Connie's Stroke Recovery Fund

Hello

I am writing this for my friends.

Their mom, aunt, sister is Connie.

Connie is 75 years old. In November, she wasn’t answering her front door or her phone. The police broke in and she was nearly unconscious on the kitchen floor. She had had a stroke. She was in the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and then Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital for more than a month. She was released to her home on New Year's but was not able to care for herself without assistance.

In 2019, she was leading an independent life. She has owned her house for 20+ years and has lived alone most of that time. She had a job, working as a “Sample Lady” at Sam’s. She had friends that she would visit and hang out with. She was active and living. When COVID hit, she was forced into her house. She didn’t have her job anymore; everyone was scared to be around people. Due to her age, she wasn’t really leaving the house or hanging out with friends anymore. Her mental state really seemed to go downhill. When you aren’t engaging with others, you shrink into yourself. Humans are meant to be social, and with none of that happening, her mental health was declining. Add to that, she got into a car accident, totaled her car, and didn’t have any means to be independent. Again, more decline. Our family thinks dementia started sometime in these years as well.

For the last few months, we have been paying nursing students to be with her 24/7, dwindling away any savings she has. Her dementia is getting worse and we are afraid if someone isn’t with her, she won’t eat, she may fall down the stairs, she may leave the stove on, etc. This is VERY EXPENSIVE!! Still cheaper than assisted living. Our family is trying everything we can to keep her in her home. We feel her decline will only be sped up in a facility. She also has 3 sweet cats that are her world, and we know she can’t take them to an assisted living facility, which would be so sad!

We are out of money and asking if anyone could please help us! This is not something we would normally do, ask for help, but we are out of options. We will be so grateful if we can keep her in her home for 6 months to a year!!! Thank you everyone for reading her story and for all the support you can give!!