Vision rehab for Sarah's stroke

I am 36 years old, and I had a stroke. 

Suddenly, out of nowhere, without any "risk factors", I suffered a stroke in October 2015.I knew something was very wrong when I started having vertigo, the left side of my body had pins and needles, and I had a splitting headache. Suddenly. Shortly after, I started vomiting, and we were on our way to the Emergency Room.

It took a while even for the doctors to figure out what I had. Being 36 doesn't particularly scream "stroke" right away. But after 24 hours, the hospital finally confirmed what I had. It took me days to really figure this one out. A stroke. So odd! Who has strokes, and at my age?!

The first days after the stroke were bad. I was so exhausted. I tried to sit up to eat, and managed 3 bites before I had to lie down and rest. I had a terrible headfache as well. In the first 4 weeks after my stroke, I lost 8kg.

I took each day as it came, and slowly, things started getting better. Every day I had more energy and less pains. I was lucky in that I don't have too many disabilities now, my vertigo and exhaustion is fading, my memory is normal again, and the left side of my body is fine.

I'm still weak and tire easily. I don't trust myself alone around the kitchen, I still sit on a chair to shower, and I can't drive anymore. I'm still not sure about public transport, either, so I have to rely on others to help me.

The worst part since my stroke is my vision. I lost a lot of my field of vision on the lower left, which means it's hard to read, for example, but I also constantly get startled by people, when they suddenly appear on my left. 

The vision that I have on my left side is mostly blurred by weird, pulstating shapes similar to a migraine aura. It's annoying and distracting.

what's hardest being in Austalia, is that I realize that the health care is not amazing here, and it's hard to find help. I'm expecting sessions with Guide Dogs Australia and hoping for a white cane so I can signal to people outside that it's hard to see, so they can help avoid bumping into me.

Other than that, there seems to be no real rehab for my vision. There's rehab for every deficit after a stroke, just not vision. I talked to a lot of doctors and rehab facilities, but nothing.

What I have found, and what seems to be a promising alternative, are computer programs called "NeuroEyeCoach" and "Vision Restoration Therapy" from NovaVision  in Europe. Since they're not based in Australia, not even private insurance woul pay for it. The programs cost half of what I ask for here, and I feel it's my only scientific hope of trying to rehabilitate my sight.

The other half of the money is asked for the flight change my parents made so they can come to Australia quickly and for longer. They want to come over for 6 weeks to help me every day, with cookinh, cleaning, taking me places, etc.

You might wonder why I'm asking for funds, since I have had a reasonable income. The problem is, that I fall through all categories of financial help in Australia. There are only 10 paid sick days here, and after that, nothing.  There is currently also little hope of competing on the job market, because Australia doesn't recognize any disability status. Disabled people basically just compete with healthy people forjobs, and working at a computer all day, who are we kidding, how well could I do, not being able to read more than a few lines per minute?

Thank you so much for reading all of this. Please don't feel obliged to donate anything. I just know that some people feel like they would like to help, but don't know how. I would truly appreciate your help trying to fund also this personally.

I'd like to get started with the vision rehab software as soon as possbible. It lasts about 6 months and gets supervised from Europe for best outcomes. 

If you have a few dollars to spare, please help fund this with me.


Thanks so, so much!!

Sarah