Denyse's Stress Less Recovery
Donation protected
If you know Denyse, you know that the term "bedrest" is not in her vocabulary. However, that's where she sits today...
Backing up the story a little, my friend has been off work for the last little while due to consistent pain and pressure in her head. She was on her way to appointments, tests, CT scans and MRIs however, unless it is an emergency, the wait is long. Last Friday evening, she stayed home from a family party as to not make anyone else feel the need to cut the night short or cater to her at the party. Light, sound, movement and all sorts of other small things were greatly hindering her day-to-day. Coming home that night and finding her unresponsive in bed will be something her children and her partner are never sure to forget...
She was taken to the hospital via ambulance, vital signs were sporadic and she had a breathing tube inserted immediately. Craig went to the hospital with her while Tori stayed home with Jess and Kyle. Approximately 3 hours after being there, numerous tests and emergency CT scan and MRI, she was sedated and taken to the Critical Care Unit. She wouldn't come out of there for 6 days and even that was because my Denyse is a fighter (and perhaps a little stubborn) and told the doctors that there was nothing that she wasn't doing in there that she couldn't do from home. Little did she realize that she was hooked up to breathing assistants, monitors, IV's and all sorts of other stuff. No, she was too worried that people were suddenly putting their lives on hold, paying for parking numerous times a day to sit with her while she went back and forth from sleep to "almost alert".
I am now living approximately 3 hours away from her and I couldn't get there fast enough. What I saw was not my running buddy. It hurt my heart. I felt as helpless as she looked.
The MRI, CT scan and spinal taps that were done have ruled out a lot but not everything. She has had the equivalent of a stroke due to constricted arteries and too much pressure in cerebral spinal fluid that isn't being absorbed properly. Her next few months are going to be full of appointments, tests, medical treatments and possibly surgery to have a shunt installed to release the pressure and drain the fluid that isn't being absorbed. While her eyesight is coming back when the pressure is less in her head, she is still unable to drive as she tends to pass out from the pressure and pain and never knows when it will come.
She is not able to work through this and, since she is not yet a contract employee with the school board, was unemployed over the summer and is not eligible for sick leave benefits. The medications aren't cheap and with no work, it also means no benefits.
For the years that I have known Denyse, she has been a rock, a cheerleader, a supporter as well as a constant spearhead in promoting the health and well being of others. She has climbed the CN tower to raise money for wildlife, has raised money and walked for those with ALS who can no longer do it for themselves, has helped countless families through her own fundraising efforts and never has a second thought to help someone in need however she can. I feel that now, while she cannot help others, it is time for us to show her that she can be helped too. Funds are currently available via the family and whatnot however, it is unclear as to how long she will be out of commission and how impactful this will be on her family. Craig is taking care of everything and I want to make sure that they are all taken care of.
Speaking to Tori, she is hesitant to ask for help, they don't want to be considered in need, but if there was ever a time to help...
Funds donated will help with medications, trips to appointments, car payments and gas, keeping the household running while she is unable to work so that there is as little financial impact as possible. They will also help keep Craig comfortable to remain at work and concentrate on keeping the family moving. Funds will also help keep Tori at school as I know she wants to take a leave from university to work so that the financial burden is lessened. No one would want that to happen, especially Denyse. Hot lunches for Jess and Kyle at school would be paid for to help ease the meal preparation at home.. We don't know how long this will last but I want to make sure that she worries about her health instead of worries that she can't control right now.
Other ways that you could help would be thoughts and prayers of course. Denyse is a God fearing woman who believes in the higher powers. Tori and Craig have sat and read inspirational stories to her in the hospital, saw the tears out of her eyes and heard her whisper her prayers to the Lord. As weak, sore and tired as she is right now, she lays in bed, knitting, because she says it helps keep her mind off her woes, gives her a sense of purpose while she can do little else, and keeps her hands out of the chip bag.... Yes, that's right. That hasn't changed!
So, I ask you on behalf of my Denyse, Craig, their children, their families and everyone else whose lives she has touched, if you have a little Christmas Spirit left to share, please help my her on her journey and help her make 2020 keep going up!
Thank you all for your thoughts, considerations, prayers and everything else that you have already done for us during this time.
Love,
Christine - on behalf of the Barr, Clack, Wozencroft families
Backing up the story a little, my friend has been off work for the last little while due to consistent pain and pressure in her head. She was on her way to appointments, tests, CT scans and MRIs however, unless it is an emergency, the wait is long. Last Friday evening, she stayed home from a family party as to not make anyone else feel the need to cut the night short or cater to her at the party. Light, sound, movement and all sorts of other small things were greatly hindering her day-to-day. Coming home that night and finding her unresponsive in bed will be something her children and her partner are never sure to forget...
She was taken to the hospital via ambulance, vital signs were sporadic and she had a breathing tube inserted immediately. Craig went to the hospital with her while Tori stayed home with Jess and Kyle. Approximately 3 hours after being there, numerous tests and emergency CT scan and MRI, she was sedated and taken to the Critical Care Unit. She wouldn't come out of there for 6 days and even that was because my Denyse is a fighter (and perhaps a little stubborn) and told the doctors that there was nothing that she wasn't doing in there that she couldn't do from home. Little did she realize that she was hooked up to breathing assistants, monitors, IV's and all sorts of other stuff. No, she was too worried that people were suddenly putting their lives on hold, paying for parking numerous times a day to sit with her while she went back and forth from sleep to "almost alert".
I am now living approximately 3 hours away from her and I couldn't get there fast enough. What I saw was not my running buddy. It hurt my heart. I felt as helpless as she looked.
The MRI, CT scan and spinal taps that were done have ruled out a lot but not everything. She has had the equivalent of a stroke due to constricted arteries and too much pressure in cerebral spinal fluid that isn't being absorbed properly. Her next few months are going to be full of appointments, tests, medical treatments and possibly surgery to have a shunt installed to release the pressure and drain the fluid that isn't being absorbed. While her eyesight is coming back when the pressure is less in her head, she is still unable to drive as she tends to pass out from the pressure and pain and never knows when it will come.
She is not able to work through this and, since she is not yet a contract employee with the school board, was unemployed over the summer and is not eligible for sick leave benefits. The medications aren't cheap and with no work, it also means no benefits.
For the years that I have known Denyse, she has been a rock, a cheerleader, a supporter as well as a constant spearhead in promoting the health and well being of others. She has climbed the CN tower to raise money for wildlife, has raised money and walked for those with ALS who can no longer do it for themselves, has helped countless families through her own fundraising efforts and never has a second thought to help someone in need however she can. I feel that now, while she cannot help others, it is time for us to show her that she can be helped too. Funds are currently available via the family and whatnot however, it is unclear as to how long she will be out of commission and how impactful this will be on her family. Craig is taking care of everything and I want to make sure that they are all taken care of.
Speaking to Tori, she is hesitant to ask for help, they don't want to be considered in need, but if there was ever a time to help...
Funds donated will help with medications, trips to appointments, car payments and gas, keeping the household running while she is unable to work so that there is as little financial impact as possible. They will also help keep Craig comfortable to remain at work and concentrate on keeping the family moving. Funds will also help keep Tori at school as I know she wants to take a leave from university to work so that the financial burden is lessened. No one would want that to happen, especially Denyse. Hot lunches for Jess and Kyle at school would be paid for to help ease the meal preparation at home.. We don't know how long this will last but I want to make sure that she worries about her health instead of worries that she can't control right now.
Other ways that you could help would be thoughts and prayers of course. Denyse is a God fearing woman who believes in the higher powers. Tori and Craig have sat and read inspirational stories to her in the hospital, saw the tears out of her eyes and heard her whisper her prayers to the Lord. As weak, sore and tired as she is right now, she lays in bed, knitting, because she says it helps keep her mind off her woes, gives her a sense of purpose while she can do little else, and keeps her hands out of the chip bag.... Yes, that's right. That hasn't changed!
So, I ask you on behalf of my Denyse, Craig, their children, their families and everyone else whose lives she has touched, if you have a little Christmas Spirit left to share, please help my her on her journey and help her make 2020 keep going up!
Thank you all for your thoughts, considerations, prayers and everything else that you have already done for us during this time.
Love,
Christine - on behalf of the Barr, Clack, Wozencroft families
Co-organizers (4)
Christine Peck
Organizer
Guelph, ON
Craig Clack
Co-organizer
Denyse Wozencroft
Co-organizer
Victoria Barr
Co-organizer