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Go Fund Me for Rick Barker
What happens when a man of 60 has a massive stroke? If he is lucky he gets the best medical care possible; months of physical therapy, months of speech therapy, excellent rehabilitation. This usually means that this individual has and can afford excellent health care.
What happens if this man is unemployed because his business went bankrupt and he has limited resources for healthcare?
Meet my son, Richard Barker, now 62 years old who resides in a nursing home in Florida. In August of 2016, Rick had a stroke due to complications with his lifelong struggle with diabetes. The stroke has left him blind and physically disabled. He cannot feed himself or do anything for himself that we all take for granted. His insurance enabled him to have 4 weeks of physical therapy. He reached a point where he was upright and walking with a lot of help and seemed to be progressing. But then the weeks of therapy ended and my son was moved from the rehabilitation section of the facility to the nursing care area. I was told he was no longer progressing and more physical therapy stopped being an option for him. Outside therapy was very expensive and difficult logistically.
Rick's spirit plummeted. A former athlete and talented hairdresser, his hope for recovery looked bleak. He was hopeful and challenged in the rehab and he was being warehoused in a nursing care facility. You can imagine how depressed he became. And can you imagine how I felt seeing my son in this condition?
I visit my son everyday to make sure he is being treated well and to be another set of eyes to make sure he is taken care of properly. I am his only advocate. I have a chronic form of cancer called CLL requiring monthly infusions to keep my disease at bay. I have a pacemaker; and with all this I am still ticking!! I am almost 80 years old and I still work to help out with Rick's expenses. When there is a holiday or a birthday I hire an aide and transportation to bring him home for a home cooked meal and some time with his family. Because the nursing home doesn't provide any kind of stimulating activity or therapy. I found a wonderful gym with a therapist who works with Rick in the pool!! Rolando does exercises with Rick in the pool and treats him with such kindness. Sometimes l bring Rick's son Lucus to be with Rick in the pool during therapy sessions. Rick is at a point now that with help he can walk across the pool! This weekly activity has given Rick hope and a whole new outlook.
It would be such a help to Rick if he could continue his water therapy and maybe go two times a week. The transportation and the1/2 hour Session is over $100. This is a big expense along with other expenses we have for Rick's care. This is why I am reaching out to family and friends with this Go Fund Me Program. It is hard to ask for help. I hope you can appreciate our situation and contribute to the cause, I like to call, "Keep Rick in the Pool!"
Thank you so much!
Roz Track.
What happens when a man of 60 has a massive stroke? If he is lucky he gets the best medical care possible; months of physical therapy, months of speech therapy, excellent rehabilitation. This usually means that this individual has and can afford excellent health care.
What happens if this man is unemployed because his business went bankrupt and he has limited resources for healthcare?
Meet my son, Richard Barker, now 62 years old who resides in a nursing home in Florida. In August of 2016, Rick had a stroke due to complications with his lifelong struggle with diabetes. The stroke has left him blind and physically disabled. He cannot feed himself or do anything for himself that we all take for granted. His insurance enabled him to have 4 weeks of physical therapy. He reached a point where he was upright and walking with a lot of help and seemed to be progressing. But then the weeks of therapy ended and my son was moved from the rehabilitation section of the facility to the nursing care area. I was told he was no longer progressing and more physical therapy stopped being an option for him. Outside therapy was very expensive and difficult logistically.
Rick's spirit plummeted. A former athlete and talented hairdresser, his hope for recovery looked bleak. He was hopeful and challenged in the rehab and he was being warehoused in a nursing care facility. You can imagine how depressed he became. And can you imagine how I felt seeing my son in this condition?
I visit my son everyday to make sure he is being treated well and to be another set of eyes to make sure he is taken care of properly. I am his only advocate. I have a chronic form of cancer called CLL requiring monthly infusions to keep my disease at bay. I have a pacemaker; and with all this I am still ticking!! I am almost 80 years old and I still work to help out with Rick's expenses. When there is a holiday or a birthday I hire an aide and transportation to bring him home for a home cooked meal and some time with his family. Because the nursing home doesn't provide any kind of stimulating activity or therapy. I found a wonderful gym with a therapist who works with Rick in the pool!! Rolando does exercises with Rick in the pool and treats him with such kindness. Sometimes l bring Rick's son Lucus to be with Rick in the pool during therapy sessions. Rick is at a point now that with help he can walk across the pool! This weekly activity has given Rick hope and a whole new outlook.
It would be such a help to Rick if he could continue his water therapy and maybe go two times a week. The transportation and the1/2 hour Session is over $100. This is a big expense along with other expenses we have for Rick's care. This is why I am reaching out to family and friends with this Go Fund Me Program. It is hard to ask for help. I hope you can appreciate our situation and contribute to the cause, I like to call, "Keep Rick in the Pool!"
Thank you so much!
Roz Track.