My mom, Kellie, suffered a serious ischemic stroke on May 4, 2026, in Norfolk, Virginia. The stroke affected the left side of her brain, including a left MCA occlusion, and caused major speech and mobility issues, including expressive aphasia, some receptive aphasia, weakness, and difficulty with motor control. After testing, doctors found that she has a PFO, which stands for patent foramen ovale. A PFO is a small opening between the upper chambers of the heart that normally closes shortly after birth, but in some people it stays open. When that happens, it can allow a blood clot to pass through the heart and travel to the brain, which can cause a stroke. Her cardiologist stated that this PFO was the main cause of her stroke.
Because of this, her recovery is not just about stroke rehab right now. She will also need follow-up heart care and is expected to have another procedure in about 4–6 weeks to close the PFO. The procedure is minimally invasive, but it is still another major medical step she will have to go through after she is stable enough and further along in her stroke recovery. Doctors are also planning additional heart monitoring after discharge to make sure she has not had any episodes of atrial fibrillation or other rhythm issues that could have contributed to the stroke. The good news is that she is already making progress. Within the first few days, she went from being almost completely nonverbal to saying short words and phrases, answering yes/no questions, reciting the alphabet, counting, saying family names, feeding herself, brushing her hair, standing, and taking a few steps with therapy. Her recovery so far has given us a lot of hope, but she still has a long road ahead with speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, heart follow-up, and ongoing medical care.
Right now, one of the biggest challenges is figuring out the safest rehab and discharge plan. My wife and I live in Raleigh, North Carolina, while my mom is currently in Virginia. I do not have siblings or other family nearby who can step in and provide 24/7 care. Some acute inpatient rehab facilities have said she may be a good candidate, but they require a clear discharge plan and proof of care after rehab. We are also dealing with the complicated process of transferring her care and coverage from Virginia to North Carolina. During that transition and the timelines with rehab we need to follow, there will be gaps or delays in insurance or Medicaid coverage, which will leave us having to pay out of pocket for rehab, skilled nursing, private therapy, transportation, or temporary care while everything is being processed. Any funds raised will go directly toward my mom’s stroke recovery, including rehab, therapy, medical transportation, temporary care during coverage gaps, medical equipment, travel expenses, follow-up heart care, and anything needed to help her continue improving. We are incredibly grateful for any help, prayers, advice, or support as we try to give my mom the best chance at recovery.
Because of this, her recovery is not just about stroke rehab right now. She will also need follow-up heart care and is expected to have another procedure in about 4–6 weeks to close the PFO. The procedure is minimally invasive, but it is still another major medical step she will have to go through after she is stable enough and further along in her stroke recovery. Doctors are also planning additional heart monitoring after discharge to make sure she has not had any episodes of atrial fibrillation or other rhythm issues that could have contributed to the stroke. The good news is that she is already making progress. Within the first few days, she went from being almost completely nonverbal to saying short words and phrases, answering yes/no questions, reciting the alphabet, counting, saying family names, feeding herself, brushing her hair, standing, and taking a few steps with therapy. Her recovery so far has given us a lot of hope, but she still has a long road ahead with speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, heart follow-up, and ongoing medical care.
Right now, one of the biggest challenges is figuring out the safest rehab and discharge plan. My wife and I live in Raleigh, North Carolina, while my mom is currently in Virginia. I do not have siblings or other family nearby who can step in and provide 24/7 care. Some acute inpatient rehab facilities have said she may be a good candidate, but they require a clear discharge plan and proof of care after rehab. We are also dealing with the complicated process of transferring her care and coverage from Virginia to North Carolina. During that transition and the timelines with rehab we need to follow, there will be gaps or delays in insurance or Medicaid coverage, which will leave us having to pay out of pocket for rehab, skilled nursing, private therapy, transportation, or temporary care while everything is being processed. Any funds raised will go directly toward my mom’s stroke recovery, including rehab, therapy, medical transportation, temporary care during coverage gaps, medical equipment, travel expenses, follow-up heart care, and anything needed to help her continue improving. We are incredibly grateful for any help, prayers, advice, or support as we try to give my mom the best chance at recovery.