Support Rachel's Long Road to Recovery

It is with a heavy heart that we are sharing that our beloved sister, Rachel suffered a major stroke this week on Monday, February 24th. She is in the ICU in critical condition. She is receiving treatment and is experiencing severe limitations in mobility and communication. Rachel has always been a strong believer in building connections and supportive villages for one another. In this moment of great need, we are calling upon this community for support.

Rachel is a 36-year-old wife and mother of two beautiful girls (ages 12 and 8). The impact of this medical event will have a major shift in her family’s immediate future and will result in an extensive long-term recovery. Rachel already had a long and complicated medical history prior to the stroke; managing Crohn’s, autoimmune disorders, severe asthma, among other conditions. Her health journey up to this point had been difficult and financially straining to manage. The financial impact of her recovery from this stroke and the loss of income from not being able to work will be immense. Rachel has been self-employed for many years running her own successful music and arts business, which will now be completely placed on hold and not generating any income. This GoFundMe is a very important way for her family to maintain stability and be able to prepare for the very long road ahead.

Rachel has worked in the field of art and music for over 10 years in Seattle. She has worked in Elementary Schools, directed choirs and musicals for children, taught private piano and voice lessons to kids and adults, provided art programming to preschools, and even has been contractually working with the Seattle Art Museum on their community outreach art programs. Rachel has touched the lives of so many people and has inspired them to nurture their passion for the arts. Her love of art and self-expression is strong. She loves to garden, sing from her heart, and play the piano. She loves to draw, paint, and learn new creative skills. She loves to share stories and connect with friends and family in intimate and authentic ways. But most of all, she loves her family and kids, everything she does is done with love for them.

Now, after her stroke, she is starting from scratch. Rachel’s stroke took place in the left side of her brain causing paralysis on the right side of her body, and it has affected regions of her brain associated with speech and language. She is currently unable to talk or vocalize. Her recovery will be tremendously difficult as she works to improve and regain movement, speech, and strength. She will likely be in the hospital for a while and then be moved to a rehab center for the difficult new beginning. Her husband Garrett and her two daughters will be making huge adjustments in their life as they navigate this long process of grief and healing. All our lives are forever changed, but we will all work together to support Rachel and her family through the entirety of her journey. Rachel has an amazing team of doctors and nurses helping her regain her strength and health, their words and actions thus far have instilled a great amount of faith and trust in them.

We ask that you donate and show financial support during this time, if you feel moved and able to do so. We also ask that you share this GoFundMe with others so we can expand the call for support.

With all the love and immense gratitude,

Rachel’s Siblings – Kyndra, Heather, & Jordan