Cathi DuBose Medical Care
Donation protected
On December 15, 2017 Cathi suffered an ischemic stroke that has effected the left side of her body, and has created a “field cut” of her left side vision. Effectively, she is blind from left of the midline of the normal field of view.
Cathi’s medical issues started bac k in September unbeknownst to her family or herself. Cathi flew to NC for a sister’s retreat when she experienced what she described as a three day migraine. Once the migraine subsided she noticed she was having vision issues with her left eye and there was a spot that she could not see out of. We all spent a lovely week at the beach together not knowing Cathi had experienced her first stroke, which had effected the optic portion of her brain!
Cathi returned to Seattle and sought medical care from a doctor and ophthalmologist to find the cause of the spot in her eye. They found a hole in the cornea that they felt might have been created by the migraine and the barometric pressure from flying. The doctor also discovered that Cathi had high blood pressure, so she was placed on meds and monitored. The hole started to close but the doctor discovered that there was blood behind her eye which should not be there, and so to rule out an aneurysm or tumor a Doppler of her carotid artery was done on December 13th. The Doppler reveled the fact that Cathi’s carotid artery was totally blocked and was not supplying the brain with the normal supply and flow of needed blood. An appointment was set up for Cathi to see a vascular doctor on the 19th but she never made it there. The second stroke occurred on the 15th, leaving Cathi confused, disorientated and unable to be on her own. Cathi is very fortunate that our oldest sister Cheryl lives in Seattle. She drove to her house to check on her and found Cathi in a disoriented state and took her to Swedish Medical Center, where she just had the Doppler test. It did not take long for the doctors to confirm that she in fact had had a stroke. The stroke continued to evolve over a 72 hour time period and she was left with paralysis and weakness to her left side, and blindness left of the midline of the normal field of vision. Thankfully, her mental acuity, recall and memory are intact. As is her sense of humor in this very worrisome time.
Cathi has now stabilized and has been moved to the Acute Rehabilitation Unit at Cherry Hill, which is part of Swedish medical Center. Cathi has a very long road ahead of her. She will have to relearn all the things we take for granted, like walking, eating, and reading. Due to all the hurdles she will have to overcome Cathi will have to change her life, and that means not living on her own for the foreseeable future. Catherine is very lucky as she has an amazing support system in Seattle which includes friends and Cheryl and brother-in-law Ed.
Cathi more than likely will have to move into Cheryl’s home after extensive therapy to continue the healing process over the next year or more. The doctors are waiting to address the blocked carotid artery as Cathi’s brain has created new blood pathways in order for the brain to survive, and flooding her brain with the blood from the carotid artery could be devastating. We are hoping to raise money in order to help cover the cost of settling Cathi into her new life. We are going to have to pack up her house, her belongings and store them long term. Have the house cleaned, and probably purchase some kind of stair apparatus that will help her go to the second story of Cheryl’s house where the bedrooms and bathing facilities are located. And then there is the cost of any non-covered medical care. We, her family and friends thank you in advance for your donation and/or prayers for Cathi’s recovery! We are hoping in time Cathi will be able to live on her own again, hold down a job and maybe drive. We are just grateful she is still with us and is still the funny, irreverent Cathi that you all know and love.
Cathi’s medical issues started bac k in September unbeknownst to her family or herself. Cathi flew to NC for a sister’s retreat when she experienced what she described as a three day migraine. Once the migraine subsided she noticed she was having vision issues with her left eye and there was a spot that she could not see out of. We all spent a lovely week at the beach together not knowing Cathi had experienced her first stroke, which had effected the optic portion of her brain!
Cathi returned to Seattle and sought medical care from a doctor and ophthalmologist to find the cause of the spot in her eye. They found a hole in the cornea that they felt might have been created by the migraine and the barometric pressure from flying. The doctor also discovered that Cathi had high blood pressure, so she was placed on meds and monitored. The hole started to close but the doctor discovered that there was blood behind her eye which should not be there, and so to rule out an aneurysm or tumor a Doppler of her carotid artery was done on December 13th. The Doppler reveled the fact that Cathi’s carotid artery was totally blocked and was not supplying the brain with the normal supply and flow of needed blood. An appointment was set up for Cathi to see a vascular doctor on the 19th but she never made it there. The second stroke occurred on the 15th, leaving Cathi confused, disorientated and unable to be on her own. Cathi is very fortunate that our oldest sister Cheryl lives in Seattle. She drove to her house to check on her and found Cathi in a disoriented state and took her to Swedish Medical Center, where she just had the Doppler test. It did not take long for the doctors to confirm that she in fact had had a stroke. The stroke continued to evolve over a 72 hour time period and she was left with paralysis and weakness to her left side, and blindness left of the midline of the normal field of vision. Thankfully, her mental acuity, recall and memory are intact. As is her sense of humor in this very worrisome time.
Cathi has now stabilized and has been moved to the Acute Rehabilitation Unit at Cherry Hill, which is part of Swedish medical Center. Cathi has a very long road ahead of her. She will have to relearn all the things we take for granted, like walking, eating, and reading. Due to all the hurdles she will have to overcome Cathi will have to change her life, and that means not living on her own for the foreseeable future. Catherine is very lucky as she has an amazing support system in Seattle which includes friends and Cheryl and brother-in-law Ed.
Cathi more than likely will have to move into Cheryl’s home after extensive therapy to continue the healing process over the next year or more. The doctors are waiting to address the blocked carotid artery as Cathi’s brain has created new blood pathways in order for the brain to survive, and flooding her brain with the blood from the carotid artery could be devastating. We are hoping to raise money in order to help cover the cost of settling Cathi into her new life. We are going to have to pack up her house, her belongings and store them long term. Have the house cleaned, and probably purchase some kind of stair apparatus that will help her go to the second story of Cheryl’s house where the bedrooms and bathing facilities are located. And then there is the cost of any non-covered medical care. We, her family and friends thank you in advance for your donation and/or prayers for Cathi’s recovery! We are hoping in time Cathi will be able to live on her own again, hold down a job and maybe drive. We are just grateful she is still with us and is still the funny, irreverent Cathi that you all know and love.
Organizer
Laura DuBose Young
Organizer
Rincon, GA
