Irena has always been the heart of our family, a woman full of life who found immense joy in the simple things. Before this journey began, she was a vibrant, active person who loved spending time in her garden and traveling. Her favorite trips were always those to visit us and her beloved granddaughters in Chicago. Her laughter and warmth filled every room she entered, and we are holding on to those memories as we fight for her recovery.

This year began with a brain tumor surgery, which was followed by complications and multiple hospital stays. After a period of recovery, everything took a turn for the worse when her VP shunt stopped working in mid-July. This led to a cascade of life-threatening events.

For 8 long weeks, she was in the ICU. Her hydrocephalus worsened, she started seizing, and was put into a medically induced coma. When the time came to wake her, she didn't. She had suffered another life-threatening event - a hemorrhagic stroke to her cerebellum, and was in yet another coma.

Five weeks ago, Mom woke up. This marked a crucial turning point, moving us from crisis to the challenging work of recovery. For the last couple of weeks, she has been in a specialized neuro-rehabilitation center, where she is showing incredible grit and making small progress every single day. She is currently working tirelessly with her therapists, learning to talk, eat, and move her extremities again. She is still fighting critical illness myopathy and remains dependent on others, but her will and wish to improve are stronger than ever.

This is where we need your help. The road to recovery for neurological issues is extensive and costly, requiring specialized care, therapy, and equipment. The current monthly estimate from rehabilitation centers oscillates around $ 10,000. We are looking for any support to help us with the costs of her neuro-rehabilitation. Your donation will directly help us give Mom the best possible chance to regain her strength and independence, to get back to the garden she loves, and to one day be able to revisit her granddaughters.

Every dollar, every share, and every word of encouragement brings us one step closer to helping her on this tough journey. Thank you for being a part of our support system.

Pierko Family

Dyminski Family