Deborah's Journey
Donation protected
It's hard to imagine what a young mother of three must feel when she's handed the diagnosis of having a brain tumor, and that surgery is needed immediately to remove it. So many different variables must swirl through your mind as you have to face one of the greatest fears...that your children might have to go on without you.
bravely, Deborah faced these fears, her surgery was a success, and her three children will have their mother around for what looks to be a very long time. But the stress of a successful surgery for a brain tumor is not where Deborah's journey ends. Now she looks at being disabled and unable to work. Primary caretaker to three children, including one with special needs, and not eligible to receive government assistance to carry her through while she recuperates. Although Deborah is so fortunate to have such a loving family to help her, it's time to reach out for help in any way. Deborah should be focusing on recovery, and getting well enough to work and care for her children again. not wondering how in the world ends are going to meet, and how she's going to do it all...
Deborah's journey began on Oct 7th, a couple of moons ago! Although she'll tell you she's only 23! She grew up in a very loving, dysfunctional, amazing family. Yes, I said dysfunctional but we embraced our dysfunction! It didn't define us. What we had was love, and a lot of it! Deborah had her first child in 1997. This is a baby the doctors told her she may never have due to a pedestrian/car accident 7 years prior. Denika, was a beautiful baby and has turned into a beautiful young woman. She had her second baby in March of 2009. This baby was special from the moment she entered this world. Not only special to us, but special needs too. She has Down Syndrome. But that diagnosis doesn't define who she is. She is our Amazing Graci. She has taught us so much in her brief 4, nearly 5 years. She is truly a gift! Graci had open heart surgery at 4 months old. If you'd like to read about Graci's journey, please click here: We've been blessed with Graci
Deborah had her third baby in 2011, a boy. Gunnar is ALL boy! And is just the best little brother.
Fast forward to September 25, 2013. Deborah had a seizure, although no one was home to see it, she ended up having a broken toe and bruises all over her body. The ER docs couldn't find any reason why. Nothing was showing on any of the scans they did. We thank god every day that the little ones were not home at the time.
Nearly two months later, she and her oldest were driving in the car. Deborah stopped the car in the middle of a busy road and began to act strange. Denika couldn't get her to respond. Deborah began driving again and once again, she stopped the car. This time, she got out. Denika immediately called for help. Deborah had a seizure in the ambulance and once again in the ER while undergoing a CT scan.
This time, the scan showed something. Something in her brain. We had to wait 5 days to find out the diagnosis. A brain tumor.
Deborah underwent brain surgery the day after Thanksgiving. It was a success! They were able to take out a walnut sized piece of her brain. She is now in 3 days a week, 6.5 hrs a day therapy, including Physical, Occupational and Speech. She is able to function, but she just isn't herself.. yet. She has needed 24 hour care since the day she came home. She doesn't have any immediate family where she lives. She does have a great support system of friends and neighbors who have stepped up to help where they can. Such as bringing meals to the house and helping with the little ones. And most of all, just being there for Deborah. She is lucky, indeed!
Now as she goes through the therapies to get back to her normal life, bills are piling up, food needs to be put on the table, you know.. life.
We are asking for a little help, just to buy her some time to get back on her feet, which she will! She's goal oriented and she will do this! Once she is back on her feet and financially stable again, any donations she receives will be paid forward to another person or family who are in need. It may not be right away, but it will happen.
Deborah has and will continue to live in gratitude. Grateful for so many things. She is truly blessed.
Sincerely,
Denise
(Deborah's SupaSista)
Deborah's journey began on Oct 7th, a couple of moons ago! Although she'll tell you she's only 23! She grew up in a very loving, dysfunctional, amazing family. Yes, I said dysfunctional but we embraced our dysfunction! It didn't define us. What we had was love, and a lot of it! Deborah had her first child in 1997. This is a baby the doctors told her she may never have due to a pedestrian/car accident 7 years prior. Denika, was a beautiful baby and has turned into a beautiful young woman. She had her second baby in March of 2009. This baby was special from the moment she entered this world. Not only special to us, but special needs too. She has Down Syndrome. But that diagnosis doesn't define who she is. She is our Amazing Graci. She has taught us so much in her brief 4, nearly 5 years. She is truly a gift! Graci had open heart surgery at 4 months old. If you'd like to read about Graci's journey, please click here: We've been blessed with Graci
Deborah had her third baby in 2011, a boy. Gunnar is ALL boy! And is just the best little brother.
Fast forward to September 25, 2013. Deborah had a seizure, although no one was home to see it, she ended up having a broken toe and bruises all over her body. The ER docs couldn't find any reason why. Nothing was showing on any of the scans they did. We thank god every day that the little ones were not home at the time.
Nearly two months later, she and her oldest were driving in the car. Deborah stopped the car in the middle of a busy road and began to act strange. Denika couldn't get her to respond. Deborah began driving again and once again, she stopped the car. This time, she got out. Denika immediately called for help. Deborah had a seizure in the ambulance and once again in the ER while undergoing a CT scan.
This time, the scan showed something. Something in her brain. We had to wait 5 days to find out the diagnosis. A brain tumor.
Deborah underwent brain surgery the day after Thanksgiving. It was a success! They were able to take out a walnut sized piece of her brain. She is now in 3 days a week, 6.5 hrs a day therapy, including Physical, Occupational and Speech. She is able to function, but she just isn't herself.. yet. She has needed 24 hour care since the day she came home. She doesn't have any immediate family where she lives. She does have a great support system of friends and neighbors who have stepped up to help where they can. Such as bringing meals to the house and helping with the little ones. And most of all, just being there for Deborah. She is lucky, indeed!
Now as she goes through the therapies to get back to her normal life, bills are piling up, food needs to be put on the table, you know.. life.
We are asking for a little help, just to buy her some time to get back on her feet, which she will! She's goal oriented and she will do this! Once she is back on her feet and financially stable again, any donations she receives will be paid forward to another person or family who are in need. It may not be right away, but it will happen.
Deborah has and will continue to live in gratitude. Grateful for so many things. She is truly blessed.
Sincerely,
Denise
(Deborah's SupaSista)
Organizer
Denise Bendiksen
Organizer
