal assistance goal ($6000.) will go to the critical work of the Susan B. Anthony Project" - Michelle Ouellette
(The Susan B. Anthony Project promotes safety, healing, and growth for all survivors of domestic and sexual abuse and advocates for the autonomy of women and the end of interpersonal violence.)
-----
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Torrington domestic violence counselor suffers sudden, massive stroke and fights back to give back this May, National Stroke Awareness Month
TORRINGTON, CT – Strokes can strike anyone, at any age. Michelle Ouellette, just 33 years old, served as an evening shelter manager at Susan B. Anthony Project in Torrington, a safe haven for domestic violence survivors. On her day off on Aug. 13, 2014, she felt a sudden stabbing in her head. Michelle didn’t realize it at the time, but she was suffering a massive embolic stroke, and would soon be fighting for her life.
“I had an extreme, ice pic-like stabbing pain on the right side of my head,” Ouellette said. “I never felt pain like that before, I knew something was very wrong.”
In the emergency room at Bristol Hospital a CAT scan revealed an embolic stroke. She was immediately administered an intravenous infusion of TPA, Tissue Plasminogen Activator, the first line of defense for embolic and ischemic strokes. Next she was rushed by ambulance to the nearest designated Stroke Center, Hartford Hospital. A second CAT scan was done, and a second dose of TPA was administered. Next a radiology procedure removed some clots from her right carotid arteries. By morning her symptoms worsened, the only option left was an emergent craniotomy, a removal of a section of the skull to relieve the buildup of pressure and fluid in the brain. Unable to maintain her airway, she returned to the Critical Care Unit on a ventilator, alive, but with her left side completely paralyzed. Occupational, physical and speech therapists worked with her daily for nearly two weeks until she was transferred to Gaylord Hospital for long term rehabilitation.
Ouellette is one in a troubling trend of younger female stroke victims. According to a 2012 study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strokes have been rising for young adults. The number of women ages 15 to 34 who were hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke rose 23 percent, from 3,750 a year to nearly 4,900.
“I thought it only happened to older people,” Ouellette said. “I think it’s important that young women are aware that they can be at risk for a stroke, even if they don’t have any risk factors. If they experience symptoms they should call 911 or go to the hospital right away.”
While strokes can be devastating physically, often not considered is the emotional and financial distress.
“Long term disability insurance should be an important consideration for anyone,” she said. Unfortunately for Ouellette, she didn’t have long term disability insurance and is in the arduous process of applying for Social Security disability. Ouellette hopes to resume her career in some capacity someday. But she is not at that point yet. “Every day is a challenge and it’s the test of my life for sure. Things I have taken for granted had to be re-learned.”
In an effort to help Michelle get through the difficult financial times, friends have established a GoFundMe donation web page. “Friends have set a personal financial goal to help me get through the year,” she said. “But I’ve also stipulated that 75 percent of the net funds raised, after I reach my goal will go to the critical work of the Susan B. Anthony Project (https://www.sbaproject.org ) in Torrington.” Ouellette added “My work at Susan B. Anthony was so important. By sharing my story and hopefully increasing donations to my GoFundme web page I will have the opportunity to continue helping the organization.”
To donate to Michelle Ouellette, and in turn the Non-Profit Susan B. Anthony Project Organization, please visit: http://www.gofundme.com/suddenstroke
------
Michelle's Story
Domestic violence social worker Michelle Ouellette spent her life helping people in need, but after a sudden massive stroke, now she is need of help.
Before last August, Michelle was just like any other normal 33 year-old. She loved going to the beach, shopping, walking her dog and spending time with her friends and family.
Michelle also had a passion for her job as a evening manager at a domestic violence shelter, serving the city of Torrington, Connecticut and its surrounding communities. She was on the front line helping people during the worst moments of their lives. Like any human services professional , that line of work can take its toll. But she loved her work, clients, staff and coworkers and was available virtually 24 hours a day for those in need and no matter how tired she was, she was at her best as a shoulder to cry on or to lend an ear or to support someone in the courtroom. On a lighter note, one of her more fun tasks was shopping for her domestic violence shelter survivors around the holidays to ensure everyone had a wonderful holiday
But on Aug. 13, 2014 her life suddenly changed. She suffered a massive stroke and was fighting for her life. Her brain swelled so much that she needed to have half of her skull removed to ease the pressure of the blood swelling to her brain. With her life in danger, she fought. Thanks to the skilled hands of the surgeons of Hartford Hospital, she lived.
Like many stroke survivors, Michelle was paralyzed on the left side of her body. To her, that side of her world didn’t exist. Michelle received great care at Hartford Hospital, but it was never clear why this happened to her. Remarkably, at the end of her stay in Hartford, her left leg began to move and the physical therapist got her to stand up with assistance. This was a thrill for her and her loved ones to see her upright again. She also received an outpouring of support from friends, family and co-workers, and her whole Susan b Anthony family during her darkest days. All of the love and well wishes she received were invaluable in her survival and recovery.
After three trying weeks on the Intensive Care floor at Hartford Hospital, Michelle was discharged to Gaylord Hospital. She arrived in Wallingford on Aug. 31. Again, she got great care. Her first day of therapy her physical therapist had her on the parallel bars and walking with support. That was the beginning of monthsof hard work. Slowly, but steadily, Michelle’s legs got stronger methodically she graduated from a walker, to a four-leg cane, to a normal cane to eventually being able to walk on her own.
While her legs were getting stronger, there was still no movement in her left arm. Despite her best efforts and the watchful eye of her occupational therapist, there was no visible progress until one morning out of the blue, she was able to move her arm. Michelle also worked with a speech therapist to help her work on her attention and relearning some skills that she lost. She stayed inpatient at Gaylord for three weeks.
After leaving the inpatient community at Gaylord, she lived in a transitional living house at Gaylord. She stayed there for six weeks and relearned skills to be more independent. After leaving the transitional living house, Michelle had another surgery to put the piece of her skull back in. The surgery was successful and shortly after, she has returned home to her dog and cat.
Michelle continues to go to Gaylord to this day. Most days are challenging, but she has fought through the pain of a separated shoulder and regular headaches among other ailments. Although her improvements have been immense, she still needs assistance for her day-to-day activities.
Her endurance isn’t where it used to be. A short walk saps her of her energy and she can’t return to driving yet.
Michelle hopes to return to work someday. But she is not at that point yet. With a mortgage and medical bills piling up, she could really use some help.
Organizer
Michelle Ouellette
Organizer
Torrington, CT
