Help Nurse Cathy Walk Again!

This beautiful woman Cathy, believe it or not, is our 82 year old Mom! Mom suffered a debilitating stroke (LVO) on 4/29/24 which left her unable to speak, swallow and paralyzed her entire right side - her arm and leg. At first, for her to eat, she was on a nose tube then a stomach feeding tube, which is as awful as it sounds.

Mom was a registered nurse for over 40 years, caring for patients.

We're not sure why, but we've had to fight every step of the way to get Mom the treatment she needs. First, they wanted to send her home when she was barely over the trauma of her stroke with zero improvement. At a key point, Mom regained her swallow reflex so she is off the feeding tube and can eat regular food! She's been working hard and making steady gains - literally taking baby steps.

Mom's doctors say it can take a full year to recover from this type of stroke, but even regular Medicare only covers 100 days max. Back in April, we had no idea that Mom's Medicare plan is not regular Medicare, but Medicare Advantage - what medical folks call Medicare Disadvantage. Since June 5th, (ironically if Dad was alive, it would have been their 59th wedding anniversary) we've had to fight for every day of insurance coverage to get Mom the rehabilitation therapy she needs. How the funds raised will be used: $35,000 will be used for therapy, medical costs/copays and $25,000 will go toward retrofitting her home so she can get a wheelchair into her bathroom, install a walk in (roll in right now) shower, and install handrails along her hallways which she will use to help her to walk in her own home. Any funds over and above our goal will be set aside for nurses in need.

Mom is doing amazing! She has rug burns on her face in this picture because on Friday she felt confident she could walk on her own, but she lost her balance and fell flat on her face. But, look at her! She is so proud that she tried! And, she told us we could use this picture - she still can't speak, but she shakes her head yes and no and gives thumbs up or down. We're so thankful she didn't break anything in her fall. Bottom line, Mom needs more therapy, and it's costly. It's now time for her to come home, but she needs to pay her copays and for per diem therapy at home. We're really worried that if she only gets custodial care, she will lose all the gains she's made, her muscles will atrophy and she'll relapse to never walking again. We can't let this happen.

She lovingly took care of patients wherever she worked. Her career began at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton, MA, her Alma mater, then at Choate Hospital in Woburn, MA, in nursing homes in Woburn, in pediatric centers in Boston and as a school nurse in Rye, NH. She did med/surg rounds and worked in the ER in Portsmouth Regional Hospital in Portsmouth, NH and became a night nurse at The Pavilion (the psychiatric unit) when the hospital moved to its current location. After ten-years helping people with their mental health when that wasn't even talked about! as a psych nurse, she transitioned to private duty nursing. She worked for dying patients and others who needed skilled nursing care. Her most rewarding home health experience was for a wonderful boy named Lukey. He has cerebral palsy and mom was instrumental in improving his communication skills. They became life long friends.

A nurse is a nurse whether at work or not. Mom also lovingly took care of family members during their end-of-life journeys: her Aunt Hazel and her husband Bill, our Grandfather, and her beloved husband, our father, Tom.

She has been the go-to for any medical guidance sought and sometimes not sought, by family and friends, as well as friends of friends. She is the consummate professional and her medical knowledge is always right on - whether you follow her guidance or not.

There are many more stories about our Mom. This woman who has helped so many others now needs your help. We don't want to have to fundraise like this - you would think as a former nurse she would have a great pension - but even in 2024 being a widow is an incredible financial strain - so we have no other option than to ask for help as the medical bills are too large for us to handle ourselves.

Mom really wants to go back home, and we want her to be able to do so safely - we need to buy her wheelchair ramps and refit her bathroom for safety - there's so much to do we are getting overwhelmed - again why we ask for help. Mom is basically a wounded warrior from the healthcare profession. Whatever you can contribute will help her get more therapy and make her home safer so she can get better.

If a nurse has ever helped you, please consider helping our Mom. Any extra funds will be used to establish a Nurses' Care Fund, for Nurses in Need: single or widowed/widower veterans of the nursing profession who need help in their senior years. No one should have to fight for healthcare but it seems especially cruel to leave nurses without the proper care after their years of dedicated service.

Thank you, thank you and thank you again for whatever you can do to help.

It is up to you how you contribute. An hour of therapy, a quarter of a day, a 1/2 day, a full day, multiple days? Every bit helps!

Estimates for patient therapy rates are:

15-min: $25

30-min: $40

1-hour: $75

1/4 day: $120

1/2 day: $240

Full 8 hour day: $480

*these costs are estimated for PT/OT/Speech therapies, and nursing care.

Thank you so much for any and all help. Mom loves to hear your voices and see your faces or receive a card of well wishes. Carpenters are especially welcome!! to help us put up safety railings and help us redo her bathroom for safety.

From the bottom, top, and center of our hearts, thank you!