32 year old suffered 4 strokes in the last month
Donation protected
Hello everyone! My name is Jennifer Gibbons and I am seeking assistance for my sister, Leah Dalton.
My sister, Leah Dalton, is a 32 year old amazing woman who recently suffered a life-changing setback. She has always suffered from migraines, some quite incapacitating, but one month ago she had what she thought was a horrible migraine, leaving her unable to speak despite knowing what to say in her brain. She was home alone with her 2 young boys (ages 3 and 5), her husband was at work more than an hour away. Always putting everyone else first, Leah simply went to bed and thought it would be better in the morning.
Upon waking up, she realized that something was wrong and drove herself to the hospital. It was there that she was informed she had suffered a cerebrovascular accident, a stroke. She was admitted and treated although, because too much time had passed, she was unable to get the "clot busting" medication. Over the course of the next couple of days Leah suffered 3 more strokes that left her with severe right sided weakness, speech difficulties, and severe cognitive deficits. She began physical, occupational, and speech therapy but because of her "not so great" insurance, she was released home to continue therapy on her own.
Leah and her husband Kyle moved from Texas to Colorado last December to start a life of their own and had big plans for themselves. Leah was enrolling in graduate school and Kyle had received a management position at a local restaurant...life was looking promising! Now with Leah and Kyle being so far away from friends and family, it is challenging to get the support needed while going through this difficult time.
I recently made a trip to Colorado to assess the situation and see what I could do to help. My initial worry was for her safety due to her limited mobility. I had no idea what I was about to see...it broke my heart to see this vibrant and capable women struggling through her physical therapy session with such determination in her eyes but it made me so proud to see a fighter!
For the next 2 days we worked tireless together to transform her home into an organized, minimalist, easily accessible environment in which she could be as independent as possible. Some much of our lives are taken for granted and you don't realize how easy you have it until you can't do even the simplest of things. She is unable to use an oven or a stove because she can't be safe with those devices therefore what she can "cook" for herself or her children is limited. She can't bathe her children because she physically can't make her body cooperate with that task. Thankfully her speech has come back although slow at times when her brain is moving fast but she has become quite proficient at voice texting!!
I truly believe the thing that got to me the most was the fast that she cannot recall the most basic of information. She can't remember dates or numbers. She is 32 years old and doesn't remember her date of birth, her children's ages, her phone number, or any other numerical data. She is amazing though and is the most organized, cognitively impaired person I have ever seen! She has binders labeled with all of her medical papers, bills, important information, etc and she is working SO HARD to not burden others with her issues. Before I got there she and her cousin created a dry erase chart for all of her medications so that she could check them off each day and keep track on her own - how amazing is that!! We created a wall in her kitchen that also has her vital information right in view should she have to give it out to anyone over the phone. I had to ask her for the year of her birth for something we were doing and she just stared at me...you could tell she was trying so hard to recall the information and it just wasn't coming to her.
Over the weekend we installed a keyless lock on her front door so that medical personnel or neighbors could get to her in the event of an emergency. We also installed cameras inside the house in all the rooms so that while away from home, her husband could keep an eye on her and make sure she was safe. I taught her how to order groceries online and have them delivered to her house so that she wouldn't have to add one more thing to her husbands plate. We set her bills up on BillPay and I plan on helping her keep track of all her finances. The police and fire departments have been made aware of her situation and assured me that they will make random safety checks on her. We made so many changes but there are still so many things she needs to help in her recovery that I simply can't provide on my own and that is why I am reaching out to others.
To add even more on her plate, Leah must have a heart surgery to repair and close the hole in her heart that has caused these strokes. Her surgery will happen within the next month which will inevitably knock her back a few notches. This girl needs a break!
Leah and Kyle have basic health insurance with a $10,000 deductible. This alone is going to be a huge hardship since Leah is now unable to work or drive and has no way to contribute to the family budget. Some other things I feel are vital to her wellbeing are housecleaning services, laundry assistance, childcare, meal preparation help, someone who can get her out of the house every once in a while, etc. We also need to make sure she continues getting the therapy services she so desperately needs in order to keep moving forward with her recovery. The list could go on and on.
Any donation, small or large, will be go far in helping me to help Leah, Kyle and her boys, Lennon and Harrison. Please consider donating to this beautiful woman who has been dealt a really tough hand right now. God is good all the time and we know he will bless her and provide for her!
Whenever you don't understand what is happening in your life, just close your eyes, take a deep breath and say: "God, I know it is your plan. Just help me through it."
"I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you." 2 Kings 20:5
Thank you for your consideration in this effort.
Jennifer Gibbons
Other ways to help:
eGift Cards from Amazon or Target that can help with supplies and necessities can be emailed to [email redacted]
My sister, Leah Dalton, is a 32 year old amazing woman who recently suffered a life-changing setback. She has always suffered from migraines, some quite incapacitating, but one month ago she had what she thought was a horrible migraine, leaving her unable to speak despite knowing what to say in her brain. She was home alone with her 2 young boys (ages 3 and 5), her husband was at work more than an hour away. Always putting everyone else first, Leah simply went to bed and thought it would be better in the morning.
Upon waking up, she realized that something was wrong and drove herself to the hospital. It was there that she was informed she had suffered a cerebrovascular accident, a stroke. She was admitted and treated although, because too much time had passed, she was unable to get the "clot busting" medication. Over the course of the next couple of days Leah suffered 3 more strokes that left her with severe right sided weakness, speech difficulties, and severe cognitive deficits. She began physical, occupational, and speech therapy but because of her "not so great" insurance, she was released home to continue therapy on her own.
Leah and her husband Kyle moved from Texas to Colorado last December to start a life of their own and had big plans for themselves. Leah was enrolling in graduate school and Kyle had received a management position at a local restaurant...life was looking promising! Now with Leah and Kyle being so far away from friends and family, it is challenging to get the support needed while going through this difficult time.
I recently made a trip to Colorado to assess the situation and see what I could do to help. My initial worry was for her safety due to her limited mobility. I had no idea what I was about to see...it broke my heart to see this vibrant and capable women struggling through her physical therapy session with such determination in her eyes but it made me so proud to see a fighter!
For the next 2 days we worked tireless together to transform her home into an organized, minimalist, easily accessible environment in which she could be as independent as possible. Some much of our lives are taken for granted and you don't realize how easy you have it until you can't do even the simplest of things. She is unable to use an oven or a stove because she can't be safe with those devices therefore what she can "cook" for herself or her children is limited. She can't bathe her children because she physically can't make her body cooperate with that task. Thankfully her speech has come back although slow at times when her brain is moving fast but she has become quite proficient at voice texting!!
I truly believe the thing that got to me the most was the fast that she cannot recall the most basic of information. She can't remember dates or numbers. She is 32 years old and doesn't remember her date of birth, her children's ages, her phone number, or any other numerical data. She is amazing though and is the most organized, cognitively impaired person I have ever seen! She has binders labeled with all of her medical papers, bills, important information, etc and she is working SO HARD to not burden others with her issues. Before I got there she and her cousin created a dry erase chart for all of her medications so that she could check them off each day and keep track on her own - how amazing is that!! We created a wall in her kitchen that also has her vital information right in view should she have to give it out to anyone over the phone. I had to ask her for the year of her birth for something we were doing and she just stared at me...you could tell she was trying so hard to recall the information and it just wasn't coming to her.
Over the weekend we installed a keyless lock on her front door so that medical personnel or neighbors could get to her in the event of an emergency. We also installed cameras inside the house in all the rooms so that while away from home, her husband could keep an eye on her and make sure she was safe. I taught her how to order groceries online and have them delivered to her house so that she wouldn't have to add one more thing to her husbands plate. We set her bills up on BillPay and I plan on helping her keep track of all her finances. The police and fire departments have been made aware of her situation and assured me that they will make random safety checks on her. We made so many changes but there are still so many things she needs to help in her recovery that I simply can't provide on my own and that is why I am reaching out to others.
To add even more on her plate, Leah must have a heart surgery to repair and close the hole in her heart that has caused these strokes. Her surgery will happen within the next month which will inevitably knock her back a few notches. This girl needs a break!
Leah and Kyle have basic health insurance with a $10,000 deductible. This alone is going to be a huge hardship since Leah is now unable to work or drive and has no way to contribute to the family budget. Some other things I feel are vital to her wellbeing are housecleaning services, laundry assistance, childcare, meal preparation help, someone who can get her out of the house every once in a while, etc. We also need to make sure she continues getting the therapy services she so desperately needs in order to keep moving forward with her recovery. The list could go on and on.
Any donation, small or large, will be go far in helping me to help Leah, Kyle and her boys, Lennon and Harrison. Please consider donating to this beautiful woman who has been dealt a really tough hand right now. God is good all the time and we know he will bless her and provide for her!
Whenever you don't understand what is happening in your life, just close your eyes, take a deep breath and say: "God, I know it is your plan. Just help me through it."
"I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you." 2 Kings 20:5
Thank you for your consideration in this effort.
Jennifer Gibbons
Other ways to help:
eGift Cards from Amazon or Target that can help with supplies and necessities can be emailed to [email redacted]
Organizer
Jennifer Gibbons
Organizer
League City, TX