
Help for Rosalie's Doctor & Home Expenses
Donation protected
Rosalie is my Mom's Best Friend and a woman we all love. She has been battling cancer and its aftermath (heart damaged due to cancer medication, etc) for almost 30 years. It's honestly a miracle that she is still with us. Until she was forced to quit because of her illness, Rosalie was an RN who loved her job. Rosalie cannot work. She cannot drive. Her only source of income is her Social Security which just isn't enough. To think of someone who is so loving struggling to make ends meet...to even get enough groceries...breaks my heart. I just want to help make a hard life a little easier and give her one less worry.
In 1980 Rosalie became a nurse after attending Hunter College Bellevue School of Nursing in NY. Upon graduation she worked at Bellevue City Hospital and Loved it. Rosalie was born to be a nurse. She is such a great caregiver!
In 1992, when her first born was a baby, Rosalie went to her OBGYN for her annual exam. When she laid down on the table, her Doctor found a walnut sized lump. It was very deep which is why, during her self exams in the shower, Rosalie couldn't feel it. When her OB said to keep eye on it...Rosalie disagreed, worrying that any lump that size in a breast couldn't be anything good so she was sent to a top-notch surgeon in NY. The surgeon said that he would do a bi-lateral mastectomy but Ro felt that since there was nothing in the left breast, that she'd rather he just take the right one. She was diagnosed with Type 2B Breast Cancer. She was able to see a plastic surgeon who created her a new breast, but no nipple and years later, she was able to get one tattooed on.
In 1995, her (now ex) husband decided he wanted a change and the family moved to Florida from New York.
Just a few years later, when their second daughter was a baby, in 1999, they discovered a second bought of cancer.
Around 2001, Rosalie was able to start working again and got a job at the VA in Tampa. This is where she and my Mom met as my mom started there 1 month after Ro.
However, in 2008, Rosalie had Congestive Heart Failure due to all the cancer treatments, and had to retire.
Cut to earlier this year when one morning Rosalie woke up and when she attempted to get up, she fell out of bed and was incoherent. Her younger daughter called 911 and she was brought to the hospital. Upon arriving, she couldn't talk, couldn't make herself understood, etc.
They discovered a cyst in her brain which required a craniotomy to remove.
She now has to have long term intensive rehab as she has to relearn to talk, walk, use phone, write...everything that we take for granted as adults. She is receiving PTOT and Speech Therapy at home as well as trying things on her own such as using an ABC trace book to help regain her writing. Her speech is getting better but she is not yet walking and needs round the clock care. She is not eligible for, and cannot afford on her own, night-time care and so it is up to her youngest daughter to help care for her through the night.
Rosalie is a fighter. She's the strongest woman I know and through all these years she has pushed on and on. She's always been there for anyone who needs her and now it's time for us to help her. If you are able, any amount will help. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
In 1980 Rosalie became a nurse after attending Hunter College Bellevue School of Nursing in NY. Upon graduation she worked at Bellevue City Hospital and Loved it. Rosalie was born to be a nurse. She is such a great caregiver!
In 1992, when her first born was a baby, Rosalie went to her OBGYN for her annual exam. When she laid down on the table, her Doctor found a walnut sized lump. It was very deep which is why, during her self exams in the shower, Rosalie couldn't feel it. When her OB said to keep eye on it...Rosalie disagreed, worrying that any lump that size in a breast couldn't be anything good so she was sent to a top-notch surgeon in NY. The surgeon said that he would do a bi-lateral mastectomy but Ro felt that since there was nothing in the left breast, that she'd rather he just take the right one. She was diagnosed with Type 2B Breast Cancer. She was able to see a plastic surgeon who created her a new breast, but no nipple and years later, she was able to get one tattooed on.
In 1995, her (now ex) husband decided he wanted a change and the family moved to Florida from New York.
Just a few years later, when their second daughter was a baby, in 1999, they discovered a second bought of cancer.
Around 2001, Rosalie was able to start working again and got a job at the VA in Tampa. This is where she and my Mom met as my mom started there 1 month after Ro.
However, in 2008, Rosalie had Congestive Heart Failure due to all the cancer treatments, and had to retire.
Cut to earlier this year when one morning Rosalie woke up and when she attempted to get up, she fell out of bed and was incoherent. Her younger daughter called 911 and she was brought to the hospital. Upon arriving, she couldn't talk, couldn't make herself understood, etc.
They discovered a cyst in her brain which required a craniotomy to remove.
She now has to have long term intensive rehab as she has to relearn to talk, walk, use phone, write...everything that we take for granted as adults. She is receiving PTOT and Speech Therapy at home as well as trying things on her own such as using an ABC trace book to help regain her writing. Her speech is getting better but she is not yet walking and needs round the clock care. She is not eligible for, and cannot afford on her own, night-time care and so it is up to her youngest daughter to help care for her through the night.
Rosalie is a fighter. She's the strongest woman I know and through all these years she has pushed on and on. She's always been there for anyone who needs her and now it's time for us to help her. If you are able, any amount will help. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Organizer and beneficiary
Alexis Hilgert
Organizer
Ruskin, FL
Rebecca Parrillo
Beneficiary