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On Sunday October 4th, our dear friend Alicia Kucera suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, and was left paralyzed on her left side below the neck. Ever since, she has been in the hospital and has recently been transferred to the stroke unit at Scarborough Birchmount Hospital
Alicia immigrated from Mexico years ago and found her calling looking after our furry friends. For over 20 years, alongside her colleague Wanda, she's been working at Leaps and Bounds. She has dedicated countless hours and resources caring for our dogs, treating them as her own. The dedication and passion she shows in her work resonates with many families across Toronto.
Some of these families, like ourselves, consider her a part of our family. Always with a smile on her face, Alicia never shies away from helping anyone in need. In her spare time, she works at a vet clinic, helping care for sick animals. When she is not looking after sick animals, she is helping immigrants with donations of extra food and clothing. Aside from being a loving animal person, she is one of the most kind-hearted people we've ever met. Her devotion, kind-heartedness, and positive energy resonates with all who meet her.
Though things are looking up, the journey Alicia is on will be a long one. Unfortunately, she will be unable to work for the foreseeable future - the recovery period is unknown. Alicia is the sole provider for her mother who lives with her and the caretaker of numerous other pets.
We've started this GoFundMe to help Alicia cover the costs of her care and living so that she can focus all her energy on healing. Times are tough for many of us right now, and Alicia needs the support of her family, friends, and clients in these uncertain times. She will need to stay in the hospital to receive extensive occupational therapy and physiotherapy to help her learn to walk and use her left side again.
So many have benefitted from her kindness; we hope that we can pay it forward and help her get back on her feet as quickly as possible. Our dogs are patiently waiting at the door for her return and we are asking for your help to make that happen.
Update:
As many of you know on October 4th Alicia suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and has been in hospital ever since. At first, Alicia had no feeling on the left side of her body but over the past few months, with help from the hospital physiotherapists, occupational therapists and Alicia's determination she has improved. Alicia is now able to walk with a walker, use stairs with help of an arm bar and use a wheelchair when needed. Her left arm is still not functioning but she is able to lift it - something that she could not do 2 months ago. She recently had a CT scan, which indicated that her brain is now clear of any bleeding. This is excellent news! She is on medication for her blood pressure to keep it in "check".
Some of you may not know, while in the hospital Alicia’s mother, who lives with her, also suffered a stroke, albeit not as devastating as Alicia's. The stroke was still serious enough that the doctors have kept Alicia’s mom in the hospital for over a month. As it happened, they have shared the same room. Having both mother and daughter at the hospital at the same time, and both suffering a stroke, is not something the hospital staff had ever experienced before! This was a rare but unfortunate situation. As you can imagine, this has just added more stress and further complications to Alicia's life.
The good news - Alicia and her mom, are going home on Dec. 9th. Of course Alicia is looking forward to seeing Charlie and her two cats, however the transition to home will not be easy. It is over the next few months that Alicia will need our help most. That's where "we" (Alicia's wonderful group of clients and friends) come in. I have heard from many of you who have asked how she is doing and what you can do to help. Once she gets home, she will need help with many of the simplest day to day tasks that we all take for granted: cooking/ cleaning/ food shopping/ going to appointments etc.
If you are interested in helping - in whatever way you can - please let me know and I will let you know how you can help. You can email me at [email redacted] or text me at [phone redacted]
I know that Alicia deeply appreciates all the calls/ well wishes, care packages, financial help and support you have given to her so far. She is only partway through her journey of recovery, with our help she can continue to recover and come back to our pups that miss her so much!
Alicia immigrated from Mexico years ago and found her calling looking after our furry friends. For over 20 years, alongside her colleague Wanda, she's been working at Leaps and Bounds. She has dedicated countless hours and resources caring for our dogs, treating them as her own. The dedication and passion she shows in her work resonates with many families across Toronto.
Some of these families, like ourselves, consider her a part of our family. Always with a smile on her face, Alicia never shies away from helping anyone in need. In her spare time, she works at a vet clinic, helping care for sick animals. When she is not looking after sick animals, she is helping immigrants with donations of extra food and clothing. Aside from being a loving animal person, she is one of the most kind-hearted people we've ever met. Her devotion, kind-heartedness, and positive energy resonates with all who meet her.
Though things are looking up, the journey Alicia is on will be a long one. Unfortunately, she will be unable to work for the foreseeable future - the recovery period is unknown. Alicia is the sole provider for her mother who lives with her and the caretaker of numerous other pets.
We've started this GoFundMe to help Alicia cover the costs of her care and living so that she can focus all her energy on healing. Times are tough for many of us right now, and Alicia needs the support of her family, friends, and clients in these uncertain times. She will need to stay in the hospital to receive extensive occupational therapy and physiotherapy to help her learn to walk and use her left side again.
So many have benefitted from her kindness; we hope that we can pay it forward and help her get back on her feet as quickly as possible. Our dogs are patiently waiting at the door for her return and we are asking for your help to make that happen.
Update:
As many of you know on October 4th Alicia suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and has been in hospital ever since. At first, Alicia had no feeling on the left side of her body but over the past few months, with help from the hospital physiotherapists, occupational therapists and Alicia's determination she has improved. Alicia is now able to walk with a walker, use stairs with help of an arm bar and use a wheelchair when needed. Her left arm is still not functioning but she is able to lift it - something that she could not do 2 months ago. She recently had a CT scan, which indicated that her brain is now clear of any bleeding. This is excellent news! She is on medication for her blood pressure to keep it in "check".
Some of you may not know, while in the hospital Alicia’s mother, who lives with her, also suffered a stroke, albeit not as devastating as Alicia's. The stroke was still serious enough that the doctors have kept Alicia’s mom in the hospital for over a month. As it happened, they have shared the same room. Having both mother and daughter at the hospital at the same time, and both suffering a stroke, is not something the hospital staff had ever experienced before! This was a rare but unfortunate situation. As you can imagine, this has just added more stress and further complications to Alicia's life.
The good news - Alicia and her mom, are going home on Dec. 9th. Of course Alicia is looking forward to seeing Charlie and her two cats, however the transition to home will not be easy. It is over the next few months that Alicia will need our help most. That's where "we" (Alicia's wonderful group of clients and friends) come in. I have heard from many of you who have asked how she is doing and what you can do to help. Once she gets home, she will need help with many of the simplest day to day tasks that we all take for granted: cooking/ cleaning/ food shopping/ going to appointments etc.
If you are interested in helping - in whatever way you can - please let me know and I will let you know how you can help. You can email me at [email redacted] or text me at [phone redacted]
I know that Alicia deeply appreciates all the calls/ well wishes, care packages, financial help and support you have given to her so far. She is only partway through her journey of recovery, with our help she can continue to recover and come back to our pups that miss her so much!
Organizer and beneficiary
Alicia Kucera
Beneficiary