Handicap Van for Fred

It started with a slip on the ice and broken ribs. Really, it started from a life time of smoking. A chest scan done because of the broken ribs showed a tumor on the lung. We knew it was lung cancer before the biopsy was even done. The slip on the ice was a blessing in disguise – we wouldn’t have known about the lung cancer. Chemo and radiation during a pandemic brought its own challenges – the folks at the Cancer Center on Tor St are the best. PET scan comes back clean but they want to remove the tumor as a precautionary measure. We learned the morning after surgery Fred had suffered a massive stroke. Five weeks in the neuro ICU unit at Albany Med. 6 weeks of acute rehab in Schenectady. What will be 7 months of subacute rehab at Hillcrest. (PT / OT / SLT – thank you for all that you’ve done.) He’s going to (finally) be able to come home in February. So many ups and downs – something happening every single month. Fred’s paralyzed on his left side. He has a trach & will always be on a feeding tube. His 60 plus years of playing golf will now be completely different. His working on golf clubs (a hobby he fell in love with later in life) has ended. But he continues to fight. And he is the same old Fred – still sarcastic, still argues with his wife when she nags him a bit too much, and he still loves talking about golf. Friends and family have been an amazing support system. And here I find myself asking for yet another favor – helping us purchase a wheelchair accessible van. This will allow Fred to more easily get to the golf course to ride around in a cart (we’ll figure out how to get him out of the wheelchair & into a golf cart this Spring… the adventures never end). It will make it easier for him to get to the various doctors’ appointments. It will provide him freedom. He won’t be able to drive again – but he’ll have his mobility (as long as he can put up with his wife’s driving). Awkward asking for help – but this would be a huge help. I’ve never experienced anything like this – but have learned just how strong & deep a support system we have. I thank you for all you have done and continue to do.

Debbie & Fred Goerlach