My name is Estella, and I am telling you this story for my dear friend, Merlie Mahinay. Right now she is dealing with one of the hardest things you can go through in life, admittedly with such grace, and never losing her faith. Merlie is one of the kindest people you will ever meet, and never thinks twice about helping others, but right now she needs your help. She is attempting to raise funds for her husband, Joel Mahinay. A few days after their son’s 12th birthday, their lives tragically changed forever. Joel suffered a major hemorrhagic stroke and was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey where he had an emergency open brain surgery. By the grace of God, the operation was a success, but major damage had already been done before the brain bleed could be stopped. This led to a 22-day stay in the ICU, totaling 30 days in the Comprehensive Center. Just two days after his surgery, Joel had to undergo another operation for tracheostomy and gastrostomy tubes to help him breathe and eat because he was unable to swallow. Day after day, Joel struggled to open his eyes, speak, or move the right side of his body. Although the surgery ultimately saved him, he continued to fight for his life and had to be placed on a ventilator while he had impaired kidney function and problems with his lungs.

Joel is currently staying at Kessler Rehabilitation Center Institute in West Orange, New Jersey where he receives physical, occupational, and speech therapy services to aid in his recovery. Thankfully, he has maintained his ability to speak, but the stroke left him with aphasia and he has severe trouble speaking in sentences that consist of more than one or two words. The doctors tell us because of his significant stroke, it will take two years or longer for him to recover. The left side of his brain was affected by the stroke, causing the right side of his body to have no response.  The recovery of his speech and right side of his body will be very slow. We are praying that the left side of his brain can eventually recover from the damage and regain control to his right side.

Joel has had an uphill battle since the beginning, but he is a true fighter and continues to push through his recovery every day. Though he has made enormous strides and is set to be discharged home on June 13, 2019, he still has a long way to go in his recovery. He will require more medical attention and home-care physical therapy or outpatient rehabilitation. Joel has a long road ahead of him, but his family is thankful he will be with them and continue to watch his two children grow up. Merlie and her family are so grateful for the progress Joel  has made but are now faced with the overwhelming financial obstacle of paying for the procedures and his rehabilitation. Before his stroke, Joel worked as a driver, a job that does not provide insurance, which leaves their family the task of paying thousands of dollars in medical bills. They are desperate to do everything they can to help Joel overcome this. They are doing their best but realize that this is more than they can afford, and cannot do it alone. The unthinkable has happened to their family, but the outpouring of love and support they have gotten from friends and family has lifted not only theirs, but Joel’s spirits as well. There isn’t anything that Joel wouldn’t do to help or give his time to those who need it, but now he truly needs the help of others. If you can donate to help us get Joel back to the life he was happily living, we appreciate any amount you can give. Thank you and God bless you and your families.