BeauVember

November 15, 2021
UPDATE
Just 15 days into BeauVember we have made significant strides toward our goal of $50,000; while we have not met the goal yet, we are very appreciative for all the support.  Big push to the end of the month!

This  weekend we took the opportunity to upgrade the entry to Beau's home.  The previous front stoop was not ideal for Beau to safely enter into the house, so we built a new deck! 

Results are positive: 





Before: 

Additionally, we have made progress on outpatient therapy (OT, PT and Speech Therapy) and private care support.  Home Health visits have not been as consistent as we hoped.  That said we think we found a Private Care expert to come to Beau's home 8 hours each day to help transport him to and from outpatient therapy, tidy up around the house and prepare meals.  More to come, and another update shortly. All that said, below is a breakdown of the new therapy strategy: 

Private Care Expert schedule and cost: Joanne's Home Care
Starting Tuesday November 16th, 2021
Monday-Friday --> 8 hours @ $25/hour (40 hours/week) = $1,000/week

Outpatient Therapy: At Select Health Cherry Tree facility in Hanover (PJV Cherry Tree)
Most weeks: We have a much more specific schedule if you want more details please reach out
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday--> 1 hour PT per day
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday--> 1 hour OT per day
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday--> 1 hour Speech Therapy per day
Total Therapy --> 9 hours/week 

First Medical Bills received this week: WellSpan Health (ICU): 
$2,024 to be paid with this fund. 

Again, myself along with my wife (Trisha Niemuth) and Khelia Dunkerly are managing these funds to be paid to Select Health, Joanne's Home Care and the bill from WellSpan Health for Beau's initial ICU stay. 

Your contributions are allowing Beau to focus on his recovery and gain his independence back! We will keep updating this link as we progress!

Thank you all for your help! 

Best, 

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On behalf of Beau, Jack, and James Dunkerly:

 

In September our friend, colleague, and father of two great boys (Jack 10yo and James 14yo) suffered a severe stroke.

 

 

 

As a result of the stroke, Beau Dunkerly, who is just 42 years old, spent several weeks in the ICU before moving to Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Mechanicsburg for an additional 4 weeks of intense therapy. Those weeks at Encompass Health were so important for his recovery; hard, difficult, and lonely, but critical. His awareness and cognitive recognition substantially improved. He was making great strides but, unfortunately his time at Encompass Health had to come to an end and he was discharged home with home health.

 

Even with the great strides he took, Beau is still working through profound aphasia (inability to produce speech) and apraxia (the brain’s inability to develop plans for speech movement). Therapy and hard work are the keys to re-training his brain to develop new pathways and overcome aphasia and apraxia.

 

Beau is still early in his treatment. But as you can see, he is not taking recovery lying down:

 

 

The unknown about Beau’s recovery is the part that cannot be planned for.

 

We are asking for your financial support to ensure more time with nurses and therapists to aide in his full recovery. Beau was guaranteed to receive 19 therapy visits (at the time of this post 11/1/2021) before exhausting treatments. After exhausting his treatments covered by insurance, any costs associated with additional therapy will be out of pocket.

 

Furthermore, the money you donate will be used to support Beau living in his home on his own with his boys. In order to do so however, private caretakers are necessary to assist with daily living essentials such as transport to physician appointments, cleaning, grocery shopping, cooking, laundry, and the all the other little things required to function day to day. This support is paramount for Beau to remain at his home and focus on his recovery; to work every day to re-develop his ability to communicate, move and thrive.

The goal is to allow Beau the financial independence to ensure 6 full months of therapy and private care.  The funds would be used as follow: 

Home Health Visits: $150/visit --> 5 days/week        $9,000
Out Patient Visits:     $100/visit --> 5 days/week        $6,000
Private Care:                 $25/hour  --> 12 hours/day    $25,200
Medical bills (hand rails, ramps, etc...)                                $9,800

 

Research supports that the first six months after a stroke are the most critical in a patient's recovery - this is when the need for the most intensive and consistent physical, occupational, and speech therapy is the most crucial. Though Beau is very fortunate to have insurance, it only will take him through half of the six months needed.

 

Beau has a great big beautiful world in front of him. He is 42 years strong, and with support from his friends and colleagues he can fully recover.

 

We ask for your support to help this big hearted, hardworking father and friend.

As you may know, I am Michael Blaisure a friend, colleague and adjacent town neighbor (Mechanicsburg, PA) of Beau.  We have worked together for 8 years and been close for the last 3 years.  Trisha Niemuth and myself will manage the funds to be paid directly to the therapy group, Private Care professionals and any home improvements necessary to assist Beau in his recover.