Help Joanne in her Recovery from a Stroke
Donation protected
Hi everyone, Joanne and I have decided to reach out and share with you all how our journey has changed drastically this week.
On May 9, 2023 Joanne was diagnosed with a Hemorrhagic Stroke also called a Cerebral Hemorrhage. Hemorrhagic stroke is due to bleeding into the brain by the rupture of a blood vessel.
Tuesday night Joanne and I were at one of my new Trivia Shows. She originally wasn’t going to go, but I wasn’t sure about driving at night. So she decided to go that night and drive me. During the evening she got up to go to the restroom. When she came back she looked pale. She said to me something was wrong. I asked her if it was her heart and she responded by shaking her head no. She was grabbing her right arm and she started to say that she was off balance and I noticed her words starting to be delayed and slurred.
I instantly knew it was a stroke. She agreed. That was 7:40 pm, while we were calling fire rescue with the help of the manager, she worsened. She fell out of the chair and was caught by one of the teams playing who happened to be medical professionals. A nurse started triaging her and evaluating her letting Fire Rescue know exactly what her situation was.
Within 5 mins Fire rescue was on the scene treating her and getting her loaded into the ambulance. They rushed her off to the ER. I found out that the nurse who was helping her, worked at the hospital they were taking her to, so she called ahead to let them know. I don’t know their names - BUT I am forever grateful for their assistance.
Meanwhile, I grabbed all of our stuff and headed to this unknown hospital hoping for the best. I called a good friend of ours to let her know what was happening, long story short she is friends with the head of Nuero-surgery at this particular hospital. The hospital they were taking Joanne specialized in strokes. What are the chances?
I finally arrived at the hospital (I got lost - figures) around about 8:15 - 35 mins after Joanne and I realized she could be having a stroke. I found Joanne in the back, she had already had CT Scan, MRI, X-Rays and was already receiving initial medication for a stroke. At this point she completely had lost all functioning on her right side, her speech was unintelligible and she was incoherent.
This is the scariest thing to watch, helpless isn’t even an adequate word to use. Full Diagnoses came by 8:25 pm, 45 mins after this episode began.
Currently- 5/14 - she is still in ICU, her bleed has stabilized, now the goal is to stabilize her Blood Pressure. Along with working with the speech pathologist, occupational therapy and physical therapy on a daily basis.
What’s to come:
We have a long road ahead. After she gets released from the hospital the plan is to move her to an Acute Rehab Center. Once she has completed the program and achieved her goals. Then we will move her home.
At home we are having to prepare the house for her. Which means convert part of the downstairs into a bedroom along with ensure that the house is “handicap” accessible. We will also be finding an aid for assistance with things I’m not able to do myself. As of now I’m not sure what all is going to be needed nor do I know the true financial impact.
We are starting the GoFundMe to assist with a bunch of the initial items that need to be handled, as well as the smaller incidentals that insurance doesn’t cover. This is just a guess at what may be needed to get us through these first few weeks. Joanne is no longer able to work at this time (although we hope she will recover 100% ) and be back to doing what she does best.
We are eternally grateful to all our friends and family for their support. Divine intervention is real. If Joanne had not come with me that night and the assistance of off duty medical professionals, and the fact that we were near a hospital that’s specialized in strokes ….. this story may well have had a drastically different ending.
I want to thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart for any and all support.
On May 9, 2023 Joanne was diagnosed with a Hemorrhagic Stroke also called a Cerebral Hemorrhage. Hemorrhagic stroke is due to bleeding into the brain by the rupture of a blood vessel.
Tuesday night Joanne and I were at one of my new Trivia Shows. She originally wasn’t going to go, but I wasn’t sure about driving at night. So she decided to go that night and drive me. During the evening she got up to go to the restroom. When she came back she looked pale. She said to me something was wrong. I asked her if it was her heart and she responded by shaking her head no. She was grabbing her right arm and she started to say that she was off balance and I noticed her words starting to be delayed and slurred.
I instantly knew it was a stroke. She agreed. That was 7:40 pm, while we were calling fire rescue with the help of the manager, she worsened. She fell out of the chair and was caught by one of the teams playing who happened to be medical professionals. A nurse started triaging her and evaluating her letting Fire Rescue know exactly what her situation was.
Within 5 mins Fire rescue was on the scene treating her and getting her loaded into the ambulance. They rushed her off to the ER. I found out that the nurse who was helping her, worked at the hospital they were taking her to, so she called ahead to let them know. I don’t know their names - BUT I am forever grateful for their assistance.
Meanwhile, I grabbed all of our stuff and headed to this unknown hospital hoping for the best. I called a good friend of ours to let her know what was happening, long story short she is friends with the head of Nuero-surgery at this particular hospital. The hospital they were taking Joanne specialized in strokes. What are the chances?
I finally arrived at the hospital (I got lost - figures) around about 8:15 - 35 mins after Joanne and I realized she could be having a stroke. I found Joanne in the back, she had already had CT Scan, MRI, X-Rays and was already receiving initial medication for a stroke. At this point she completely had lost all functioning on her right side, her speech was unintelligible and she was incoherent.
This is the scariest thing to watch, helpless isn’t even an adequate word to use. Full Diagnoses came by 8:25 pm, 45 mins after this episode began.
Currently- 5/14 - she is still in ICU, her bleed has stabilized, now the goal is to stabilize her Blood Pressure. Along with working with the speech pathologist, occupational therapy and physical therapy on a daily basis.
What’s to come:
We have a long road ahead. After she gets released from the hospital the plan is to move her to an Acute Rehab Center. Once she has completed the program and achieved her goals. Then we will move her home.
At home we are having to prepare the house for her. Which means convert part of the downstairs into a bedroom along with ensure that the house is “handicap” accessible. We will also be finding an aid for assistance with things I’m not able to do myself. As of now I’m not sure what all is going to be needed nor do I know the true financial impact.
We are starting the GoFundMe to assist with a bunch of the initial items that need to be handled, as well as the smaller incidentals that insurance doesn’t cover. This is just a guess at what may be needed to get us through these first few weeks. Joanne is no longer able to work at this time (although we hope she will recover 100% ) and be back to doing what she does best.
We are eternally grateful to all our friends and family for their support. Divine intervention is real. If Joanne had not come with me that night and the assistance of off duty medical professionals, and the fact that we were near a hospital that’s specialized in strokes ….. this story may well have had a drastically different ending.
I want to thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart for any and all support.
Co-organizers (2)
Wendy Phillips
Organizer
Deerfield Beach, FL
Diana Phillips
Co-organizer