I am fundraising to help cover costs of in home, round the clock homecare for Judy Kutta Holahan. Read the heart-rending story below, composed by her husband, my dear nephew, Patrick Holahan. This cause is very important to me because I am the remaining elder of this branch of our family. And Pat and his ‘gal’ are such a love story; they deserve the help. The need is great.

My fundraising goal is $10,000; we have no way of knowing how much will be needed going forward for round the clock in home care. My hope is to alleviate some worry about money, there is so much more to worry about as you will see in the story below. And home care can cost from $200-$350 per day!

Please consider a contribution to this GoFundMe. A gift of any amount would mean the world to me. It would also mean a lot if you could share my fundraiser link on social media. Even better would be if you’d agree to be a ‘team’ and reach out adding to the reach of this effort.

To donate, simply click the link to my fundraiser below:

[Insert link to fundraiser]

Sincerely,

Linda Vorderer, Patrick’s aunt, affectionately known as AL

READ JUDY’S STORY:

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In 2006, Judy was caring for her ailing father who had terminal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Judy fell and hit her nose on the pavement. ER visit noted a substantial mass in her brain.

Diagnosis: Brain tumor “size of a large orange”. Central Neurocytoma.

In this first of more to come surgeries, most of the mass was resected. A walnut sized inoperable mass remained in the deeper ventricular area.

From 2006 up to now, Judy has had numerous trials with her health. Some heavier than others. Additional craniotomies, necessary treatments of radiation. Add in a spinal fusion and just this year a localized breast biopsy surgery.

In all she’s managed to remain relatively healthy with everything kept in check.

Current year 2021. Judy had a regularly scheduled scan in January. The neurologists have been continually watching her initial tumor area. All looked safe enough to hold her next scan to July.

April 2021. Judy’s typical headaches were becoming more constant with different pressure. Adding a few other symptoms with her dexterity, balance, cognition and nausea.

New finding: Judy suffered a troublesome brain hemorrhage that expanded the initial tumor and the area of vessels around it. Immediate surgery was required. Her surgeon mentioned that this procedure was found to be more complex than anticipated but felt confident that he removed and alleviated most of the troublesome issue. Unfortunately, the after-effects of this hemorrhage and surgery debilitated and set Judy back quite a bit with her motor skills and cognition.

Through May, Judy was placed for acute rehab and discharged back home on May 25. She was steadily progressing and kept working with home rehab. Until a week later when visible signs of regression were evident. Judy was declining once again and was found that cerebral fluid pressure was not naturally draining from her head. Back to the hospital where another surgery was needed to install a VP Shunt/catheter to help drain the fluid and relieve this pressure.

Back to acute rehab. The cranial pressure has shown to have been gradually decreased. However, her physical and mental progression are showing to be more sluggish.

Of all these challenges faced in the past fifteen years, Judy has successfully taken on all of them in the strongest fashion one could witness. They’ve taken a major toll on so many natural abilities that we all take for granted.

Judy’s therapies are showing slow progress. She cannot stand, walk without assistance; and needs help with bathroom and bathing. Simple things are no longer simple: Getting out of bed, getting food from the refrigerator, actively using her left hand and leg. She can get by with help. She’ll eat the food brought to her. Watch TV. Struggle with her phone but still use it to some extent.

Her long-term memory presents well enough. But short-term cognition is a major challenge. She can respond to you, but sometimes it takes a while. Her safety is also at risk as she sometimes acts unknowingly impulsive and may move when she shouldn’t. Simple and proper logic is absent.

Additional hitch: Judy’s mother. She is a senior living on her own and gets by on basic needs. Judy has always been her caregiver. This has fallen to Judy’s husband, Patrick. He is now technically Judy’s caregiver as well as her mother’s outside of work.

Her husband’s insurance to this point has been utilized on all proper fronts. Now Judy will require 24/7 ambulatory and non-medical care that her husband will need to cover.

Many who know Judy, marvel in the strength she’s had through these many years of obstacles. The power she always found by digging deep and taking it all on has been a wonder to behold. Judy’s always been independent, caring, thoughtful, creative, smart, and resourceful. All honorable and natural traits. Each of which has been placed on hold with the hopes to be found again. Of the bum deals one could get medically, Judy was handed the hell on earth card. None of her ailments were due to health negligence. She did not ask for any of this and has always been adamant in keeping her woes to herself.

Hope for healing is all we have, and the push remains for positive progress. Judy’s beauty cannot be bottled and held aside. She was made to shine.