Help Brittany get back in the spotters tower

 

 

Many of you may not be aware, my sister in law Brittany Waszak has been in the hospital since last Wednesday. While Brittany keeps things very private, we wanted to share an update on what has been happening the past few weeks with Brittany and the family. A few weeks ago Brittany went to the ER for an excruciating headache that extended down her neck. It was different than any migraine she’s ever had. At the ER, she had a CT scan and they said she had a bad sinus infection and prescribed strong antibiotics. I saw her a few days later at her daughter's birthday party at the trampoline park. Thankfully she didn’t jump with her kiddos because she was still having headaches 5 days later after being in the ER. After about 10 days the headaches seemed to almost go away which was great, but then they started coming back. She thought maybe this time it was allergies as she hadn’t been diligent about taking her allergy meds. A few days later after the headaches returned she woke up with excruciating pain again and also had tingling on the left side of her body. They called 911 and she was taken by ambulance to the local ER after they got the kids situated. That hospital ran some tests and within a couple hours had her transferred to Lutheran General Neurology ICU. There they ran test after test and determined that she had a stroke. During this time, she couldn’t open her eyes without everything spinning and without any balance or coordination she was unable to stand up! After running all the tests they found the stroke was caused by a dissection of the vertebral artery. None of us can understand how a 34 year old healthy Mom of 2 littles was able to be up cutting hair at the salon and having dinner the night before now is unable to even open her eyes much less attempt to stand or even get out of bed.

 

As of 10/20/21 she has now been In the hospital for 8 days and is praying that they might release her before the weekend. While going through her own therapies and trying to get stronger each day, the hardest part for Brittany is being away from her family. She misses her girls! Piper age 2 and Charley age 6 can’t visit Brittany in the hospital due to being under the age of 12. The girls really want Mom home (FaceTime is just NOT the same) and there is nowhere she’d rather be but with them. The amount of daily therapy is brutal and Brittany is trying to continue with the Doctor team recommendations to be in the hospital for monitoring.

 

The second hardest part is Brittany accepting and understanding her limitations right now and asking for help. She would never ask anyone for help which is why I started this. 

 

Anyone who knows Brittany knows she has the biggest heart and she would bend over backwards for anyone. She is such a caring, selfless, giving person. She doesn’t know I’m doing this and if she did she’d probably tell me not to if she knew in advance, but I know how much help they are going to need supporting their family in these next few months with time, services and the extraordinary costs they are now facing for her current treatments and follow on care these next few months. It will add up quickly financially between 2ER visits, 2 ambulance transports, Neurology ICU, and 2 weeks in the hospital doing therapy / rehab.  For someone who is self employed taking any time off work can add unneeded stress, so let's take some of that off her plate while she gets herself back to healthy and ready to work again. 

 

Brittany isn’t just my favorite sister in law because she’s the only one I have but because she’s one of my favorite people in my life. No matter what has been going on, she has always been an optimistic friend, Mom, sister, family member. I want Brittany to have a little less to worry about with the impending bills that will start coming and to be able to take care of herself first, even though she is making progress daily, the physical road ahead is going to be difficult. We all love you Britt and we’re here to help. You’ve got a great support system!!!!!!

 

Please share this so that we can get as much support for Brittany and the family as we can. If you are unable to donate and able to share, we appreciate that just as much!