Bring Scott to Craig Hospital
Donation protected
On February 20th Scott (my dad) was on his daily after work walk to the neighborhood gym he started to feel something weird on the left side of his face. He called my mom and then immediately called 911. We would soon find out after a 6 hour surgery that my dad had a cerebellum AVM (arteriovenous malformation) rupture causing a massive stroke. We are so thankful for the quick response from the ambulance service that evening and the amazing Dr. Abuawad who saved his life that night.
AVM’s occur in 1% of the population and they form in utero during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, so my dad has had this his entire life. It was explained to us has he had a ticking time bomb in his head. An AVM is a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins on the brain. 50% of people who have a ruptured AVM do not make it to the hospital in time to receive treatment. We feel so blessed that he made it through surgery and the 2 weeks following surgery which were the biggest immediate hurdles. He has now been cleared for rehab and this is where we need your help.
He has been unable to use his left side of his body since coming out of surgery. In the profile picture his right hand is touching his left arm, that is because they do not want him to forget that his left arm is still there and have asked him to hold it when he is awake. He usually insists on holding it along with holding my mom’s hand all at the same time! He cutely winks at my mom, to tell her that he loves her. Currently his biggest frustration is his inability to communicate with us, if you know Scott this is a big problem. Currently he is communicating with us through a series of eye blinks and hand moments on the right side. He is becoming more aware of the situation mentally but is unable to get his body to work with his mind. The last few days have been the hardest on him mentally as the reality of stroke is hitting him hard, with desperately wanting to communicate with us and being unable to. He is currently breathing on his own with a trach and has a feeding tube.
Dad is in this weird age between 60-65, where you're not under 60 but you’re not over 65 yet. Dr. Abuawad recommended intense rehab at 8 hours a day for dad and there are no options in South Florida. We started researching rehabs that were the best but also a location that would provide my mom and dad with the most support on this long road to recovery. We have decided that Craig Hospital would be the best choice for all of his many needs moving forward. Craig Hospital is one of the top 10 rehab hospitals in the country for spinal cord and brain injuries and is in Denver, Colorado (myself, my sister, my dad sisters and many other family members all live in Denver)!
We received the wonderful news this morning that dad was accepted into Craig hospital's rehab program. This news is absolutely amazing as they do not take many patients over the age of 60 but after meeting him, my mom and my aunts yesterday they saw his strong support system, his ability to fight and his hard work ethic that we all know him so well for. They will be able to provide him the support to learn how to hopefully walk, talk and eat again!
There are many out of pocket expenses that will be incurred during this transition to and time at Craig. We are humbly asking you for your donations to help support Scott's road to recovery at Craig Hospital. The first large expense will bean air ambulance flight from Florida to Denver that will take place this week or next with the initial estimates being $25,000-$30,000. Any additional funds will all go to any other medical expenses. We are fighting hard right alongside him to give him the best opportunity to live a life as close to normal and we know that Craig will offer the best chance at that.
We told my dad that he was going to Craig this morning and he cried his first tears since being in the ICU, he is overjoyed with the opportunity. McKenzie (Scott's oldest granddaughter) offered all of her allowance this morning to start the Go Fund me with $8.57. McKenzie will match the first gift at $8.57! She can’t wait for her Papa to be able to walk her and her sister up to the park soon!
AVM’s occur in 1% of the population and they form in utero during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, so my dad has had this his entire life. It was explained to us has he had a ticking time bomb in his head. An AVM is a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins on the brain. 50% of people who have a ruptured AVM do not make it to the hospital in time to receive treatment. We feel so blessed that he made it through surgery and the 2 weeks following surgery which were the biggest immediate hurdles. He has now been cleared for rehab and this is where we need your help.
He has been unable to use his left side of his body since coming out of surgery. In the profile picture his right hand is touching his left arm, that is because they do not want him to forget that his left arm is still there and have asked him to hold it when he is awake. He usually insists on holding it along with holding my mom’s hand all at the same time! He cutely winks at my mom, to tell her that he loves her. Currently his biggest frustration is his inability to communicate with us, if you know Scott this is a big problem. Currently he is communicating with us through a series of eye blinks and hand moments on the right side. He is becoming more aware of the situation mentally but is unable to get his body to work with his mind. The last few days have been the hardest on him mentally as the reality of stroke is hitting him hard, with desperately wanting to communicate with us and being unable to. He is currently breathing on his own with a trach and has a feeding tube.
Dad is in this weird age between 60-65, where you're not under 60 but you’re not over 65 yet. Dr. Abuawad recommended intense rehab at 8 hours a day for dad and there are no options in South Florida. We started researching rehabs that were the best but also a location that would provide my mom and dad with the most support on this long road to recovery. We have decided that Craig Hospital would be the best choice for all of his many needs moving forward. Craig Hospital is one of the top 10 rehab hospitals in the country for spinal cord and brain injuries and is in Denver, Colorado (myself, my sister, my dad sisters and many other family members all live in Denver)!
We received the wonderful news this morning that dad was accepted into Craig hospital's rehab program. This news is absolutely amazing as they do not take many patients over the age of 60 but after meeting him, my mom and my aunts yesterday they saw his strong support system, his ability to fight and his hard work ethic that we all know him so well for. They will be able to provide him the support to learn how to hopefully walk, talk and eat again!
There are many out of pocket expenses that will be incurred during this transition to and time at Craig. We are humbly asking you for your donations to help support Scott's road to recovery at Craig Hospital. The first large expense will bean air ambulance flight from Florida to Denver that will take place this week or next with the initial estimates being $25,000-$30,000. Any additional funds will all go to any other medical expenses. We are fighting hard right alongside him to give him the best opportunity to live a life as close to normal and we know that Craig will offer the best chance at that.
We told my dad that he was going to Craig this morning and he cried his first tears since being in the ICU, he is overjoyed with the opportunity. McKenzie (Scott's oldest granddaughter) offered all of her allowance this morning to start the Go Fund me with $8.57. McKenzie will match the first gift at $8.57! She can’t wait for her Papa to be able to walk her and her sister up to the park soon!
Organizer and beneficiary
Lauren Knudsen
Organizer
Littleton, CO
Cindy Phillips
Beneficiary