- J
- S
- B
I’ve tried to write something up for this GoFundMe page, but it hurts trying to relive the moments of last week and pen something out here for you all. My mother Sally (Madden) Elwell has, and always will be, a massive part of my life. A puzzle piece that, if lacking, will turn me into a different person. Due to this, I cannot write something new but instead use a modified version of a Facebook post I made Tuesday updating everyone to her status as I lay sleepless one night at the Riverside Inn Hotel in Bangor, next to EMMC. It was the first night after her stroke that I could stand being away from her for any length of time. Anyway...here it is:
I was the first at her side when the neurologist was with her, just a minute after they realized she had a stroke. (They thought she wasn't responding due to being drugged for the heart surgery.) She couldn't even speak to me when I asked how she was feeling. I held her hand and asked her if she was okay. All she could do is shake her head "no". The cardiologist was outside the room, yelling at me, telling me to leave the room. Chances of that happening were slim to none, until my mother hit my hand and gestured for me to go listen to what he had to say.
Wednesday night, June 30th, she had the heart attack and the first of two surgeries. Friday morning she was a new woman, ready to conquer the world...born again. It was unreal seeing how much better she felt. And then she went in for her second surgery, something the cardiologist told her was just another "walk in the park". It was during this surgery that some plaque broke free inside her aorta and traveled into her brain, causing the stroke. She couldn't speak, eat or drink (aspirating caused choking) and her right hand was pretty much useless.
72 hours later she was walking on her own, showering alone, speaking full sentences, writing with the effected hand and all around defying the odds that stroke victims face. She's been exercising the hand with stress balls and putty, learning to pick up small objects, shuffling and playing cards, playing Scrabble, dabbling in origami (folding paper helps), and a multitude of other tasks. She can use a fork, spoon and knife to feed herself. Swallowing even liquids was impossible, but she was determined...first taking small sips of thickened liquids and graduating progressively to the water, coffee (decaf now, of course!) and other liquid intake we all take for granted. Her progress was impressive even to the RN's, doctors and therapists that she saw on a daily basis.
She went home five days later, further proof that she has an awful lot to live for and she's more than determined to flip the bird at whatever ailment thinks it can keep her down. We'll have more time to visit with her, more birthdays, holidays and phone calls. All the things in life that we all feel are just part of our daily routines. This has painted an evil picture of what life can be, but has also shown us that WE are the ones wielding the brush. For many of us, the canvas is going to look a bit different from here on out.
So to sum it all up; Sally is doing amazing considering what she went through during those eight days. A heart attack, two surgeries to place stents, and a stroke. But while her progress after the surgery has been nothing short of amazing, she still has to deal with those obligations that we all have in life; bills. Her medical bills will be substantial and she’ll be out of work for quite some time as she attends therapy appointments to get her life back on track. As we all do, she has to deal with rent, lights, phone, food and other liabilities, all while being out of work. She has asked repeatedly to go back to work, or when she’ll be able to return, but it’s a question that just can’t be answered. Her speech needs work and her right hand is far from 100%. She tires quickly and needs monitoring. She needs help, and I intend to do all I can for her including this GoFundMe page. My brothers, her husband and his sister, my aunt who is staying with and caring for her, and all of our other family members can only do so much...so I guess this is my plea. Please help make my mothers transition back into her old lifestyle just a little bit easier. I know the amount I’m trying to raise won’t even begin to put a dent into what she will be losing by these unfortunate times, but every little bit helps.
Many thanks from all of us.
I was the first at her side when the neurologist was with her, just a minute after they realized she had a stroke. (They thought she wasn't responding due to being drugged for the heart surgery.) She couldn't even speak to me when I asked how she was feeling. I held her hand and asked her if she was okay. All she could do is shake her head "no". The cardiologist was outside the room, yelling at me, telling me to leave the room. Chances of that happening were slim to none, until my mother hit my hand and gestured for me to go listen to what he had to say.
Wednesday night, June 30th, she had the heart attack and the first of two surgeries. Friday morning she was a new woman, ready to conquer the world...born again. It was unreal seeing how much better she felt. And then she went in for her second surgery, something the cardiologist told her was just another "walk in the park". It was during this surgery that some plaque broke free inside her aorta and traveled into her brain, causing the stroke. She couldn't speak, eat or drink (aspirating caused choking) and her right hand was pretty much useless.
72 hours later she was walking on her own, showering alone, speaking full sentences, writing with the effected hand and all around defying the odds that stroke victims face. She's been exercising the hand with stress balls and putty, learning to pick up small objects, shuffling and playing cards, playing Scrabble, dabbling in origami (folding paper helps), and a multitude of other tasks. She can use a fork, spoon and knife to feed herself. Swallowing even liquids was impossible, but she was determined...first taking small sips of thickened liquids and graduating progressively to the water, coffee (decaf now, of course!) and other liquid intake we all take for granted. Her progress was impressive even to the RN's, doctors and therapists that she saw on a daily basis.
She went home five days later, further proof that she has an awful lot to live for and she's more than determined to flip the bird at whatever ailment thinks it can keep her down. We'll have more time to visit with her, more birthdays, holidays and phone calls. All the things in life that we all feel are just part of our daily routines. This has painted an evil picture of what life can be, but has also shown us that WE are the ones wielding the brush. For many of us, the canvas is going to look a bit different from here on out.
So to sum it all up; Sally is doing amazing considering what she went through during those eight days. A heart attack, two surgeries to place stents, and a stroke. But while her progress after the surgery has been nothing short of amazing, she still has to deal with those obligations that we all have in life; bills. Her medical bills will be substantial and she’ll be out of work for quite some time as she attends therapy appointments to get her life back on track. As we all do, she has to deal with rent, lights, phone, food and other liabilities, all while being out of work. She has asked repeatedly to go back to work, or when she’ll be able to return, but it’s a question that just can’t be answered. Her speech needs work and her right hand is far from 100%. She tires quickly and needs monitoring. She needs help, and I intend to do all I can for her including this GoFundMe page. My brothers, her husband and his sister, my aunt who is staying with and caring for her, and all of our other family members can only do so much...so I guess this is my plea. Please help make my mothers transition back into her old lifestyle just a little bit easier. I know the amount I’m trying to raise won’t even begin to put a dent into what she will be losing by these unfortunate times, but every little bit helps.
Many thanks from all of us.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sally Elwell
Beneficiary