Help Irina Recover from a Life-changing Event

Friday, November 21st was a morning like any other. Irina woke up with yet another migraine. She’d become used to these occurrences, as her whole adult life had been plagued by this pain. There was no reason for concern. Except it wasn’t a migraine like any other. Before the day was out, Irina lay in the Trail hospital in the emergency ward. The excruciating pain would keep her awake, made even more uncomfortable by the fact that she would spend her time in the hospital on a cot in the hallway. Even still, she was sent home. “We don’t know what else to do. We’ve tried everything we can think of,” the family was told. Saturday she was sent home. The pain continued to escalate. By Sunday, she was in the Kelowna hospital. The severe migraine, coupled with dangerously high blood pressure, had caused a stroke. Removing a part of her skull, doctors relieved the pressure in her brain and saved her life. Irina’s life was spared, thanks to the skill of the surgeons that day. She spent three weeks in Kelowna and was able to return home just in time to spend Christmas with her family.

Through it all, Irina’s husband Derek has been at her side. He was there when she was admitted to emergency in Trail, and hasn’t left her since. Derek and their children, Victor and Katya, have been unequivocal in their conviction that mom will, in time, make a full recovery. But her challenges are far from over. She now faces months and years of recovery. The weeks in hospital have meant loss of income and going forward, Irina will be needing ongoing therapy, visits to specialists and adaptations to modify the family home for ease of mobility. Every day, she is relearning basic skills such as walking, speaking, writing, and safely cooking. And for those who know Irina, she is also working toward returning to the music she loves.

Asking for help is not easy, but it is a lot to bear. Now is the time when a community can hold part of the burden. With support, the Relkoffs can keep the focus on doing everything they can to get Irina back to life as she has known it to be.

Thank you all for your kindness, compassion, consideration and support during this challenging time. The Relkoff family is grateful.