Help us bring dad home

Hi there, my name is Julianne and I’m starting this campaign for my dad, Mark.

On Sunday December 19th my dad suffered a massive stroke at my parent’s home in Apple Valley around 5:15pm. My mom was quick to call 911 and the ambulance was there as quick as possible. My mom insisted he was life flighted to OSU’s Wexner Medical Center in Columbus and he was admitted into the Neuro ICU by 6:30. He was sent into surgery to try to open up the clot but his Carotid artery is 100% occluded. He was conscious but paralyzed on his right side. He could say “yeah” “no” “so” and “well”.

Monday he was about the same, but a little starry eyed. He also contracted double pneumonia.

Tuesday, he was so much worse. He opened his eyes 4 times during the 2 hours my mom and sister were there. He only spoke a couple times.

Wednesday was bad. He was unconscious for our entire visit. Ragged, labored breaths, a furrowed brow (indicating he was in pain) and one open eye once was what we got that day. It was traumatic. And it was devastating. He was asleep the entire time, snoring loudly. He wasn’t being sedated and the doctors couldn’t figured out why he was so sleepy.

Thursday, I couldn’t bring myself to go with my mom. I was so fragile and so disheartened by what I saw that I couldn’t muster up the courage to go with her. I don’t know how she did it. She said he was worse than the day before. He had a bi-pap machine helping him expel carbon dioxide. He was tied to the bed because he had tried to pull out his IVs, feeding tube, and oxygen.

Friday, still tied down but conscious. He was back to “yeah” “no” “so” and “well”. He had added in “come on” when I told him we couldn’t untether him. And “bullshit” when I told him he couldn’t come home for a while. But he was showing improvement and we were told he could move to step down on the brain and spine floor. We said it was our Christmas miracle.

Saturday and Sunday mom went to see him alone. She washed his face and hair. She talked to him. She made him laugh.

Today is Monday the 27th. He was being taken for a swallow test with the speech therapist and suffered a seizure that stopped his heart. He has been intubated and cannot breathe on his own. He’s heading back to the Neuro ICU.

We are worried. We are not out of the woods. Once he’s stable, we have to get him to work with a therapist for 3 hours a day so he can get approved to go to an acute nursing facility to help him get the best chance at bringing his quality of life back. Medical bills stack up fast and it’s multiplied by dad being retired and mom missing work.

This is a lot. Emotionally. Mentally. Financially. If you have ever met my dad, you know he’s the life of the party. He’s fun and sweet and obnoxious in the best way. He loves his wife and his daughters and his granddaughter. He is so thankful and happy with his life and we just want to bring him home. Anything you can contribute would be so appreciated.