Help Gwen in her stroke recovery!
Donation protected
Dear Friends of Gwen & Zeb,
We have met our goal of raising an additional $10,000 for Gwen's stroke recovery fund, now unlocking the additional $10,000 that Gwen's college friends, The Condors, have pledged to donate! This has bumped our contributions from roughly $52,000 to now over $72,000. These funds will go towards Gwen's intensive outpatient rehabilitation, home modifications, and accommodative equipment and transportation.
Gwen's road ahead is still going to be a challenge, but we know that with your support, she is going to continue to make progress.
To learn more about stroke and stroke recovery, please go to:
Please continue to spread the word about Gwen's fundraiser! Stay tuned for more updates about Gwen's recovery.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Gwen's friends, The Condors
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Dear friends,
We are excited to announce a $10,000 CHALLENGE MATCH being offered by Gwen's college friends (casually named "The Condors") for the next $10,000 that YOU CAN HELP RAISE for Gwen's stroke recovery!
The good news is that Gwen is working very hard and making steady progress regaining strength, balance, communication and skills towards eventually being at home. The tough news is that as she is working towards discharge in the next few weeks, we know that this is where the costs will add up:
- acute outpatient neurologic rehabilitation (this is not covered by insurance)
- home equipment (only some covered by insurance)
- transportation costs
- home remodels to accommodate a wheelchair, transfers, and the new equipment Gwen will need
What can you do?
1. Donate! (In many cases, we are asking you to donate again — so THANK YOU!)
- Any amount, large or small, will help us get to our goal of $10,000 to UNLOCK the $10,000 gift from the Condors!
2. Spread the word!
- Share on social media. There are links on this page you can share. Include a personal appeal: a quick message about what this means to you, a fun anecdote you remember about Gwen, or a message about strokes or health that is meaningful to you.
- Share via email and text. Many of you are writing holiday letters and cards, and I'd encourage you to share this with your friends and family during this time when people are thinking about their charitable contributions.
- Share the old fashioned way! Talk to your local morning walking group, your choir group, your church, your community!
We are THRILLED that so many of you have already offered your time, healing thoughts, food, and money to Gwen's stroke recovery, and we thank you for taking the time to consider this! Let's raise $10,000 in the next month to unlock the $10,000 Condor Match!
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Our brilliant and beloved friend Gwen suffered a massive stroke in mid-September 2023.
After a stint in the ICU and some weeks at the hospital, she is now working tirelessly at an acute rehab center in Oakland. Though she is facing a number of challenges, including mobility and communication, she’s very much the Gwen that we know and love. Through this all, her partner Zeb has been by her side.
Even so, they are still at the start of a very long journey to recovery. Only time and intensive physical therapy and rehabilitation will reveal how much verbal communication, and physical and motor control Gwen will be able to regain over the next 2-3 years.
As Gwen and Zeb move into this new reality, they will need substantial financial support. To maximize her potential for recovery, Gwen will need acute neurologic rehabilitation services, a wheelchair and van, significant home modifications, and around-the-clock nursing care and support. We already know that most of these costs will not be covered by her insurance. There are also sure to be myriad, still unknown financial needs Gwen and Zeb will require in the years to come depending on how Gwen’s condition progresses.
In the next six months, we anticipate over $150,000 in expenses to enable a smooth transition from her inpatient acute rehabilitation facility back home.
Specific cost estimates include:
Home renovation: $50,000 - 250,000
- Accessibility modifications (ramps, platform lifts, etc)
- Bedroom and bathroom modifications
- Widening of entryways
- Hospital bed with alternating pressure mattress
Transportation & Mobility: $50,000-200,000
- Wheelchair accessible van
- Bed lifts and other in-home mobility support devices
Intensive rehabilitation services: $50,000-$1,000,000
- Assistive communication devices, adaptive technologies that can help Gwen regain her connection and meaningful, nuanced communication to the people around her
- Home nursing care
- Long term physical therapy
- Long term occupational therapy
This list does not include additional rehabilitation services and financial support that will be necessary over what will likely be the next 2-3 years of healing and recovery. Much of the best outpatient physical and occupational therapy that can make a huge difference in Gwen’s overall long-term recovery is not covered by insurance, and so the cost will have to be borne by Gwen and Zeb entirely out of pocket. Some of this physical and occupational therapy will likely be life-long. Meanwhile, Gwen and Zeb will continue to need support at home, especially as Zeb looks to return to work in the months to come. It is not yet clear when and to what extent Gwen will be able to return to employment, but even with the rosiest outlook, this scenario is likely a year or two away. These numbers are just estimates; we’re doing our best to anticipate future needs but we don’t know everything yet.
Even in her current condition, Gwen continues to give us so much. We know Gwen has so much more to give the world, and she needs your help now to make this happen!
Thank you so much for your support.
With much gratitude and love,
Miranda, Richard, Polly, Billie, and
Gwen’s family & friends
Co-organizers (3)
Miranda Ip
Organizer
Berkeley, CA
Zebediah West
Beneficiary
Polly Conway
Co-organizer
Billie Karel
Co-organizer