Jane Kelly: Fight Brain Injury #JoinJanesJourney
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Help Mama Bear Come Home - Brain Hemorrhage Recovery Support for Jane Kelly
“Very likely not survivable” is how the medical staff at the ER explained Jane’s injury.
As my world crumbled around me, the doctor explained that my wife had suffered an Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH) in her brain. When asked whether it was a stroke, the doctor said “This event is significantly worse than a stroke and is very likely not survivable. Tremendous intracranial pressure has developed that is crushing her brain. Without intervention, your wife will die.”
Confused and terrified, I looked down at my comatose, intubated wife who was completely nonresponsive. To think, that night (September 25th) we had gone to bed, our three children slumbering with not a care in the world, and now everything was in complete disarray - our plans and dreams shattered to pieces in a few short hours.
Overcoming the Odds
• Mother of 3 beautiful children
• Friend and mentor to the community
• Kind, loving, and caring partner
• Active church member
• Determined and fierce Mama Bear
Those are just a few ways to describe Jane. She is also an incredible woman who never backs down from a challenge. Over the next few weeks, the medical staff was able to relieve and regulate the incredibly high intracranial pressures that her entire brain and brain stem were experiencing. After two weeks of very skilled care and countless prayers, Jane had survived the Intraventricular Hemorrhage!
While we now had a renewed sense of hope, we learned that the IVH had caused a massive stroke (technically, a Deep Nuclei Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury - HIBI) while the blood vessels in Jane’s brain were squeezed shut by high intracranial pressure. Jane’s doctors became more pessimistic with time and said they couldn’t provide a medical prediction until Jane woke. Eventually, one individual went as far as to inform us that we should expect Jane never to wake and to spend the rest of her days in a nursing home.
However, there is another word to describe my wife… she is a fighter! On November 25th, nearly 2 months after the initial event, her physician noted that Jane was becoming aware and responding to her environment…Jane was awake! Now, we had an attainable goal… to get our “Mama Bear” back to her cubs!
What’s Next for Jane?
Since Jane’s waking, our journey to recovery has been riddled with bumps, bruises, and curveballs. From the insurance company fighting us on every decision to our three elementary-aged children’s ongoing care, the only thing certain was that my wife would not give up, and we were not yet defeated! Twice, Jane needed to be transferred to another program to receive the care her doctors prescribed, and twice the insurance company denied that care and tried to send her to a nursing home because her treatment did not meet their criteria for “Medical Necessity.” We were granted miracles each time. Jane fought hard and improved just enough at the 11th hour that an appeal from her doctors was successful, and the insurance company reversed their decision.
--Craig Institute:
Another miracle was on December 8th, when Jane was admitted to Craig Hospital in Colorado – one of the best Neuro Rehab Hospitals for brain injury anywhere. Jane was transported from Raleigh, NC to Colorado on December 14th (12 years to the day of when we flew to Colorado for our honeymoon), where she participated in intense in-patient neuro rehab. When at the Craig Hospital, Jane worked with multiple therapists every day trying to relearn how to speak and move her body the way she wants. The medical staff has noted that she comprehends, but she just can’t make herself heard. For the last 3 months, I’ve spoken for her and I can’t wait to hear our Mama Bear Roar!
--QLI
Unfortunately, the stay at Craig Hospital was cut short due to insurance denials, and Jane was forced to leave the amazing Neuro Rehab program. BUT...once again, with persistence and the desire to do what is best for Jane, she was accepted at QLI- Brain Injury Center. QLI is a rehabilitation center in Omaha, Nebraska that specializes in care for adults with brain injury, spinal cord injury, and other neurological injuries. They embrace a model that focuses on providing excellent medical care, restoring functional skills, and building hope and optimism. The state-of-the-art facility has a dedicated staff to help with rehabilitation and consistently produces outcomes. It is an absolute bonus that the team at Craig Institute loves them and believes that Jane will get the therapy she needs to continue getting better.
Cost Factors
While Jane continues to improve, our family has a long road ahead of us regardless of how much function Jane is able to recover. After completing the Inpatient Neuro Rehab program, there is Outpatient Neuro Rehab. Then, stroke recovery continues slowly due to the natural healing that occurs as someone works to overcome the challenges of daily living.
At Craig Hospital and QLI, I’m required to participate in Jane’s therapy while she heals and relearns. It’s a full-time job, and I’m learning how to support and care for her when she returns home. With caring for our three children, I’m not able to return to my normal job. Needless to say, our family’s needs are mounting.
Specific Costs:
• Living Costs – house payments, utilities, and everything else associated with keeping our household running in North Carolina
• Housing Costs in Colorado/Omaha (1600+ miles from our home) while in Neuro Rehab
• Child Care – There are times when I’m caring for Jane that I cannot be physically present to care for our children
• Uncovered Medical Costs – Some tests and procedures associated with Jane’s care are not covered by our insurance. From insurance loopholes that deny claims to be necessary and quickly performed procedures that occur without preauthorization, the bills are piling up
• Home Modifications/ Moving Costs – Our home is not accessible. We will need to either remodel it or move to a different home that will accommodate Jane’s needs
• Accessible Vehicle – Jane will need to be able to get into and out of our vehicle. It is unlikely that she will get that far in 2 months
• Continual Insurance Appeal Costs – Brain injury rehabilitation is a slow process. Jane’s doctors have warned me to expect ups and downs, good weeks and bad weeks. Medical Necessity is reassessed weekly, so insurance has the opportunity to deny Jane’s care every week moving forward. We hope our insurance company will be fair, but because of the pattern so far, I’ve engaged a law firm to help with the anticipated ongoing appeals
• Rehabilitation Costs After a Future Neurosurgery to Repair the Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) that bled to cause the Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH) that caused the Deep Nuclei Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury (HIBI). Jane survived the IVH and is fighting to overcome the HIBI, but the AVM is still there and cannot be addressed right now without putting an end to Jane’s recovery from the stroke
Jane is and will continue to fight and reclaim every inch possible on her road to recovery. Family is incredibly important to her... she is the epitome of a “Mama Bear” and will do anything to return home to our children. (In fact, Jane is one of the fiercest mama bears I've known.) While we don’t know the future of Jane’s recovery, each donation on this page will help her and our family with the ever-mounting needs as we face this challenge.
Please know that your prayers are appreciated regardless of whether you make a financial gift.
Want to learn more, visit Jane's Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/joinjanes.journey/
“Very likely not survivable” is how the medical staff at the ER explained Jane’s injury.
As my world crumbled around me, the doctor explained that my wife had suffered an Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH) in her brain. When asked whether it was a stroke, the doctor said “This event is significantly worse than a stroke and is very likely not survivable. Tremendous intracranial pressure has developed that is crushing her brain. Without intervention, your wife will die.”
Confused and terrified, I looked down at my comatose, intubated wife who was completely nonresponsive. To think, that night (September 25th) we had gone to bed, our three children slumbering with not a care in the world, and now everything was in complete disarray - our plans and dreams shattered to pieces in a few short hours.
Overcoming the Odds
• Mother of 3 beautiful children
• Friend and mentor to the community
• Kind, loving, and caring partner
• Active church member
• Determined and fierce Mama Bear
Those are just a few ways to describe Jane. She is also an incredible woman who never backs down from a challenge. Over the next few weeks, the medical staff was able to relieve and regulate the incredibly high intracranial pressures that her entire brain and brain stem were experiencing. After two weeks of very skilled care and countless prayers, Jane had survived the Intraventricular Hemorrhage!
While we now had a renewed sense of hope, we learned that the IVH had caused a massive stroke (technically, a Deep Nuclei Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury - HIBI) while the blood vessels in Jane’s brain were squeezed shut by high intracranial pressure. Jane’s doctors became more pessimistic with time and said they couldn’t provide a medical prediction until Jane woke. Eventually, one individual went as far as to inform us that we should expect Jane never to wake and to spend the rest of her days in a nursing home.
However, there is another word to describe my wife… she is a fighter! On November 25th, nearly 2 months after the initial event, her physician noted that Jane was becoming aware and responding to her environment…Jane was awake! Now, we had an attainable goal… to get our “Mama Bear” back to her cubs!
What’s Next for Jane?
Since Jane’s waking, our journey to recovery has been riddled with bumps, bruises, and curveballs. From the insurance company fighting us on every decision to our three elementary-aged children’s ongoing care, the only thing certain was that my wife would not give up, and we were not yet defeated! Twice, Jane needed to be transferred to another program to receive the care her doctors prescribed, and twice the insurance company denied that care and tried to send her to a nursing home because her treatment did not meet their criteria for “Medical Necessity.” We were granted miracles each time. Jane fought hard and improved just enough at the 11th hour that an appeal from her doctors was successful, and the insurance company reversed their decision.
--Craig Institute:
Another miracle was on December 8th, when Jane was admitted to Craig Hospital in Colorado – one of the best Neuro Rehab Hospitals for brain injury anywhere. Jane was transported from Raleigh, NC to Colorado on December 14th (12 years to the day of when we flew to Colorado for our honeymoon), where she participated in intense in-patient neuro rehab. When at the Craig Hospital, Jane worked with multiple therapists every day trying to relearn how to speak and move her body the way she wants. The medical staff has noted that she comprehends, but she just can’t make herself heard. For the last 3 months, I’ve spoken for her and I can’t wait to hear our Mama Bear Roar!
--QLI
Unfortunately, the stay at Craig Hospital was cut short due to insurance denials, and Jane was forced to leave the amazing Neuro Rehab program. BUT...once again, with persistence and the desire to do what is best for Jane, she was accepted at QLI- Brain Injury Center. QLI is a rehabilitation center in Omaha, Nebraska that specializes in care for adults with brain injury, spinal cord injury, and other neurological injuries. They embrace a model that focuses on providing excellent medical care, restoring functional skills, and building hope and optimism. The state-of-the-art facility has a dedicated staff to help with rehabilitation and consistently produces outcomes. It is an absolute bonus that the team at Craig Institute loves them and believes that Jane will get the therapy she needs to continue getting better.
Cost Factors
While Jane continues to improve, our family has a long road ahead of us regardless of how much function Jane is able to recover. After completing the Inpatient Neuro Rehab program, there is Outpatient Neuro Rehab. Then, stroke recovery continues slowly due to the natural healing that occurs as someone works to overcome the challenges of daily living.
At Craig Hospital and QLI, I’m required to participate in Jane’s therapy while she heals and relearns. It’s a full-time job, and I’m learning how to support and care for her when she returns home. With caring for our three children, I’m not able to return to my normal job. Needless to say, our family’s needs are mounting.
Specific Costs:
• Living Costs – house payments, utilities, and everything else associated with keeping our household running in North Carolina
• Housing Costs in Colorado/Omaha (1600+ miles from our home) while in Neuro Rehab
• Child Care – There are times when I’m caring for Jane that I cannot be physically present to care for our children
• Uncovered Medical Costs – Some tests and procedures associated with Jane’s care are not covered by our insurance. From insurance loopholes that deny claims to be necessary and quickly performed procedures that occur without preauthorization, the bills are piling up
• Home Modifications/ Moving Costs – Our home is not accessible. We will need to either remodel it or move to a different home that will accommodate Jane’s needs
• Accessible Vehicle – Jane will need to be able to get into and out of our vehicle. It is unlikely that she will get that far in 2 months
• Continual Insurance Appeal Costs – Brain injury rehabilitation is a slow process. Jane’s doctors have warned me to expect ups and downs, good weeks and bad weeks. Medical Necessity is reassessed weekly, so insurance has the opportunity to deny Jane’s care every week moving forward. We hope our insurance company will be fair, but because of the pattern so far, I’ve engaged a law firm to help with the anticipated ongoing appeals
• Rehabilitation Costs After a Future Neurosurgery to Repair the Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) that bled to cause the Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH) that caused the Deep Nuclei Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury (HIBI). Jane survived the IVH and is fighting to overcome the HIBI, but the AVM is still there and cannot be addressed right now without putting an end to Jane’s recovery from the stroke
Jane is and will continue to fight and reclaim every inch possible on her road to recovery. Family is incredibly important to her... she is the epitome of a “Mama Bear” and will do anything to return home to our children. (In fact, Jane is one of the fiercest mama bears I've known.) While we don’t know the future of Jane’s recovery, each donation on this page will help her and our family with the ever-mounting needs as we face this challenge.
Please know that your prayers are appreciated regardless of whether you make a financial gift.
Want to learn more, visit Jane's Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/joinjanes.journey/
Co-organizers (2)
Jason Kelly
Organizer
Raleigh, NC
Esther Wilcox
Co-organizer