Help Kathy Speak and Walk Again
Donation protected
Kathy Fisher is 63 years young. Mother of three adult daughters. She is a warm and loving person who always has time to listen to anyone who needs a friendly or sympathetic ear. Younger people she has worked with referred to Kathy as ‘Mom’ because she cared about them as if they were her own children.
Kathy is an up and coming artist in the voice recording field. Her recording work has included: children’s stories, school programs, and medical narratives, just to name a few. She is always quick to offer and donate her voice talent to help out for charitable announcements.
Kathy is an artist in music, and drawing. She makes Rosaries that are donated around the world. Her next charitable project was to crochet baby blankets for pregnancy centers, something she has actively done in the past. Kathy had just bought several large skeins of yarn and was excited to begin crocheting.
Then, Kathy’s world came crashing down around her.
On May 6th, 2020, Kathy had a terrible stroke. She was rushed to the hospital by ambulance, where she spent four days undergoing tests and care. Brain scans and MRI’s showed the damage was centered in the area of the brain that controls speech, and the ability to walk, and use her hands.
On May 10th, Kathy’s neurosurgeon felt she was stable enough to enter the rehabilitation hospital. Early intervention is critical to the successful recovery of stroke victims. Kathy is confined to a wheelchair, needing 24/7 care. When she first entered the rehabilitation hospital Kathy could not hold her head up, sit up straight, feed herself, use her hands, or move her legs.
To better understand Kathy’s medical condition, we have to look at the brain as the living organ it is. The brain, when an area is damaged, will actually rewire itself around the damage and find other pathways to control the muscles and ability to speak. The kicker is, the brain must be retaught how to do the things it used to do normally before the stroke. To say a word, move her hand, even swallow has to be relearned, or to put it in a technical sense, reprogrammed.
The first few months are critical for the brain’s healing, and rewiring. That is the purpose for the intense therapy Kathy is currently undergoing. There is a team of good techs and nurses teaching her to speak, move, walk, eat, go to the bathroom on her own, even to swallow. It all must be relearned.
Without this daily therapy the brain will go dormant at the point the relearning stops, and will remain in that state. The therapy must continue. Even after she is released from the rehabilitation hospital, Kathy will have to continue going to therapy three days a week, or a therapist will come to the house to work with her.
The therapy must continue for Kathy’s full recovery. When she comes home there will need to be a wheelchair, wheelchair ramp, equipment for her to bathe, and use a toilet. There will be costs for the therapy to continue, several medications to be regularly purchased, and the basic costs of living.
Insurance will cover much, but not all, and in time it will stop paying for prolonged care. Care Kathy vitally needs to continue if she is to return to a normal life. Insurance will not cover the living costs, which are mounting.
That is why I am reaching out to you today. Both, to the many friends Kathy has, and to the many new friends she will make by way of your generosity. I am Kathy’s husband. My adult daughter, Rose, and I will be Kathy’s caretakers when she comes home. We will be responsible for her at home, and getting her to therapy. Our other two daughters, Lori and Holly are living far from us.
Through all of this are the mounting expenses. Keeping the bills paid is quickly becoming an avalanche that we cannot begin to meet. Yet, somehow, we must keep Kathy’s rehabilitation going, or lose the progress she will make each day.
We are daily faced with the challenges of paying the rent, medical costs, buying food, and paying the bills. Then, there will be the new equipment Kathy will need until she heals.
Kathy’s family is supportive and loving. Her friends are praying and wishing her well. Still, the bills must be paid. Kathy’s rehabilitation must continue. The stress of unpaid bills will affect Kathy’s healing, as she is aware of all that is going on. The stress is also hard on Rose, and I, as we try to hold all the ends together.
Kathy can come back to a normal life again. Her care team members at the rehabilitation hospital are optimistic about her full recovery. Kathy is fighting to return to her family; to speak and walk again. As of today, May 15, Kathy can sit up in her wheelchair, hold a cup in her left hand and drink from it. She can smile, nod, wave, and say the word, ‘yes.’ There is progress being made, but as her case manager said, “It is going to be a long, hard road for Kathy, but she is a fighter, and that’s important.”
Kathy is fully conscious of everything around her, and can comprehend what is spoken to her, however, at present, Kathy is unable to speak, express herself, say ‘I love you’, or move her arms to give a hug. I see it in her eyes, the pleading to speak and express the warmth and love she feels. There is sadness behind her eyes.
Please give what you can to help Kathy speak and walk again. To rejoin her family, and resume all she loves to do. After all, there are several skeins of yarn waiting for Kathy to turn them into baby blankets. Please help make that a reality.
Please share this site on your Facebook, Twitter, and all social media. Ask your friends to also share this on their social media so we can reach the greatest number of people.
Thank you in advance for your love, concern, generosity, and care.
Dave P. Fisher. Rose Fisher.
Kathy is an up and coming artist in the voice recording field. Her recording work has included: children’s stories, school programs, and medical narratives, just to name a few. She is always quick to offer and donate her voice talent to help out for charitable announcements.
Kathy is an artist in music, and drawing. She makes Rosaries that are donated around the world. Her next charitable project was to crochet baby blankets for pregnancy centers, something she has actively done in the past. Kathy had just bought several large skeins of yarn and was excited to begin crocheting.
Then, Kathy’s world came crashing down around her.
On May 6th, 2020, Kathy had a terrible stroke. She was rushed to the hospital by ambulance, where she spent four days undergoing tests and care. Brain scans and MRI’s showed the damage was centered in the area of the brain that controls speech, and the ability to walk, and use her hands.
On May 10th, Kathy’s neurosurgeon felt she was stable enough to enter the rehabilitation hospital. Early intervention is critical to the successful recovery of stroke victims. Kathy is confined to a wheelchair, needing 24/7 care. When she first entered the rehabilitation hospital Kathy could not hold her head up, sit up straight, feed herself, use her hands, or move her legs.
To better understand Kathy’s medical condition, we have to look at the brain as the living organ it is. The brain, when an area is damaged, will actually rewire itself around the damage and find other pathways to control the muscles and ability to speak. The kicker is, the brain must be retaught how to do the things it used to do normally before the stroke. To say a word, move her hand, even swallow has to be relearned, or to put it in a technical sense, reprogrammed.
The first few months are critical for the brain’s healing, and rewiring. That is the purpose for the intense therapy Kathy is currently undergoing. There is a team of good techs and nurses teaching her to speak, move, walk, eat, go to the bathroom on her own, even to swallow. It all must be relearned.
Without this daily therapy the brain will go dormant at the point the relearning stops, and will remain in that state. The therapy must continue. Even after she is released from the rehabilitation hospital, Kathy will have to continue going to therapy three days a week, or a therapist will come to the house to work with her.
The therapy must continue for Kathy’s full recovery. When she comes home there will need to be a wheelchair, wheelchair ramp, equipment for her to bathe, and use a toilet. There will be costs for the therapy to continue, several medications to be regularly purchased, and the basic costs of living.
Insurance will cover much, but not all, and in time it will stop paying for prolonged care. Care Kathy vitally needs to continue if she is to return to a normal life. Insurance will not cover the living costs, which are mounting.
That is why I am reaching out to you today. Both, to the many friends Kathy has, and to the many new friends she will make by way of your generosity. I am Kathy’s husband. My adult daughter, Rose, and I will be Kathy’s caretakers when she comes home. We will be responsible for her at home, and getting her to therapy. Our other two daughters, Lori and Holly are living far from us.
Through all of this are the mounting expenses. Keeping the bills paid is quickly becoming an avalanche that we cannot begin to meet. Yet, somehow, we must keep Kathy’s rehabilitation going, or lose the progress she will make each day.
We are daily faced with the challenges of paying the rent, medical costs, buying food, and paying the bills. Then, there will be the new equipment Kathy will need until she heals.
Kathy’s family is supportive and loving. Her friends are praying and wishing her well. Still, the bills must be paid. Kathy’s rehabilitation must continue. The stress of unpaid bills will affect Kathy’s healing, as she is aware of all that is going on. The stress is also hard on Rose, and I, as we try to hold all the ends together.
Kathy can come back to a normal life again. Her care team members at the rehabilitation hospital are optimistic about her full recovery. Kathy is fighting to return to her family; to speak and walk again. As of today, May 15, Kathy can sit up in her wheelchair, hold a cup in her left hand and drink from it. She can smile, nod, wave, and say the word, ‘yes.’ There is progress being made, but as her case manager said, “It is going to be a long, hard road for Kathy, but she is a fighter, and that’s important.”
Kathy is fully conscious of everything around her, and can comprehend what is spoken to her, however, at present, Kathy is unable to speak, express herself, say ‘I love you’, or move her arms to give a hug. I see it in her eyes, the pleading to speak and express the warmth and love she feels. There is sadness behind her eyes.
Please give what you can to help Kathy speak and walk again. To rejoin her family, and resume all she loves to do. After all, there are several skeins of yarn waiting for Kathy to turn them into baby blankets. Please help make that a reality.
Please share this site on your Facebook, Twitter, and all social media. Ask your friends to also share this on their social media so we can reach the greatest number of people.
Thank you in advance for your love, concern, generosity, and care.
Dave P. Fisher. Rose Fisher.
Organizer
Dave P. Fisher
Organizer
Hot Springs National Park, AR
